Show Notes: 24 July 2011

Bienvenidos, mi amigos! Mucho gusto. Encantado!

Tonight's show  started as song in search of reason to be played.  Swing Shift Radio's musical director Bobby Marlette and I were sitting in the rehearsal room of the Meridian Night Club and Lounge and we were honestly bemoaning what could we do for the live show when my cell phone rang (don't judge me - I may live like it's 1949, but I know it's 2011).  Bobby started to laugh at my choice of ringtone.  Its from one of my all time favorite neo-swing bands, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.  With that song -we had a theme and it required a whole new dance routine for the chorus girls.

Mambo Swing was the tune, and being here in the heat of summer - we decided to go for the Latin American/Caribbean beat influence on American swing/jazz. 

It started in the late 30’s – really took off in the 50’s, and again in the 90’s and early in the years of the 21^st century every genre of music was trying to copy it a little. Even swing music embraced these strange intoxicating rhythms.  From Mambo to Rhumba to Salsa to Tango to Bossa Nova, from Brazil to Argentina to Cuba and all points from the Caribbean to South of the equator.  The Latin and Caribbean beats became part of the language of American music.

We decided to go from classic to modern bands who performed songs directly influenced by these Latin beats

Here are the songs from tonight's musical selection:

• Mambo Swing – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
• A Night in Havana – Blue Plate Special
• The Rhumba Jumps – Glenn Miller w/ Mary Hutton and Tex Beneke vocals
• Congo Conga – Cab Callaway 
• Miami Beach Rhumba  - Freddy Martin
• Caramba, it’s the Samba - Peggy Lee
• Drinking Rum and Coca Cola - The Andrews Sisters
• Mambo Inn – George Gee and His Jump Jivin’ Wailers
• Chicka, Chicka, Boom Chick – Carmen Miranda
• Tampico – Stan Getz and June Christy
• Adios Senorita – Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney
• I Wanna Be Like You – Louis Prima (from Jungle Book) 
• Cuban Pete – Jim Carrey (from The Mask)

 

Our "It's Martini Time!" segment come courtesy of guest mixologist Christopher Kelly from the Mie and Yu bar in Georgetown / Washington DC.  A tropically inspired drink perfect for the summer time with a hint of mango and mint, the Taj Mohito.

If you have a drink or bartender you want highlighted on the show, just drop me an e-mail here on the show - TommyCage[at]SwingShiftRadio[dot]com.

See you next week on The Swing Shift!

Tommy Cage

Listen to us Saturdays @ 2pm and Sundays @ 7pm on WGUN 1010 AM Atlanta, or on TuneIn.com, search for WGUN and click connect! 

Join us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @SwingShiftRadio

Wanna listen to the show at home?

To facilitate our listeners - we've decided to make some of the older shows available for download, and as soon as I can figure out how to do it, make them available as RSS feeds for iTunes and the like.

You'll have to search the older posts, but an easy guess as to when we post will be two weeks after the show's initial airing!

Thanks everybody for listening and participating in the Future of Retro Radio!!

 Tommy Cage, your host

Secret vote for this week's music playlist

Friends of Swing Shift - 

We took a vote for this week's live show at the Meridian Lounge as to what we will feature in the revue, and to mirror that vote - this week's radio show will feature music fit for the season - muy caliente'.

See you Sunday at 7pm on WGUN 1010 AM - Atlanta, and again on Saturday at 1 pm withthe next episode of the Swing Shift Radio Show!

Tommy Cage
Swing Shift Radio Show
"The Future of Retro Radio!"

Show Notes: 17 July 2011

 July 17th Show rundown:

My musical director, Bobby Marlette and I have been very busy auditioning performers for the show at the Meridian Lounge, and we are very excited about a potential new crop of people for The Radio Noir Playhouse.  If all goes well, we should have new episodes of Radio Noir online very soon! Stay tuned!!

