Your Hit Parade

A few years ago I did a series of programs on the radio show Your Hit Parade. The songs came from a ten CD set that I have. Each CD features the songs from a certain year that were featured on Your Hit Parade. There were more songs on the CD than I could play in an show so I have decided to revisit this set and pick out different songs. Each show combines two years so today's show will feature songs from the years of 1940 and 1941. We'll also learn the history of the radio show as we listen to some great songs. I hope you'll join me for a potpourri of songs as we begin the series Your Hit Parade Part 1. 

Here is a little bit about the show from web site www.otrcat.com:

It began in the mid-30s in New York, and was sponsored by Lucky Strike cigarettes in 1936. The catchy #1 tune concept was a "hit" of its own right from the start. "Goody Goody" was the first anniversary #1 tune…a perfect example of what a pop hit is. Al Goodman's orchestra played through the rest of the 1930s, with Mark Warnow's taking over in the 1940s. In July of 1941, the "Hut Sut Song" was a biggie. In July of '42, "Sleepy Lagoon." By this time, New York radio personality Martin Block took the host microphone, and introduced the singers and the songs.

A chorus called The Hit Paraders were always ready to backup the featured singers. At first the regulars were Barry Wood and Joan Edwards. In the spring of '43, a skinny New Jersey kid named Frank came on the show to stay for a while. Sinatra was probably the biggest draw that Lucky Strikes ever had! The bobbie-soxers had swooned over this guy, and listened avidly as he crooned the tunes. The show went on without
Frankie in 1945, with Lawrence Tibbett, then Dick Todd, and then Andy Russell doing the hits. Dinah Shore was on for a while, too. Then in 1947, Sinatra was back, and Beryl Davis took over the girl's part. Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra backed up. Sinatra fans will remember the wonderful records of Frankie made with Stordahl's arrangements and accompaniment. Many consider these among the very best, for it certainly was the most romantic and intimate of Sinatra's oeuvre. This collection of shows draws mainly from the 1940s, which was a very good time for this show, the heydays of the popular tune that drew on strong melodies and poetic lyrics…except for the occasional novelty tune like "The Woody Woodpecker Song."