Welcome to this week's edition of Mark Steyn on the Town. We start with the vernal equinox and end with the fundamental things in Italian. In between come the Vietnam war, a Camberwell tune, and Irving Berlin meets Felix Mendelssohn.
To listen to the programme, simply click here and log-in.
~Thank you for all your kind comments on last week's show. Bonnie, a Pennsylvania member of The Mark Steyn Club, liked it:
Wonderful show today! Multiple versions of "I Only Have Eyes For You" (I was humming it for a while after), a charming segment on Liza Minnelli. Entirely satisfying, and yet, I look forward to the next Classical Corner.
Well done, Mark. We continue to pray for your health.
If you like our Classical Corner, Bonnie, don't miss today's show. Jamie Marsh, a First Weekend Founding Member, also enjoyed it:
I listened to the show and thought it was great. I preferred the 50's French hit to Liza Minnelli, but what do I know. Maybe I'll be humming Lullaby of Broadway as I go to sleep tonight.
David Thackray enjoyed our ongoing series of Johnny Mercer openers:
Such a treat to hear Johnny Mercer singing and swinging again in his own inimitable way kicking off On the Town. Loved the subtle, 'hands-off' drumming in Mississippi Mud which shows how just cymbals and brushes can really drive a song along...
And yes, On the Town also featured Kelly and Sinatra singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game unfortunately without the video footage – Sinatra was a mean hoofer!
For Mr Bradley, an Oregon Steyn Clubber, it was our follow-up to "Mississippi Mud":
I can't believe you played "Mississippi" by Pussycat. I love that song! The record was not a hit in the USA & I didn't discover it until a trip to Europe in 1977. When I eventually bought the 45, with a picture sleeve, I couldn't believe how homely the group was. Ouch. But they could play and sing just fine.
Leave it to Mark to continually remember these Euronuggets from 50-60-70 years ago and play them on his show. It's what keeps me tuning in week after week. You never know what you're going to hear next.
For Nicola Timmerman, a Mark Steyn Club member in francophone Ontario, it was the follow-up to the follow-up to "Mississippi Mud":
Sorry to hear your making fun of Georges Brassens cooled your friend's interest in making out. My husaband loved that French singer so no problem there.
Anne Kearney, a First Month Founding Member, enjoyed our Busby Berkeley moment:
Oh my gosh, I about fell over at your featuring Winnie Shaw! Thank you, Mark! I get goosebumps at the sound of her voice on Lullaby of Broadway. Unforgettable, indeed. And the staging of that number in the movie is nearly as goosebumpy, as Winnie's beautiful, sculptural face slowly advances toward the camera. Ridiculously great. I could see/hear the men dancers' footwork photographed from below. Busby was a genius. I LOL'ed at "novelty nutcrackers" ... I'll be thinking of that every time I re-watch any Busbys now.
Warren and Dubin, absolute perfection, did they ever make a misstep?! Johnny Mercer and Darin ... what a combo. I just love Mercer's voice, it's unmistakable, so different and yet so perfect. Sort of like Fred Astaire. "An A for spelling" ... LOL. No kidding, what genius.
When I heard the organ with Sinatra, I thought, wow that sounds like Riddle, but ... an organ?! I never knew he had a "jazz organ" phase. LOL. And that fantastic version of "I Only Have Eyes" with Basie. BOOM!!
Whew, sorry to be so effusive. But as Eric Blore effused to Fred and Ginger in Swing Time ... "sheer heaven!"
One more, from California Clubber Teresa Maupin on our finale:
The closing song was sweet and intimate. Quite lovely. Happy Birthday Liza!!
~On the Town is my weekly music show on Serenade Radio every Saturday at 5pm Greenwich Mean Time - that's 6pm in western and central Europe or 12 noon North American Eastern. You can listen from almost anywhere in the world by clicking the button at top right here. We also post On the Town at SteynOnline every weekend as a bonus for Mark Steyn Club members. You can find all our previous shows here.
We do enjoy your comments on our weekend programming. Steyn Clubbers are welcome to leave them below. For more on The Mark Steyn Club, now in its ninth year, see here - and don't forget our special Gift Membership.
Mark Steyn on the Town can be heard on Serenade Radio at its regular times:
Saturday 5pm London time/1pm New York
Sunday 5am London time/10pm Los Angeles