Even with all the hustle and bustle going on, we still had time to come up with a theme for this week.  We decided to go to the musical style that gave birth to Jump Blues, Rock-a-billy, Rock-N-Roll, and Rhythm & Blues.  Its an off shoot of Swing, Jazz and Gospel - Boogie Woogie, that peculiar piano style that brings the left hand into play on the 88 keys to provide the 8 beat to the bar syncopated rhythm.

When you couldn't afford a whole band, or all you had was a few players and a Stride Rite or flat-top piano, you could get the joint jumping just by playing this infectious rhythm.  This bit of American musical culture originated in Texas and spread like wild fire, first to the Left Coast and then back across the Heartland to the Big Apple (thanks to radio and traveling Big Bands).

Here is the list of songs that were played:

• Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B – Andrews Sisters
• Boogie Woogie Came To Town – Louis Jordan and His Tympani 5
• Roll The Boogie – Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers
• Boogie Man – Red and The Red Hots
• Jive Mr. Boogie – Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88’s 
• Blue Suit Boogie - Indigo Swing
• House of Blue Lights – Ella Mae Morse with Freddy Slack
• Blue Plate Boogie - Asleep at the Wheel featuring Mary Ann Price
• Big D Boogie – Reverend Horton Heat
• Dirty Boogie – Brian Setzer Orchestra
• Mondine – Stompy Jones
• The Calloway Boogie – Cab Calloway and His Orchestra

 

"It's Martini Time" presented the Blue Sunset by guest mixologist Babs Zarillo from the Expert Village Test Kitchens.  This is a variation on the Tequila Sunset or Tequila Sunrise.  Our taste-testers at the Meridian Lounge liked it for its lighter, sweet flavor.  Assistant Producer and Gopher Shaggy was a dissenting vote, saying "its one for the chicks."  We gave this one 3 out of 5 Martini Glasses overall, excellent presentation, nice flavor.

Our special performance of Five Minute Mysteries was the episode Command Performance. 

Thanks for all of the e-mails over our last few week's shows.  For all of the kinds words about our late friend "Pops" Valdaro, his family wants everyone to know how grateful they are.

See you next week on The Swing Shift!

Tommy Cage

 

Listen to us Saturdays @ 2pm and Sundays @ 7pm on WGUN 1010 AM Atlanta, or on TuneIn.com, search for WGUN and click connect! 

Join us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @SwingShiftRadio

Another episode today!

Join me on WGUN 1010 AM Atlanta today at 7pm for another episode of The Swing Shift Radio Show broadcasting live from the Meridian Nightclub and Lounge! Tonight's show is featuring  music that was the progenitor or most forms of modern American musical genres.  "It's Martini Time" has a special themed drink, perfect for the summer, and a quick installment of The Radio Noir Playhouse.  See you on the Radio!

As always, show notes will be published after the program, so stay tuned - 

Remember, 1010 Am in Atlanta for WGUN, or join us online at TuneIn.com, and search for WGUN!

Thanks everybody!

Tommy Cage, Host - Swing Shift Radio

Show Notes: 10 July 2011

July 10th show rundown:

This week was a sad one at The Meridian Lounge.  A good friend of The Swing Shift Radio Show passed away this week, Salvatore Michael Valdaro, Jr.  We never called him Salvatore or Michael – to us here at the lounge, he was just "Pops."    

Pops was a lover, a fighter, and poet – he was born in Brooklyn, but lived most of his life in Jersey City NJ – and yes, he carried the accent with him.  Italian descent, a proud American and in love with life.  He was old school New Jersey, not that painful Guido culture that we see on television nowadays.  No, Pops was the real deal. 

 

TC and "Pops" Valdaro, April 2011

I never met a man more opinionated, nor can I recall enjoying conversations and history lessons so much.  If you came out to the lounge over the past 8 years, you may have seen him, flitting in, hat on his head – always making time to talk to the ladies.  He was a terrible flirt, and the gals loved to chat to him.   

Laurenda kissing Pops good-night

Pops and Jerry "Smokin" V

  

He would have his son Jerry bring him in – Jerry’s a big time friend of Swing Shift as well.  Between the two of them – no night was ever dull or quiet. 

