[Dixielandjazz] "Johnny Mercer's Music Shop" CD

[Don Ingle]

Johnny Mercer wrote more lyrics than any other song writer, more than 
one thousand in all. His amiable style of singing emphasizing his 
Southern drawl made him very popular. He was at one time master of 
ceremonies and singer for the Paul Whiteman Band and by 1939 was singing 
on the Benny Goodman Radio Show. The recordings on this disc come from 
his own popular radio show Johnny Mercer's Music Shop which also 
featured Jo Stafford and The Pied Pipers with June Hutton (Jo Stafford 
was originally one of The Pied Pipers but when she went solo her place 
was taken by June Hutton). Personnel Vocalists: a - Johnny Mercer b - 
The Pied Pipers with June Hutton c - Jo Stafford d - Johnny Mercer, Jo 
Stafford, The Pied Pipers with June Hutton e - The Three Barries f - The 
Three Barries, The Pied Pipers with June Hutton Collective Personnel: 
Paul West and His Orchestra, Stanley Wrightsman Introduction: Johnny 
Mercer - Wendell Myles Is You Is or Is You Ain't (My Baby) (a) San 
Fernando Valley (a) My Blue Heaven Love, Go Away (b) It Could Happen to 
You Dream Introduction: Johnny Mercer - Wendell Myles Sugar (a) The 
Trolley Song (b) Sure Thing Conversation with June Duprez - I Woke Up 
Started Dreaming (c) Dream (b) Introduction: Johnny Mercer - Wendell 
Myles Exactly Like You (b) Goodnight, Wherever You Are (c) You Can 
Depend On Me Crazy Rhythm (a) Alexander's Ragtime Band (d) Dream (b) 
Introduction: Johnny Mercer - Wendell Myles I Can't Help It (a) Time 
Waits For No One (c) I Get the Blues When It Rains (e) I'm Not Jealous 
(f) Dream (b) 
http://www.worldsrecords.com/cgi-bin/storeR.cgi?specific=itemcode&phrase=67175 
--Bob Ringwald www.ringwald.com Fulton Street Jazz Band 530/ 642-9551 
Office 916/ 806-9551 Cell Amateur (Ham) Radio K6YBV

Don Ingle added: Let's not forget one of the more lovely tenor sax solos 
ever recorded - Mercer's tune "Dream" - Paul Weston Orch. and Eddie 
Miller soloist. "Uncle Eddie" at his mellow best.
Also - June Hutton, who took Stafford's place in the Pied Pipers, was 
Betty Hutton's sister.
Mercer's life and songs, wonderfully celebrated in the book "Our 
Huckleberry Friend" (which as it happens I had pulled out of our 
bookcase last week to re-read),
is perhaps the best "bible" on this American songsmith and poet laureate 
of American music lyrics of our OKOM liftime.

Great post, Bob.