This show is going to celebrate Canada's 150th Birthday. All the selections have a Canadian connection. Some are Sung by Canadians, others are written by Canadians, and a couple are performed by Canadian singer/songwriters. Beginning with the great sound of Guy Lombardo and his band telling us to Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think. A song I remember my grandmother playing on the piano in Calcutta. So, I feel a special link to this great Canadian. Followed by Gisele McKenzie, from Winnipeg doing Answer me, my love.
SONGS
Enjoy Yourself - Guy Lombardo
Answer me, my love - Gisele McKenzie
Answer me, my love - Gisele McKenzie
The next song was written by Toronto born Ruth Lowe. I'll never smile again. Written in the 1930's when her first husband died, in the war years, Frank Sinatra recorded it, and while numerous other artists have recorded it, Frank's is the definitive version. It is credited as launching his career with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. After Frank, is one of the biggest hit of the 1950's Theme from A Summer Place from Canadian Percy Faith.
SONGS
I'll never smile again - - Frank Sinatra
Theme from A Summer Place - Percy Faith
In my early days in Toronto in the 1970's, Moe Kaufman was on the television frequently. Moe is known for his 1958 hit Swinging Shepherd Blues. It was a hit everywhere, I remember hearing it on the BBC. After Moe's instrumental, is a vocal version from Ella Fitzgerald.
SONGS
Swinging Shepherd Blues - Moe Kaufman
Swinging Shepherd Blues - Ella Fitzgerald
Here is My True Love from Ontario born Jack Scott.
SONGS
My True Love - Jack Scott
Coming up is american heart throb from the early 1950's, Johnnie Ray with his big hit Cry. However, Johnnie is assisted on the vocals by the Canadian harmony group the Four Lads. I have mentioned before that the Four Lads grew up together in Toronto, Ontario, and were members of St. Michael's Choir School. After Cry, there is country hit Slow Poke by Gisele McKenzie
SONGS
Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads - Cry
Slow Poke - Gisele McKenzie
another song from my childhood is Earth Angel by The Crew cuts. We had the 78 RPM and I loved it. However, my dad was less than fond of it and complained when I played it as he did not understand what a the noise was. Followed by Paul Anka and Put Your Head on My Shoulder..
SONGS
The Crew cuts - Earth Angel
Put Your Head on My Shoulder - Paul Anka
Now another favorites of Michael's , and definitely annoying to my Dad, Little Darlin' by The Diamonds and Another tune from Jack Scott, the sad Goodbye Baby.
SONGS
Little Darlin' - The Diamonds
Goodbye Baby - Jack Scott
For a long time, the biggest selling single in the world, even according to the Guinness Book of Records, was Diana by Paul Anka. Another, Ottawa born performer. It is coming up now followed by New Zealand born,but raised in Canada, Gale Garnett. We'll sing in the Sunshine. In 1970, when I arrived in Toronto, I found that she was also a writer, and her articles appeared in the Toronto weekend papers.
SONGS
Diana - Paul Anka -
We'll Sing in the Sunshine - Gale Garnett
Seasons of the Sun - Terry Jacks was one of the biggest hits in North America in the early 70's. When I traveled to America to see my family I was proud to tell them "He's a Canadian, you know."
SONG
Seasons of the Sun - Terry Jacks
Ending with 2 classic Canadian icons and one with a special Nova Scotia connection. When I heard Elvis' version in the summer of 1959, I fell in love with A Fool Such as I. Here is Liverpool NS' Hank Snow with his version, also great. He wrote it.
47 years ago, I arrived in my now adopted country, one of the first Canadian singles I recall was Mashmakan's As years go by. A fitting title to include in an oldies show! A big hit for them; almost half a century ago.
SONGS
A Fool Such as I - Hank Snow
As the years go by - Mashmakan