  

To honor his memory and what he meant to all of us here, our infamous musical director Bobby Marlette and I went over all we knew about our departed friend, and then we chose music that we thought best described him: 

• Frank Sinatra – World On A String
• Dean Martin – Volare’
• Sammy Davis, Jr – Don’t Talk about Me When I’m Gone
• James Darren – Here’s to the Losers
• Peter Lawford and Jimmy Durante – Swingin’ With The Rhythm and Blues
• Peggy Lee – Big Spender
• Tony Bennett – Chicago
• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – Ol’ MacDonald’s Farm
• Michael Buble’ – Come Fly with Me
• Louis Prima & Keely Smith – Old Black Magic
• Ray Gelato – Pizza You
• Frank Sinatra – That’s Life
• Jerry Vale – Non Dimenticar

Here is the show as a direct download - take a moment and listen - I know you'll like it.
"Pops" Memorial Show - 10 July 2011
 

"It's Martini Time" this week was suggested by Friend of Swing Shift Joe Smyth, who wrote to us telling how that was his family's favorite drink at every holiday; and seeing as how the subject matter of this week's program was a very old fashioned kind of man - it fit perfectly.  

Thanks to Will, the One Minute Bartender from OneMinuteBartender.com for providing his recipe.

 

Requiscat In Pace, Salvatore’ Michael “Pops” Valdaro - a good friend of The Swing Shift Radio Show.  He wasn’t a singer, play-write, musician, scientist or doctor.  He was shoe maker, a municipal city worker for Jersey City, a husband and father.  He was a good man who would tell stories, he would make you laugh and smile.  On behalf of the entire Swing Shift Radio family, the cast and crew here at the Meridian Night Club and Lounge, we want to offer our sincerest condolences to his surviving children, family and friends.

For those out there who may have questions about cancer, please go talk to your doctor – get regular check-ups and pay attention to early symptoms.  Don’t let anything get by you. As Pops would say, "You only got one life...live it well."

See you next week on The Swing Shift!

Tommy Cage

Listen to us Saturdays @ 2pm and Sundays @ 7pm on WGUN 1010 AM Atlanta, or on TuneIn.com, search for WGUN and click connect! 

Join us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @SwingShiftRadio

  

A Special Memorial Show

Friends of Swing Shift,

The show this week will be a very special one.  A dear friend of the show, Salvatore Michael Valdaro, Jr. passed away on July 6th, 2011.  If you've come out to one of the shows, you more than likely had seen him.  He was gregarious, talkative and always full of opinions.

L: "Pops" Valdaro          R:  A shy, good friend

This weeks show is dedicated to him and his memory.

Pops loved Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, as well as the Crooners of the late 40's to the early 60's.  In his memory, those are some the types of performers we will play for you.  We'll play Rat Pack, Peggy Lee, James Darren, as well as some modern groups such as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Ray Gelato and his Giants.

Please join us as we celebrate the life of this remarkable man who meant a great deal to all of the cast and crew here at the Meridian Nightclub and Lounge and The Swing Shift Radio Show family.

Show time is Sundays @ 7pm, WGUN 1010 AM - Atlanta, and then again on Saturdays @ 2PM, same channel.   Or you can try and listen in over teh internet stream at TuneIn.com and search for WGUN.

Thanks again to everyone again and I look forward to sharing this great production with you!

Show notes: July 4th, 2011

July 4th Show Rundown:

Fireworks, parades, lemonade, sparklers - these are the things most people associate with the 4th of July.  Now we even have special sale days at stores filled with red, white and blue bunting.  But why do we celebrate?

I wanted to pay homage to the people who taught me what it means to be an American, to struggle and sacrifice to work for the greater good and take care of your neighbor.  The Greatest Generation did that when they went through the terror of World War 2.  What they did as a nation to reshape the world, stop two massive armies from conquering it all at the same time while trying to come to grips with who they were as a people is pretty amazing.  Racism and sexism were both confronted head on.  It took awhile to change so many hearts and minds, but the ground work was laid during the war years.

