A BING SONG: PENNIES FROM HEAVEN

My Grandfather loved Bing Crosby. Bing could almost do no wrong in his eyes, and I truly agree. Today is my birthday, and even though my Grandfather has been gone for close to 14 years now, I always listen to the song "Pennies From Heaven" on my birthday. It was my Grandfather's favorite Bing Crosby record, and listening to this song always reminds me of my Grandfather and what he meant to me.

"Pennies from Heaven" is a 1936 American popular song with music by Arthur Johnston and words by Johnny Burke. It was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film of the same name. It was recorded in the same year by Billie Holiday and afterwards performed by Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Dinah Washington, Clark Terry, Frances Langford, Arthur Tracy, Big Joe Turner, Frank Sinatra, Stan Getz, Dean Martin, Gene Ammons, The Skyliners (a major hit in 1960), Louis Prima, Legion of Mary, Guy Mitchell, Rose Murphy and many other jazz and popular singers.

The 1936 recording by Bing Crosby on Decca Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004. Bing Crosby also released the song in a performance with Louis Armstrong and Frances Langford with Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra also on Decca...

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN

Every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven
Don't you know each cloud contains pennies from heaven?
You'll find your fortune's fallin' all over the town
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down

Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
If you want the things you love, you must have showers
So, when you hear it thunder, don't run under a tree
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me

Every time, every time it rains, it's gonna rain pennies from heaven
Don't you know every cloud contains lots of pennies from heaven
You'll find your fortune's fallin', baby, all over the town
Be sure, be sure that your umbrella is upside down

Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
If you want the things you love, you've got to have showers
So, when you hear it thunder, don't run under a tree
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me.

A BING SONG: IT'S THE NATURAL THING TO DO

Bing chose a new arranger and orchestra leader for his radio programs and records in 1937 -- John Scott Trotter. The association would last 17 years and produce some of Bing's biggest hits. They recorded four songs on their very first trip to the recording studio -- July 12, 1937. Three of them charted, with "The Moon Got in My Eyes" reaching #18, "Smarty" reaching #1, and "It's the Natural Thing to Do" reaching #2...

IT'S THE NATURAL THING TO DO
(Burke, Johnston)

When a bird young and free
Hangs around a certain tree
Singing serenades that tell his love is true
That's because it's the natural thing to do.

And when a cat on a fence
Keeps his darling in suspense
And he's brave enough to face a well-aimed shoe
That's because it's the natural thing to do.

And you know every dove
Has its heart set on love,
Rabbits, too, pet and pat,
And there's nothin wrong with that!

When a boy such as I
Tries so hard to qualify
With a very lovely lady such as you.
Can't you see it's the natural thing to do?

And then the girl she acts demure
The boy he feels proud and sure
So proud and sure that he impulsively suggests a rendevous.
Fine thing!
That's because it's the natural thing to do.

But the girl she just won't agree.
She whimpers and she simpers
And he begs on bended knee.
But she runs away because she knows full well he'll pursue.
The chump!
That's because it's the natural thing to do.

Then the boy in despair
Waves his arms, tears his hair.
Stamps his feet and he acts like mad
Then you know that he's got it bad.

Then the girl she oughta fall
If she's got a heart at all.
She should take him in her arms
And kiss him too.
Oh! Oh! Just the natural thing to do.

A BING SONG: BALLAD FOR AMERICANS

During this 4^th of July season, now more than ever, we need to listen to songs that really spotlight how great our Country was and could still be. One such composition is the beautiful “Ballad For Americans”. The song is actually an American patriotic cantata with lyrics by John La Touche and music by Earl Robinson.

Originally titled "The Ballad for Uncle Sam", it was written for a WPA theatre project called Sing for Your Supper. The show opened on April 24, 1939. Congress abolished the Project on June 30, 1939. The “Ballad of Uncle Sam” had been performed 60 times.Producer Norman Corwin then had Robinson sing “Ballad of Uncle Sam” for the CBS brass. CBS was impressed and hired Paul Robeson to perform the song. 

Corwin retitled the song “Ballad for Americans.” Robeson and Robinson rehearsed for a week. On Sunday, November 5, 1939, on the 4:30 pm CBS radio show The Pursuit of Happiness, Robeson sang “Ballad for Americans” (Time, November 20, 1939). Norman Corwin produced and directed, Mark Warnow conducted, Ralph Wilkinson did the orchestration (in Robeson's key), and Lyn Murray handled the chorus. Robeson subsequently began to perform the song, beginning with a repeat on CBS on New Year’s Eve. Robbins Music Corporation published the sheet music.

