All+Night+Strut+Music+Videos

 Pay close attention to your vowels when singing and while watching the following videos:

1. Chattanooga Choo-Choo [] Dorothy Dandridge has a cutesy way of singing this that is tremendously good. [] But the Andrews Sisters are closer to the style we will perform in. Notice how perfect their vowels are with each other. Takes some work.

2. Minnie the Moocher [] The original Cab Calloway. Ebullient! Extravagant! ( [] ) (Jeeves & Wooster. How not to do it, but still be entertaining.)

3. Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? [] Al Jolson, in high vaudeville style

4. In the Mood [] Bette Midler, with so much energy it might be illegal.

5. Gimme a Pigfoot, and a Bottle of Beer [] Bessie Smith in her glory

6. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square [] Anita O’Day, the style is right, just right. Almost singing a lullaby. [] Bobby Darin, bigger style with a bigger band

7. Omitted

8. Java Jive [] Manhattan Transfer, in their best banter and costumes. Lap it up! Notice the vowels, the blend, the sense of ensemble, the playfulness [] The Ink Spots, with the unique sound. They sound sleepy in this, which is fun.

9. Medley · G.I. Jive [] Johnny Mercer, the composer singing his own tune.

· Shoo shoo baby [] Ella Mae Morse, skip to :55 for chorus · White Cliffs of Dover [] Vera Lynn, skip to 1:09

· Rosie the Riveter [] The Four Vagabonds, with such perfect styling it’s a happy-maker (Note that women are frail, frail being a noun here.)

· Mr. Smith [] Allan Jones and group, skip to 1:09

· Praise the Lord [] Kay Kyser and chorus, with a rousing rendition

· Wing and a Prayer [] The Four Vagabonds again.

· I’ll Be Seeing You [] Billie Holiday, filling each small syllable with the emotion of her hard life.

** ACT 2 ** 10. I Get Ideas [] Tony Martin, the tango version closer to our show, though desiccated. [] Louis Armstrong, just for the exuberance (fun tip: mean what you say when you sing)

11. Ain’t Misbehavin’ [] Anita O’Day, again, super young, super good [] Fats Waller, the original and composer

12. Operator [] Manhattan Transfer, nothing else to be said

13. Dream [] This gives you a good sense of how much entertainment has changed, and this was 1951! Again, the vowels, the precision and blend, the diction!

14. Omitted

15. A Fine Romance [] Billie Holliday, disbelieving what’s happening

16. Juke Box Saturday Night [] Castle Sisters, such creepy smiles/stares, but style is dead on.

17. As Time Goes By [] Binnie Hale, delicate, sentimental without being overwrought

18. Finale · Hit that Jive Jack [] Diana Krall, nice peppy tempo, eh?

· Lullaby of Broadway [] Andrews Sisters in the bright tempo we need.