 

So to honor their call to duty and sacrifice on the frontlines and the homefront, Bobby Marlette and I went through the big stacks to pull out music that reflected the attitudes of the times best. Our goal was to celebrate American Exceptionalism.  NO politics - just pure unadulterated patriotism.  I think we did a good job.

Here are the songs from the 4th:

• Andrew Sisters – Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
• John Scott Trotter – The General Jumped At Dawn
• Johnny Long – For The Flag, For The Home, For The Family
• 4 King Sisters – A-1 In The Army
• Dinah Shore - Three Little Sisters
• Ruth McCullough Dyer - Bell Bottom Trousers
• Mel Blanc as Bugs Bunny/Elmer Fudd/Porky Pig - Any Bonds Today?
• Hal McIntyre & His Orchestra -This is the Army Mr. Jones
• Bing Crosby – The Bombardier Song
• Perry Como – Private First Class Mary Brown
• Sgt. Ray McKinley with Glenn Miller's Army Air Corp Band – Peggy The Pin Up Girl
• Ella Mae Morse – Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet
• Schoolhouse Rocks! – Fireworks
• Glee Club Chorus - Remember Pearl Harbor
• Bob Hope – 1943 Command Performance appearance
• Red Skelton – Pledge of Allegiance

For those wanting to listen at home - here is the direct download link:
Swing Shift Radio Show - Ep 2011-3.5 : Independence Day

No Martini Time today, folks, and no Radio Noir Playhouse either.  We wanted to focus only on the holiday, and the people who really gave us a reason to be thankful for Old Glory.

See you next week on The Swing Shift!

Listen to us Sundays @ 7pm on WGUN 1010 AM Atlanta, or on TuneIn.com, search for WGUN and click connect!

Show Notes: 3 July 2011

July 3rd show rundown -


This week we decided to answer some of the questions posed to us about a show we had aired previously.  The show's theme was a trip across America, as seen through the eyes and ears of musicians.  The only requirement was that the song had to be about someplace and be named in the song. I think we received more mail on this one show than almost any other - "Why didn't you play this song" or "What about" that place were the most prevalent inquiries.  So to keep the Friends of Swing Shift from bringing the pitchforks and torches - I got together with Bobby Marlette, Swing Shift Radio's musical director, and we pulled out these numbers:

• The Mighty Blue Kings – Jumping at the Green Mill (for Chicago)
• Atomic Cocktail – You’ve Come A Long Way From St. Louis
• Cab Calloway – Beale Street Mama (for Memphis)
• Emme Kemp – Atlanta Blues
• Jo Stafford - Tallahassee
• Sarah Vaughn with Count Basie - Perdido (for the Florida Key)
• Reverend Horton Heat – New York City Girls
• Andrew Sisters - Pennsylvania 6-5000
• Ella Mae Morse – Tennessee Saturday Night
• Squirrel Nut Zippers - Christmas in Carolina
• Deacon John Moore - Going Back To New Orleans
• Louis Jordan and His Tympani 5 - Texas and Pacific
• Brian Setzer Orchestra - Route 66
• Blues Brothers Band featuring Elwood and Brother Zee- Viva Las Vegas
• Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88’s - Golden Gate Jump (San Francisco, California, 'natch)

I know we went to Tennessee AND Florida twice, but I have friends there and I wanted to say "Hi" again to them. 

Here is the direct download link to the show:
Swing Shift Radio Show Ep2011-3: It's great to see the USA"

Our "Martini Time" segment was headlined by guest mixologist Sam at Pete's Candy Store in NYC who gave us the recipe for the all-American cocktail, the "Manhattan".  Thanks to About dot com for providing Sam to us.

See you next week on The Swing Shift!

Listen to us Sundays @ 7pm on WGUN 1010 AM Atlanta, or on TuneIn.com, search for WGUN and click connect!