The Neon Beat on Radio George - 1.29.18

On The Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 1: Bobby Darin steams on stage for a jazz standard that has been the basis for song construct used to create what would become “bee-bop.” Bobby sings, “Í Got Rhythm.” Dean Martin follows next with some Latino swingin’ called, “Sway.” Hear some great period groups this hour including The Lettermen with “When I Fall in Love,” The McGuire Sisters with an inspirational song “He,” The Ames Brothers with “Melodie D’ Amour,” Peter and Gordon with “I Go to Pieces,” The Four Freshmen, and The Kingston Trio. The Marvelous Marilyn Maye performs a great song from “Sweet Charity” followed with Pat Boone crooning the theme from the 1956 film, “Friendly Persuasion.” Hear a big-sky western set with Peggy Lee’s take on “Riders in the Sky,” Hugo Montenegro with the spaghetti western standard, “The Good the Bad and the Ugly,” and Loren Green with “Ringo.” Listen to Barbra Streisand with a lovely song from “Cats,” Frank Sinatra with “That’s Life,” and a 1965 Steve McQueen film theme sung by Glenn Yarborough. Listen today at: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat/

On The Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 2: Mary Martin opens this set with the song and performance that put her on the map, “My Heart Belongs to Daddy,” Toronto’s, The Four Lads, take it next with a song from “Kiss me Kate.” Hear one of the hit songs of Oklahoma’s Anita Bryant, “Paper Roses,” followed up with Al Martino’s “Mary in the Morning.” Look out ol’ Mack is back! Bobby Darin sings his 1959 hit, “Mack the Knife.” Actress Debbie Reynolds sings a charming version of the song, “S’posin.” Then enjoy a little Hammond B-3 with Walter Wanderley’s 1966 hit, “Summer Samba.” Hear more fine instrumentals with Jerry Murad’s Harmonicats, and Jackie Gleason’s lush take on “Autumn Leaves.” We’ll hear a set with the Seekers singing, “A World of our Own,” followed with Philly’s own Frankie Avalon singing the song, “Venus.” Listen to Tony Bennett’s lovely take on the Beatles song, “Something.” We’ll team up Actress Judy Garland and Gene Kelly for the song, “For Me and My Gal.” More with Mel Carter and Louis Prima. To listen, left click on: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat/

On the Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 3: Dean Martin begins the beguine with “Powder Your Face with Sunshine.” Then, “Pardon me boys. Is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?” We’ll play that big band standard by The Glenn Miller Orchestra. Hear some more big band later, with Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra and “the Tea for Two Cha-Cha.” We’ll spin Dinah Washington’s touching 1959 hit, “What a Difference a Day Makes,” followed with Elvis Presley’s 1969 chart topper, “Suspicious Minds.” Enjoy songs from great groups like The Ames Brothers with, “Undecided,” The McGuire Sisters with the “Theme from Picnic,” and “Standing on the Corner,” with the Mills Brothers. Frank Sinatra pops in with the Les Brown hit, “How Bout You?” Listen to Connie Stevens with “Sixteen Reasons.” Hear the song that brought back “Ragtime” as Marvin Hamlisch performs the theme from the film “The Sting,” Scott Joplin’s “the Entertainer.” Hear two 1957 hits with Perry Como’s “Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes,” and Pat Boone’s “Love Letter in the Sand.” We’ll spin Peggy Lee “Golden Earrings.” And turn up an old 1930’s standard featuring Cab Calloway’s, “Minnie the Moocher.” Much more with Paul and Paula, Glen Campbell and Jackie DeShannon.
Wanna? Go to: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat/

The Neon Beat on Radio George - 1.22.18

On The Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 1: Connie Francis launches into this week’s selections with her amorous rendition of “Dimmi Quando Quando.” Elvis Presley spins the roulette wheel next for “Viva Las Vegas.” The Lettermen follow up with two songs for the price of one, “Traces” and “Memories.” You’ll hear other great period groups like Chad and Jeremy with “Yesterday’s Gone,” The Drifters singing “On Broadway,” a Hoyt Axton song called “Greenback Dollar” by the Kingston Trio, The Mitch Miller Gang and The Four Lads. Hear Dean Martin’s 1965 chart topper, “Lay Some Happiness on Me,” and Doris Day with a fun little novelty romp called, “Ooo Bang Jiggly Jang.” We’ll spin the classic standard and signature hit for Tony Bennett, “I Left my Heat in S.F.” Enjoy fine instrumental hit records by Les Baxter, Capitol Records own Al De Lory with the “Theme from MASH,” and John Williams and the Boston Pops. Listen to a beautiful song written by actor and director Charlie Chaplin sung here by Nat King Cole. More music with Judy Collins with “Both Sides Now,” Kay Starr, and Andy Williams. Listen today at: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat.htm

