Music from bygone years.
In our weekly music museum, this time featuring the overwhelming African-American contralto Marian Anderson with an anti-slavery ballad (“My Old Kentucky Home”), “Manhattan” by Rodgers & Hart performed by both Ella Fitzgerald and the ancient orchestra of Ben Selvin.
Presenter/humorist Jos Ghysen talks about his experiences in the Flemish army (“Under Arms”); also curious: Jim Reeves in Afrikaans (“Verre Land”), Frans Halsema & Frits Lambrechts with a refreshed version of “Aan de voet van die mooie Wester”, folk singer Judy Collins in Pete Seeger’s “Turn, Turn, Turn”.
Further: the replacement of Maria Callas in “Norma”, Anita Cerquetti, whose dramatic soprano sound was only heard briefly, Billie Holiday on “Lady Sings the Blues”, the early Miles Davis with “But Not for Me”.
The masterful parody by Stan Freberg of the doo-wop hit “Sh-Boom” by The Crew Cuts, inspired by the mumbling of actor Marlon Brando, the Brazilian Wandah de Sah (“one of Brazil’s best kept musical secrets”), The Ink Spots, Flip Phillips’ tribute to Lester Young (“Prez”).
And also the obscure Dutch talent Ellis de Liefde (“Zierikzeese Marie”), and from Germany during the war years: Helmut Zacharias (“Bei dir war es immer so schön”).