Victor Records decided to record and release the song. Robinson recommended the American People’s Chorus for the recording and he re-rehearsed them in Robeson’s key. (Robinson had written the song to the key of E.) Nathaniel Shilkret conducted the recording. Time Magazine mentioned the album on the May 6, 1940 issue. On May 14, 1940, a full page ad for the records (a four-sided album on 78 rpm records) appeared in the New York Daily News. Each side of the album ended with the lyrics “You know who I am.” By the end of 1940, the album had sold more than 40,000 copies.

On July 6, 1940, Bing Crosby recorded the song for Decca. It became a huge hit for Decca and rivaled Paul Robeson’s version of it. Bing’s version is a scaled down version, along with more wording to fit his personality. Decca released the song as a two doubled sided blue label 78rpms. MGM then included the song as the finale of the 1942 movie Born to Sing (choreographed by Busby Berkeley and sung by Douglas McPhail). Jules Bledsoe, James Melton and others also performed the song. Lawrence Tibbett performed it on NBC for the Ford Hour. The British premiere was in September 1943 with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hugo Weisgall.

In the 1940 presidential campaign it was sung at both the Republican National Convention (by baritone Ray Middleton) and that of the Communist Party. Its popularity continued through the period of World War II — in autumn 1943, 200 African American soldiers performed the piece in a benefit concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. After the war, Robeson transferred from Victor to Columbia Records. Victor responded by withdrawing Robeson’s Ballad from their catalogue. In 1966, Vanguard Records released Robeson’s recording on a 33¹⁄₃ rpm record. It has been periodically revived, notably during the United States Bicentennial (1976).

Invoking the American Revolution (it names several prominent revolutionary patriots and quotes the preamble of the Declaration of Independence), and the freeing of the slaves in the American Civil War (there is a brief lyrical and musical quotation of the spiritual "Go Down Moses"), as well as Lewis and Clark, the Klondike Gold Rush, and Susan B. Anthony, the piece draws an inclusive picture of America: "I'm just an Irish, Negro, Jewish, Italian, French and English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Polish, Scotch, Hungarian, Litwak, Swedish, Finnish, Canadian, Greek and Turk and Czech and double-check American — I was baptized Baptist, Methodist, Congregationalist, Lutheran, Atheist, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, Presbyterian, Seventh-day Adventist, Mormon, Quaker, Christian Scientist — and lots more."

If you want to listen to what America is and should be listen to Bing’s version and the other versions of “Ballad For Americans.” It will give you a lump in your throat and pride in your country. God bless America…

A BING SONG: THERE'S NOTHING THAT I HAVEN'T SUNG ABOUT

This song introduced the world to Bing the Rapper, long before Rap made its mark on the pop music scene. "There's Nothing" was originally written for Bing to sing on a 1969 guest appearance on Jackie Gleason's television show featuring The Honeymooners. Jackie tries to sell Bing a new song, but Bing responds musically that there "ain't nothin' I haven't sung about."

Surprisingly Bing did not record the song for commercial release until July 22, 1976, for Decca (then part of MCA) in London. He was backed by the Alan Cohen orchestra. The song was released that fall on his album "Feels Good, Feels Right." In England "There's Nothing" was also released as a single, backed by Bing's masterful interpretation of "As Time Goes By." Invariably, Bing included this song in his many concerts the last year of his life. The song jumps...

I've sung about the birds and bees
The daffydown dillies and the shady trees
I've covered mother nature inside out.
There's the old ox road, the old millstream
Pennies from heaven and darn that dream
Nothin that I haven't sung about.

I've sung some songs of sacrifice
I've even sung a few that offered good advice.
I've covered all emotions there's no doubt.
Like a fine romance, learn to croon
Sing you sinners, and love in bloom.
Nothing that I haven't sung about.

There's many a chorus
I've sang of Delores.
Remember Marquita, and sweet Riorita?
There's Mary and Sally, and Rose Mexicali.
From Emiline to Clementine
They all got equal time.

Yes, musically I've been around
I've covered almost every town
I've always been a vocal gadabout.
From the Swanee River, to Galway Bay,
Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe
There's nothing that I haven't sung about.

I found a million dollar baby in a ten cent store
A pockeful of dreams and plenty more
Since anything goes I pick Sweet Sue
Spose that's the natural thing to do.