On the Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 2: Tony Bennett opens this hour with a little Goodfella’s standard, “Rags to Riches.” Then we’ll tap the toes to an early R&B song performed from the shoulder by Georgia Gibbs, “Tweedle Dee.” Lots of film/Broadway selections this hour including Sammy Davis Jr with “Let There Be Love,” Andy Williams with a smooth version of “As Time Goes By,” Actress Judy Garland with “Meet Me in Saint Louis, Louie,” and Margaret Whiting with a standard from “South Pacific.” We’ll spin Hugo Winterhalter’s rendition of a Leroy Anderson standard, “Blue Tango,” followed up with the Mills Brothers singing a Tommy Dorsey swing standard. Enjoy Robert Goulet with a French reading of a French song called “Autumn Leaves.” Hear Frank Sinatra with Nelson Riddle performing the Eddie Cantor hit, “Making Whoopie.” Listen to a set with hit songs by The Association, Nancy Wilson, and Johnny Mathis. We’ll track some great big band with Louis Armstrong’s “When the Saints,” and Benny Goodman with Rosemary Clooney singing ‘Memories of You.” Enjoy today by left clicking at: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat.htm

On The Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 3: Perry Como kicks in this hour with “Papa Loves Mambo” with the Ray Charles Singers. Then we team up Bing Crosby with Frank Sinatra for a Cole Porter song from the 1956 film, “High Society.” We’ll spin songs from period hit-making groups, like the Chordettes “Never on Sunday,” The Four Preps singing “Down by the Station,” The Ventures with a surfin’ standard called, “Walk Don’t Run,” and The Weavers with a good ol’ folk standard, “On Top of Old Smokey.” We’ll go “Swinging on a Rainbow” with swingin,’ singin’ Frankie Avalon. Hear a 1973 comeback hit for Johnny Mathis, “I’m Coming Home,” followed by some Burt Bacharach sung by Dionne Warwick. We’ll play some Brit hit makers like Engelbert Humperdinck singing his 1967 standard “The Last Waltz,” followed up with “Son of a Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield. Hear Frank Sinatra with “Love the Second Time Around.” Turn up the speaker for a “big sky” western set with Frankie Laine, Dinah Shore, and the theme from “The Sons of Katie Elder.” Hear more from Chicago’s own Joni James, “I Still Get a Thrill,” and “The Happy Wanderer,” by Frank Weir’s orchestra and chorus. Go to” http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat.htm Have a great week kids!

The Neon Beat on Radio George - 1.16.18

On The Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 1: Pack your bags and “Come Fly With Me” as Frank Sinatra takes off to begin this week’s offerings. Then Vic Damone takes the stage next for a song from West Side Story followed with Ella Fitzgerald singing a swingin’ scat version of “Blue Skies.” Enjoy an early 70’s offering with Bill Wither’s first breakthrough chart single, “Ain’t No Sunshine.” We’ll track some fine period film and stage offerings by Henry Mancini and Chorus singing “Darling Lili,” The Four Lads from “Bus Stop,” Doris Day from “Romance on the High Seas”, Rosemary Clooney and Harry James from “Here Comes the Groom,” and Andy Williams with the song from the Glenn Ford, Geraldine Page movie, “Dear Heart.” You’ll hear a set with a toe tappin’ song “Just You, Just Me” with Nat King Cole, Harry James with “September Song,” and Patti Page with “Gentle on My Mind.” Listen to Bobby Darin with “Dream Lover.” Kay Starr sings a jazzy rendition of “Up a Lazy River.” Robert Goulet’s got the “World on a String.” And hear the smooth instrumental hit for Los Indios Tabajaras called, “Maria Elena. Listen today at: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat.htm

