Eydie Gorme - Eydie Gorme's Delight (1957)

"Frenesi" by Eydie Gorme

Eydie Gorme was another of the family of singers at Tonight starring Steve Allen. With a couple years of experience singing in Big Bands, she became an asset to Steve Allen for her versatility and repertoire. Eydie Gorme would release her debut album Eydie Gorme's Delight in 1957 on Coral Records.

Eydie Gorme's debut was released as she was exiting Coral Records. As such, the album is simply a collection of singles she cut for the label over the previous five years. Many of the song selections play into her "exoticism" (her parents were born in Turkey and of Sephardic Jewish heritage) and her Spanish fluency (she worked as a Spanish translator for the UN before starting her singing career.) Each song is performed with a veteran's enthusiasm that makes any track an infectious listen, and when her voice soars at its full breadth, it's a delight.

Here is the discography surrounding Eydie Gorme's debut album:

Love Me Not Just a Little (Love Me a Lot) (1952 single)

Tell Me More (1952 single)

Cocoanuts (1953 single)

Frenesi (1953 single)

Gimme Gimme John (1953 single)

I Danced with My Darling (1953 single)

Chain Reaction (1954 single)

Crocodile Tears (1954 single)

Tea for Two (1954 single)

Make Yourself Comfortable (1954 single with Steve Lawrence)

A Girl Can't Say (1955 single)

Soldier Boy (1955 single)

Knickerbocker Mambo (1955 single with Steve Lawrence)

Besame Mucho (1955 single with Steve Lawrence)

"Tea for Two" by Eydie Gorme

"Climb Up the Wall" by Eydie Gorme

"Close Your Eyes (Take a Deep Breath)" by Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence

"Cry Me a River" by Eydie Gorme (on The Steve Allen Show)

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Steve Lawrence - About "That" Girl (1956)

"Like Someone in Love" by Steve Lawrence

When first building The Steve Allen Show for its New York audience, Steve Allen saw the new evening format as modern vaudeville. The variety of vaudeville required more than just jokes, interviews and jazzy themes, so he auditioned a "family" of singers that would perform throughout the week. Steve Lawrence, "a rabbi's son from Brooklyn," was one of the first such singers on The Steve Allen Show. Starting at 18, he continued with the show as it became Tonight Starring Steve Allen and would remain until the end of its run in 1957. Steve Lawrence released his debut album About "That" Girl in 1956 on Coral Records.

Steve Lawrence's debut opens with "Where or When." We find out that the "When" is 7AM and the beginning of a surprising and ambitious concept album that collects a series of romantic standards chronicling the day of a mind absorbed in love from waking to "the wee small hours of the morning." Every other song starts with clock chimes and an original verse that connects the overall narrative, leading naturally into the next song. Although these touches might come off as a little cheesy, they transcend the thematic album and nearly match the overbearing influences of Frank Sinatra (who had been building themed concept albums since he first started recording albums) in the realm of the narrative concept album: something I never expected to hear from a TV crooner's first try in 1956.

Note: In a sad bit of coincidence, I started listening to Steve Lawrence for this blog the same day he died from complications due to Alzheimer's disease. RIP Steve Lawrence.

Here is the discography surrounding Steve Lawrence's debut album:

All My Love Belongs to You (1952 single)

How Many Stars Have to Shine (1952 single)

Poinciana (1952 single)

Sudden Fear (1952 single)

If Not for You (1953 single)

King for a Day (1953 single)

To the Birds (1953 single)

I Need (1954 single)

Too Little Time (1954 single)

To the Birds (1954 EP)

Tell Me What to Do (To Make You Mine) (1954 single)

Make Yourself Comfortable (1954 single)

Adelaide (1955 single)

The Chicken and the Hawk (Up Up and Away) (1955 single)

How Do I Break Away from You (Without Breaking My Heart) (1955 single)

Open Up the Gates of Mercy (1955 single)

Besame Mucho (1955 single with Eydie Gorme)

Knickerbocker Mambo (1955 single with Eydie Gorme)

Never Mind (1956 single)

About "That" Girl

"If I Had You" by Steve Lawrence

"Poinciana" by Steve Lawrence

"Picnic" by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme (with Steve Allen and Skitch Henderson and His Orchestra)

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Skitch Henderson - Keyboard Sketches by Skitch Henderson (1949)

"Moonglow" by Skitch Henderson

As The Steve Allen Show's resident orchestra, Bobby Byrne and His Orchestra provided Dixieland Jazz accompaniment when the show was still a local New York program. NBC loved the format and adapted it, with Steve Allen, for a national audience. They created Tonight Starring Steve Allen, though Allen would tell you that NBC and the show's new producers didn't do much creating at all—as not much changed in the transition. One change, however, was the replacement of Bobby Byrne (whose Dixieland sound at the time was not suitable for the new audience) with Skitch Henderson and His Orchestra.

Skitch Henderson formed his orchestra after several years working in radio as a musical director and accompanist. He released his debut album Keyboard Sketches by Skitch Henderson (without his orchestra) in 1949 on Capitol Records.

Skitch's postwar recordings are piano-driven with an orchestra ready to respond when Skitch goes quiet, playing a pop jazz more appropriate for background music and slow dancing. Without his orchestra, Skitch's recordings are even softer and heavier with flourish. A little night music with a touch of Gershwin—almost lullabies.

Here is the discography surrounding Skitch Henderson's debut album:

Cynthia's in Love (1946 single with His Orchestra)

Dreamland Rendezvous (1946 single with His Orchestra)

Five Minutes More (1946 single with His Orchestra)

A Garden in the Rain (1946 single with His Orchestra)

If I'm Lucky (1946 single with His Orchestra)

Army Air Corps (1947 single with His Orchestra)

Dancing with a Deb (1947 single with His Orchestra)

Emperor Waltz (1947 single with His Orchestra)

Far Away Island (1947 single with His Orchestra)

Papa, Won't You Dance with Me? (1947 single with His Orchestra)

Would You Believe Me (1947 single with His Orchestra)

But None Like You (1948 single with His Orchestra)

A Fella with an Umbrella (1948 single with His Orchestra)

Maybe (1948 single with His Orchestra)

Skitch's Boogie (1948 single with His Orchestra)

Somebody Else's Picture (1948 single with His Orchestra)

The Music Goes 'Round and Around (1949 single with His Orchestra)

Pattern in Lace (1949 single with His Orchestra)

Autumn in New York (1949 single)

Moonglow (1949 single)

Keyboard Sketches by Skitch Henderson

Daddy's Little Girl (1950 single with His Orchestra)

Sunday Monday (1950 single with His Orchestra)

Swan Lake (1950 single with His Orchestra)

Two Cigarettes in the Dark (1951 single)

"Swan Lake" by Skitch Henderson and His Orchestra

"Maybe" by Skitch Henderson and His Orchestra

Skitch Henderson on "Tonight Starring Steve Allen"

Pass the Headphones!!