Sam Waldron

Episode 160, “The Mills Brothers,” focuses on this versatile Black singing group whose popularity lasted for half a century. Recordings include: “Paper Doll,” “Dinah,” “Standing on the Corner,” “Till Then,” “I Don’t Know Enough About You,” “The Glow Worm,” and “Tiger Rag.” Episode 160 The Mills Brothers Playlist 1 Is It True What They Say About Dixie The Mills Brothers & Al Jolson 2 Till Then...

Episode 159, “Songs About Animals,” presents 1950s songs about dogs, cats, birds, muskrats, horses, cattle, monkeys, alligators, pigs and bears. Performers include Elvis Presley Patti Page, Eddy Arnold, Bobby Day, Lloyd Price, Perry Como, the McGuire Sisters, and Chuck Berry. Episode 159 Songs About Animals Playlist 1 (How Much is That) Doggie in the Window Patti Page 2 Hound Dog in the Window Hom...

Episode 158, “Number-name Groups,” features The Five Red Caps, the Four Tunes, The Four Lads, The Kingston Trio and 13 other singing groups with numbers in their names. Songs include “You Are My Inspiration,” “Standing on the Corner,” “Marie,” “The Glory of Love,” and “The Blob.” 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 158 Number-name groups Playlist 1 The Gang that Sang Heart of My Heart The Fou...

Episode 157, “Three in One,” explores three separate themes in one hour. First, the phenomenon of “ghost singers” in movies. Second, the story of Randy Wood and his DOT Records label. Third, the long-running Chicago-based National Barn Dance radio program, which spawned many prominent country stars. 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 157 Three in One Playlist 1 Tonight Marni Nixon & Jimm...

Episode 156, “The Real Patsy Cline,” compares and contrasts the sound of her polished studio style with her performances at the Grand Ole Opry and on the road. Recordings include “When I Get Through With You,” “Just a Closer Walk With Thee,” “Honky Tonk Merry-Go-Round,” “Crazy,” “Walkin’ After Midnight,” and her description of a severe automobile accident before a live audience. 45 RPM, Music of t...

Episode 155, “New Life for 1940s Music,” features nine #1 hit songs from the 1940s and compares each one to the same song as it was recorded later by others. Performers include Doris Day, Ricky Nelson, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Frank Sinatra, Terri Stevens, Margaret Whiting, and The Ink Spots. Episode 155 New Life for 1940s Music Playlist 1 Chattanooga Choo Choo The Glenn Miller Orchestra 2 Chat...

Episode 154, “Jerome Kern,” focuses on one of the premier songwriters of the 20 th century. Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day, The Andrews Sisters, Mel Torme, Dean Martin and a dozen others deliver many familiar songs and a few oddities, including one called “My Husband’s First Wife.” 1 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes The Platters 2 Old Man River Frank Sinatra and the Ken Lane Singers 3 I’ll Be Hard to Han...

Episode 153, “Easy Listening,” presents 17 recordings from the late ‘50s and early ‘60s that were typically chosen to appeal to adult radio audiences Performers include Connie Francis, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, Pat Boone, Anita Bryant, The Brothers Four, and Dave Brubeck. 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s   Episode 153 Easy Listening             1 Only the Lonely Roy Orbison   2 M...

Episode 152, “Lawrence Welk,” features the music of one of the most beloved orchestra leaders of the 20 th century. Recordings include “The Moon is a Silver Dollar,” “Grandfather’s Clock,” “The Wah Watusi,” “Blue Velvet,” “Annabelle,” “Yellow Bird,” “Beer Barrell Polka,” and Stan Freberg’s spoof “Wun’erful, Wun’erful!” 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 152 Lawrence Welk Playlist...

Episode 151, “Great Ladies of Jazz,” features 18 accomplished jazz singers including Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Peggy Lee, Julie London, and Sarah Vaughan. 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 151 Great Ladies of Jazz Playlist 1 Anything Goes Ella Fitzgerald 2 Brown-Eyed Handsome Man Nina Simone 3 God Bless the Child Billie Holliday 4 Teach Me Tonight Blossom Dearie 5 Helen...

Episode 148, “Tony Bennett,” features the legendary singer’s hit singles and tracks from his first few studio albums, all released in the 1950s. Songs include “Just in Time,” “Ol’ Man River,” “Stranger in Paradise,” “Cold, Cold Heart,” “Because of You,” “Rags to Riches,” “Firefly,” “Love Letters,” “Watch What Happens,” and 10 more. Episode 148 Tony Bennett Playlist 1 Because of You Tony Benn...

Episode 149, “Total Christmas,” celebrates the holiday with 17 recordings that include country, classical, jazz, pop and rock. Sam Waldron profiles a popular Christmas criminal, then describes summertime Christmas traditions south of the equator. Performers include Guy Lombardo, Elvis Presley, Doris Day, Tony DeSare, the St. Louis Symphony, Louis Armstrong, Blake Shelton, and Andy Williams. 45 RPM...

Episode 150, “High School Prom,” features music that would have been played at high school dances in the 1950s. Many songs are familiar, others are obscure. Performers include The Tads, The Elegants, The Monotones, Elvis Presley, Pat Boone, Bobby Day,  Frankie Ford, Little Richard, and 13 more. 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 150 High School Prom 1 Rockin’ Robin Bobby Day 2 Hushabye...