On the Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 2: Ray Charles slams into juke two with his iconic hit, “Hit the Road Jack.” Then we’ll enjoy a little period 60’s bubblegum with Leslie Gore’s “Sunshine Lollipops.” We’ll track an Everly Brothers hit from 1958 featuring Chet Atkins on the backup guitar, “All I Have to do is Dream.” Dean Martin teetotales a fine glass of blush with “Little Old Wine Drinker Me.” Frank Sinatra will be standing by for his big chart hit, “Strangers in the Night.” (Personally Frank thought the song stank) Then what man could refuse an offer with Bette Midler whisperin’, “Do You Wanna Dance?” Hear some great period groups like The Gaylords with “Isle of Capris,” The Association with “Never My Love,” and the Mills Brothers. Tom Jones steams on stage for his breakthrough hit standard, “She’s a Lady.” Enjoy “A Doodling Song” with Peggy Lee followed with “Spanish Eyes” by Engelbert Humperdinck. Louis Armstrong performs a song from “Bye Bye Birdie.” We’ll spin fine period instrumentals with Raymond Lefevre, Perez Prado, and Vangelis’s “Chariots of Fire.” Hear British pianist George Shearing with Nat King Cole singing a Broadway selection, “Let There Be Love.” More with Nancy Sinatra and Frankie Avalon.
Left click on: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat.htm

On The Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 3: Billy Williams open this hour with an “OH YEH” singing his 1957 hit song, “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter.” Then Patti Page takes it with a light hearted song of redemption from “The Pajama Game.” The Lettermen are next with the haunting “Our Winter Love,” followed with a fun trip to “The Alps” with The McGuire Sisters backed by the orchestra and accordion of Lawrence Welk. Frank Sinatra leads off the next set with a fine Cole Porter standard. Hear some swing era big band with Harry James’ “A Sleepy Lagoon,” followed with an amorous version of “Black Coffee” by Julie London. Also hear the live recording that brought the Ramsey Lewis Trio to national attention, “The In Crowd.” Nat King Cole sings his 1962 country-esk hit, “Rambling Rose.” Bing Crosby and the Jesters follow with “Sioux City Sue,” and Eartha Kitt’s steamy song from a 1950’s review called, “Cest Si bon.” Then enjoy a western set with Marty Robbin’s “El Paso” and Elmer Bernstein’s “Theme from the Magnificent Seven.” Listen to Sammy Davis with “Shelter of Your Arms,” Dianne Reeves with a song from the film “Good Night and Good Luck,” and Sam Cooke’s “You Send Me.”
Enjoy today by going to: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat.htm

The Neon Beat on Radio George - 1.9.18

On The Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 1: Burt Bacharach’s leading lady of choice, Dionne Warwick opens this week’s sets with “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” Next enjoy Jack Jones with one of his Grammy award winners, “Wives and Lovers.” Then we’ll track two 1950’s chart toppers with Georgie Shaw and Teresa Brewer with her first hit single. Hear a rousing set starting with Bobby Darin with “A Nightingale in Berkeley Square,” Peggy Lee with an attitude number called “Pass Me By,” the Fontane Sisters with a childhood favorite, “Playmates,” and the Melachrino Strings with an instrumental from the film, “The Owl and the Pussycat.” Listen to more instrumental greats with Reg Owen, Ralph Flanagan, and the 101 Strings Orchestra. We’ll track some film favorites with Frank Sinatra singing “New York, New York,” and Lena Horne with her signature standard “Stormy Weather.” Nat King Cole and the trio perform an old WW2 favorite, “Straighten Up and Fly Right.” We’ll play Johnny Mathis’s “Misty,” Vikki Carr with her 1967 hit “It Must Be Him,” and a back of the rack ditty by Elvis Presley. Listen today at: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat/

On The Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 2: Oklahoma’s Kay Starr launches this hour with the jazz standard “On a Slow Boat to China.” Fats Domino takes the stage next for “My Blue Heaven,” followed with “A Kind of Hush” by Herman’s Hermits, and Herb Alpert and his TJB with “A Taste of Honey.” We’ll spin more great period instrumental selections with Percy Faith, Jimmy Dorsey, The Islanders, and a fine jazz treatment of Vince Guraldi’s “Linus and Lucy” by David Benoit. Hear the iconic voices of the period including Nat King Cole singing “Too Young,” Dean Martin with “That’s Amore,” Peggy Lee with “Manana is Good Enough for Me,” and Tony Bennett with a rousing version of “Taking a Chance on Love” from the Broadway hit, “Cabin in the Sky.” Enjoy a 1950’s vocal hit for the McGuire Sisters singing, “Goodnight Sweetheart.” Bobby Goldsboro sings a tender song called “the Autumn of My Life.” And hear The Carpenters singing, “For All We Know.” More songs with Sammy Davis Jr and Chicago’s own Joni James. To hear and enjoy go to: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat/

