From Frank Loesser’s ‘Guys & Dolls’ — A swingin’ cross over from the world of Broadway to the stages of Las Vegas as adopted by the Rat Pack. 1976 the gang of Frank, Dean, Sammy and Bing joined Debbie Reynolds, Jo Stafford, The McGuire Sisters and the great Dinah Shore for a studio take on Loesser’s hit musicial. The boys were known to take this one on the road with them and the number became a favorite routine in their Vegas shows.
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Reportedly inspired by John Wayne’s iconic catch-phrase “that’ll be the day”, this Rock ‘N Roll classic has an interesting pedigree. The song was written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison and producer Norman Petty. It has been covered many times over the years, but one of the most interesting would be an early demo from ‘The Quarrymen’ — later to be known as The Beatles. Holly’s catchy, swingin’ groove and fun, love-inspired lyrics have made this song one of his best loved.
This ‘Golden Oldie’ was penned by singer Maurice Williams in 1953 at the age of 15 — after a failed attempt to convince his date to stay out past 10 pm. The song didn’t get noticed until 1960 when it took Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs to the charts with #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was knocked from it’s pedestal a week later by Elvis Presley’s ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’. The song found renewed popularity when it was included on the soundtrack to the 1987 hit film ‘Dirty Dancing’.
Frank Loesser wrote ‘Standing On The Corner’ for the 1956 musical ‘The Most Happy Fella’. Like many of Loesser’s great compositions this one went on to be a timeless popular classic — first in the 50’s with a cut from The Four Lads, and shortly thereafter with Dean Martin’s Capitol recording. The track was released as a single in 1956 and then on the 1964 compilation ‘Hey Brother, Pour The Wine’ — and reached #22 on the US charts.
Legendary Mississippi-born Bluesman Little Milton is best known for numbers like ‘Grits Ain’t Groceries’ and ‘We’re Gonna Make It’. Milton’s own Bobbin Records was distributed by Leonard Chess’ Chess Records. It’s through this agreement that this great little Blues cut was produced — a slow grinder from Blues writer Jessie Mae Robinson called ‘Sneaking Around’.
I’m Sitting On Top Of The World’ is a 1925 popular number written by Ray Henderson, Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young. It was first made a hit by the great Al Jolson and has seen numerous covers over the years which have kept the tune strong in the popular memory. This Dean Martin rendition has been professionally arranged for your ensemble.
This not-so-well-known cut from teen hearttrob Bobby Darin is classic 60’s kitsch and cool. It’s a Boogaloo rendition of a Cuban folk classic combined with Darin’s full studio production sound for a romp through the jungle. If you haven’t heard this cut it is defintiely one to check out — and a definite crowd pleaser! We’ve added an open solo section to expand the length of the number as well.
This number from Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five topped the R&B charts for 12 non-consecutive weeks in late 1949. It also reached #21 on the US national charts — a big accomplishment for what was viewed as a ‘race record’ in that day. The song, composed by Jordan and Ellis Walsh is the tale of a night gone wrong — full of fun and debauchery down on Rampart Street. This R&B hit has a great beat that’s not to be missed!
Buddy Holly’s hit version of this song ranked #155 on the Rolling Stone ‘500 Greatest Songs Of All Time’ and was one of Holly’s biggest hits. This 80’s remake of the Sonny West, Bill Tilghman and Norman Petty composition took a Southern Rock tilt — with flavors of Cajun groove and Rockabilly. The John Mellencamp version was featured on the 1988 soundtrack to the Tom Cruise film ‘Cocktail’. ‘Rave On’ is a great Blues-based number and has plenty of room for Guitar and Horns to do their thing!
Bunny Paul is probably one of the best loved artists that nobody knows — having recorded over 50 titles between 1948 to 1963 in styles from Rockabilly to Rhumba. ‘Poor Joe’ is perhaps one of her most recognizable hits. This 1957 recording was made for Brunswick records and tells the tale of ‘Poor Joe’ who’s wife sorted him out with the aid of a frying pan to the head. Guaranteed to not only get the dancers moving but generate some laughs!