  Episode 147, “1940s Music & History,” looks at some of the most significant historical events of the ‘40s and couples them with the most popular recordings at the time … with results that are sometimes surprising. Performers include Frank Sinatra, Woody Herman, Dinah Shore, The Andrews Sisters, Perry Como, and Judy Garland. Episode 147 1940 Music & History Playlist 1 Whispering Grass The...

Episode 146, “Country Hits of the Late 50s,” presents 19 popular recordings from the country charts in 1957 and 1958, some of which crossed over to the pop charts. Performers include Jim Reeves, Kitty Wells, Hank Locklin, Patsy Cline, Marty Robbins, Eddy Arnold, Bonnie Guitar, Lefty Frizell and nine others. Episode  139 Late 1950s Country Playlist 1 A White Sport Coat Marty Robbins 2 Gonna Find Me...

Episode 145, “Seven Stories,” focuses on the lives and music of six important performers (plus one group) from the 1940s and 1950s: Georgia Gibbs, The Mills Brothers, Doris Day, Matt Monro, Giselle MacKenzie, Bobby Darin, and Helen Forrest. Songs include “Splish Splash,” “Kiss of Fire,” “Secret Love,” “Yellow Bird,” “Born Free,” and “Speak Low.” 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 145 Seven s...

Episode 144, “Hank Williams Lost Recordings,” presents 16 segments from long-lost transcriptions of Hank Williams’ early morning radio show in 1951. Songs include “Mind Your Own Business,” “Hey, Good Lookin,” “California Zephyr,” “Cold Cold Heart,” “The Old Country Church,” and “Why Should We Try Any More?” 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 144 Hank Williams Lost recordings 1 Mind Your Own...

Episode 143, “Songs About Houses,” includes nine songs with the word “home” in their title, eight with “house” plus two about cabins. Performers include Cab Calloway, Rosemary Clooney, Ethel Waters, Buck Owens, Loretta Lynn, Jerry Vale, and Fats Domino. Episode 143 Songs About Houses Playlist 1 Baby Let’s Play House Elvis Presley 2 Baby Won’t You Please Come Home Carol Channing 3 I&#82...

Episode 142, “1940s Weather,” includes 17 songs and stories about storms, sunshine, rain, wind, and snow. Performers include Perry Como, Sister Rosetta Tharp, Jimmy Dorsey, Sammy Kaye, Johnny Cash, and The Four Aces with Al Alberts. 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 142 Weather Songs from the 40s Playlist 1 Stormy Weather Lena Horne 2 Just One of Those Things Kevin Spacey 3 Stormy Monday Bo...

Episode 141, “1950s Superstars,” presents the music of 19 successful ‘50s performers including Pat Boone, Johnny Mathis, Matt Monro, Ricky Nelson, Mel Torme, Eydie Gorme, The Fleetwoods, The Platters, The Kingston Trio, Bobby Darin, Giselle MacKenzie, Georgia Gibbs, Patti Page, Tommy Sands, and Elvis Presley. 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 141 1950s Superstars Playlist 1 Splish Splash Bo...

Episode 140, “Classic Frank Sinatra,” explores music from every non-holiday studio album he recorded in the 1940s and 1950s. Songs include “It Could Happen to You,” “Deep in a Dream,” “Come Dance with Me,” “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” “Autumn Leaves,” “My Funny Valentine,” and 10 more. Episode 140 Classic Frank Sinatra Playlist 1 You Go to My Head Frank Sinatra 2 That Old Black Magic Frank Sinatra 3...

Episode 139, “Paul’s Playlist,” presents the diverse early music influences of a man who grew up in a mid-size city in Central Washington. Recordings include live jazz, slow-dancing songs, and a love song about apple trees. Performers include Elvis Presley, Boxcar Willie, Bing Crosby, Moe Koffman, Carl Perkins, The Cal Tjader Trio, and The Glenn Miller Orchestra. Episode  139 Paul’s Playlist...

Episode 138, “Flip That Record Over,” presents 20 recordings that were released on the “B” sides of singles. Performers include Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, Ricky Nelson, Frank Sinatra, The Silhouettes, and Jim Lowe. At least one, a hard-rock song recorded by The Platters, may be quite a surprise. Episode 138 1950s Bs Playlist 1 I Was the One Elvis Presley 2 You Don’t Have to be a Baby to Cry...

Episode 137, “The Jive,” explores the many shades of this popular genre that borders rock-and-roll, swing, doo-wop, and rhythm-and-blues. Twenty songs include performances by Linda Hayes, Louis Prima, The Teen-Tones, The Bee Gees, Chuck Berry, Martha Tilton, The Nite Caps, The Ink Spots, Scatman Crothers, Clyde McPhatter, and The Jive  Bombers. Episode  137 The Jive Playlist 1 Atomic Baby Linda Ha...

Episode 136, “Liberace,” presents the life and music of one of the era’s most flamboyant and wealthy entertainers and his winning way of connecting with audiences. Songs include Tiger Rag, Americana Medley, Alley Cat, Cement Mixer, The Old Piano Roll Blues, You’re Just in Love, and Claire de Lune. Episode 136 Liberace Playlist 1 Tiger Rag Liberace 2 There’ll Be Some Changes Made Liberace 3 L...