On The Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 3: Frank Sinatra kicks off this hour the lovely standard, “Young at Heart.” Dean Martin takes it next with “In the Misty Moonlight.” We’ll track some great Broadway/Film selections with Doris Day singing one from “Pal Joey,” Connie Francis from “Where the Boys Are,” Felix Slatkin directing his orchestra for the theme from the Sundowners,” Matt Monro with the theme from the second James Bond film, and Andy Williams with a song from what was to be the first of what were termed “mondo movies.” We’ll team up Bing Crosby and Judy Garland for a fun 1954 tate-a tate. Listen to Sammy Davis Jr with the Mike Curb Congregation singing “the People Tree” followed with a song from “Funny Girl” by Barbra Streisand. Hear Ella Fitzgerald perform a Cole Porter big band era classic and listen to a lovely instrumental hit for Canadian Hagood Hardy that began as an imaging jingle for “Salada Tea.” We’ll spin hit singles by great groups like Herman’s Hermits “Henry the 8th,” and the Drifters with “Save the Last Dance for Me.” More with Joe Harnell and Louis Armstrong.  Left click on: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat/

The Neon Beat on Radio George - 1.3.18

On The Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 1: Frank Sinatra kicks off this set with a great Harold Arlen standard from a largely forgotten play called “The Great Magoo” called “Only a Paper Moon.” Then “Pick Yourself Up” with the great Jerome Kern standard sung by Ella Fitzgerald. Enjoy a couple of silver screen selections by Perry Como and Andre Previn. Listen to Dean Martin with a smooth cocktail version of “Blue Moon.” Tap your feet with Guy Mitchell and the Mitch Miller Gang doing “Sparrow in the Treetop.” Enjoy Anne Murray with her hit “Love Song” followed with a fun hit memory by the Cowsills, “Indian Lake.” We’ll track songs by other period groups like The Mills Brothers, and the Four Lads with a song from “Gypsy.” Patti Page sings your basic “white picket fence” song from 1951 called, “Mockingbird Hill.” Glen Campbell sings the theme from the 1969 John Wayne film, “True Grit.” Hear actress, singer, Gisele MacKenzie live at the Waldorf with “Save Your Sorrow for Tomorrow.” Hear the haunting “Our Winter Love” by Bill Pursell and more songs with Diana Ross and Tom Jones.  Listen today at: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat/

On The Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 2: We’ll launch this set takin’ a vaca’ amongst the monkeys and the palm trees as Tony Bennett opens with, “In the Middle of an Island.” Then you’re “Just in Time” to listen to Mr. Dean Martin. We’ll go to the back of the rack for some fun folk by a Denver group called The Serendipity Singers. Listen as we spin Decca’s Little Miss Dynamite with one of her hit recordings, “Johnny One Time.” We’ll spin a set including Mel Carter’s “Hold Me Thrill Me,” Peggy Lee’s steamy, “I’m a Woman,” The Four Aces with a 1950’s movie selection, and Simon and Garfunkel’s second break through single “Homeward Bound.” Hear Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Winter World of Love,” Vikki Carr with a Broadway selection from “Little Me,” and Steve and Eydie with some bilingual fun singing, “Besame’ Mucho.” Instrumentals include some great big band with Benny Goodman and Bert Kaempfert’s “Strangers in the Night.” More hit songs with Fred Astaire, and Rosemary Clooney. Enjoy today at: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat/

On The Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 3: Bobby Darin opens this hour with one of his may hit songs for Warner/Reprise, “Beyond the Sea.” Hear Nat King Cole next with a beautiful 1953 hit song, “Pretend” followed up with a big sky hit for a Hollywood ghost singer named Gogi Grant. Then we’ll stir up the strings in the orchestra with Leroy Anderson’s, “Fiddle Faddle.” More instrumental selections this hour include Harry James with “Ciriciribin,” and the Les Elgart Orchestra with a song written by Barry Manilow for Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand.” Our fine female artists in this hour include Kitty Kallen with her tender version of “In the Chapel,” actress Shelly Fabares with “Johnny Angel,” Ella Fitzgerald with a swingin’ song from, “Kiss Me Kate,” and Sarah Vaughan with, Cest’ Le Vie.” Listen to a tender rendition of the theme from “Days of Wine and Roses” by Andy Williams. Enjoy a rousing version of an old Tommy Dorsey song by The Ames Brothers, a couple of chart hits for Perry Como, and Frankie Laine’s “Jezebel.” We’ll wrap up on a country note with Tennessee Ernie Ford, and a classic road hit for Roger Miller.
Left click to hear: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat/

 Happy New Year Kids!

The Neon Beat on Radio George - 12.26.17

On the Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 1: The Mills Brothers open this week’s offerings with one of their latter hits to top off a 70 plus year career, “the Glow Worm.” Perry Como and the Fontane Sisters take to the dance floor for a little polka with “Hoop De Doo.” Then enjoy Peggy Lee with her husband Dave Barbour directing the orchestra for “It’s All Over Now.” We’ll track period instrumental hits with The Viscounts, the Village Stompers, Ray Anthony and some great big band with Benny Goodman. Listen to some Broadway and film selections with Vic Damone from “Pal Joey” and Louis Armstrong from “Hello Dolly.” We’ll track a selection with the great Tony Bennett teamed up with Count Basie performing, “Life is a Song.” Hear one of those period 1950’s “mama-mia” records by Rosemary Clooney. Dean Martin croons a smooth alfredo version of the song, “You Belong to Me.” We’ll let the ladies take the stage for hit songs sung by Sarah Vaughan, Carole King from her Tapestry album, and Jo Stafford with her 1951 hit single, “Shrimp Boats.” Hear Nat King Cole with his early 1950’s hit version of “Too Young.” More with Ray Conniff and the Chorus and Sergio Mendez with Brazil 66. Listen today at: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat.htm

On The Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 2: The Rooftop Singers launch this set with a little 1963 Hootenanny action called, “Walk Right In.” Then listen to the RCA Orchestra under the direction of Hugo Winterhalter with jazz pianist Eddie Heywood playing “Canadian Sunset.” Kay Starr takes it next with a jazzy version of the Victor Young film theme, “Around the World,” followed with Matt Monro’s 1961 hit single, “My Kind of Girl.” Enjoy songs by period groups like The Mike Curb Congregation, The Toys with “A Lover’s Concerto,” and The McGuire Sisters with them doggoned “Rhythm and Blues.” We’ll spin standards by the period hit crooners like Eddie Fisher with “Anytime,” Frank Sinatra singing “Pennies from Heaven,” Nat King Cole with the Ralph Carmichael Chorus with the sweet song, “That Sunday, That Summer” and Pat Boone with his 1961 hit single, “Moody River.” Instrumental selections include Percy Faith’s “A Summer Place,” Raymond Lefevre with “Day by Day,” and “Stardust” by Hoagy Carmichael. Hear hit singles by Steve Lawrence, Ketty Lester, and Bobby Vee. To listen, left click on: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat.htm

On the Neon Beat this week, Jukebox 3: Petula Clark launches into this segment with a song that she begged her producer, Tony Hatch, NOT to release. (Wasn’t her style she said) Nevertheless, a number one hit song for 1966: “My Love.” Canadian sensation Michel Buble follows with the standard “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” Listen to the Vogues with their lovely rendition of the song, “Till.” We’ll spin fine instrumental selections including Michel Legrand’s “Theme from The Summer of 42,” Kai Winding’s 1963 hit single, “More,” and a swingin’ version of “Opus One” by Glen Gray’s Casa Loma Orchestra. Listen to a great comeback hit for songwriter Neil Sedaka as he does, “Laughter in the Rain,” followed with “A Certain Smile” by Johnny Mathis. A couple of fine “team-ups” include one with Rosemary Clooney and Guy Mitchell from the film “Pagan Love Songs” and Louis Armstrong with Bing Crosby, “The Preacher.” We’ll go to the DOT label for a song by a successful Bowling Green, Kentucky group named “The Hilltoppers” singing “From the Vine Came the Grape” and Nancy Wilson with “Call Me.” To listen go to: http://www.radiogeorge.com/neonbeat.htm And Happy New Year Kids!!