We began the beguine and I could feel it start
I said please be careful that's my heart!
In the cool of the evening 'neath the autumn leaves
We call for music, maestro please!

There's a great temptation as we cuddle near
And I whispered I surrender dear.
The bells of St Mary's rang in the steeple
For all the dear friends and gentle kind of people.

I said babe I got you under my skin
It had to be you 'cause love walked in.
From here on in you'll be going my way
Til the blue of the night meets the gold of the day.

I've sung about Dolly, my Rosie of Tralee
I've sung of Chicago, and that song from Zhivago.
The old Mississippi and Tintipitipi.
The winter, summer, spring and fall
I've covered one and all
And I love 'em one and all!

I've tried to sing these modern songs
I just can't figure where that style belongs
The mad rock, acid rock, country, western, soul.
But when I try to sing 'em I ain't nowhere
I ain't got the clothes and I ain't got the hair
But I'll keep tryin' til there is no doubt
There ain't nothing, really nothing,
That I haven't sung about!

A BING SONG: GONE FISHIN

Louis Armstrong sang this song with Bing as a guest on Bing's radio show in April 1951. The duet reveals the delightful musical kinship between Bing and Satchmo. Decca preserved this performance on disc, which charted for two weeks that summer.

GONE FISHIN' Nick A. Kenny / Charles F. Kenny)

I'll tell you why I can't find you Every time I go out to your place...

You gone fishin' (well how you know) Well there's a sign upon your door (uh-huh) Gone fishin' (I'm real gone man) You ain't workin' anymore (could be) There's your hoe out in the sun Where you left a row half done You claim that hoein' ain't no fun (well I can prove it) You ain't got no ambition

Gone fishin' by a shady wady pool (Shangrila, really la) I'm wishin' I could be that kind of fool (should I twist your arm?) I'd say no more work for mine (welcome to the club) On my door I'd hang a sign Gone fishin' instead of just a-wishin'

Papa Bing (yeah Louis) I stopped by your place a time or two lately And you aren't home either Well, I'm a busy man Louis. I got a lotta deals cookin' I was probably tied up at the studio You weren't tied up you dog You was just plain old...

Gone fishin' (bah-boo-bah-boo-bah-boo-bah-boo-bah) There's a sign upon your door (Pops, don't blab it around, will you?) Gone fishin' (keep it shady, I got me a big one staked out) Mmm, you ain't workin' anymore (I don't have to work, I got me a piece of Gary) Cows need milkin' in the barn (I have the twins on that detail, they each take a side) But you just don't give a darn (give 'em four bits a cow and hand lotion) You just never seem to learn (man, you taught me) You ain't got no ambition (you're convincin' me)

Gone fishin' (bah-boo-dah-do-dah-do-dah-do) Got your hound dog by your side (that's old Cindy-Lou goin' with me) Gone fishin' (mmm-hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm) Fleas are bitin' at his hide (get away from me boy, you bother me)

Mmm, folks won't find us now because Mister Satch and Mister Cros We gone fishin' instead of just a-wishin' Bah-boo-baby-bah-boo-bah-bay-mmm-bo-bay Oh yeah!

A BING SONG: TEAMWORK

TEAMWORK
(Sammy Cahn / James Van Heusen)

Of the many great teams -- meat and potatoes, hot dogs and mustard, liver and onions -- few could match the perfect hand-in-glove fit of Bing and Bob Hope. Bing and Bob recorded more than a dozen songs together for commercial release, beginning in 1944 with "Road to Morocco" and "Put it There, Pal" and ending in 1961 with "Teamwork" and "The Road to Hong Kong." Although many show business teams have parted on less than friendly terms (Martin and Lewis, Abbott and Costello, Lennon and McCartney), Bing and Bob stuck together until parted by death. One more road picture and an album of duets was planned for the duo in 1978 until fate intervened...

When two guys pull together it's teamwork.
In foul or sunny weather it's teamwork.
What does it take to make any business climb?
You'll find it takes teamwork every time.

Incidentally, your jokes will kill the yokels it's teamwork.
I love your hokey vocals it's teamwork.
Like Fred Astaire and Ginger yet twice as chic
We'll give them that teamwork, cheek to cheek.

Here we are, just like in Zanzibar
Still nothin, still a star.
That's quite a stab from old flab.
They always pay us plenty for teamwork.
We split it 80-20 -- that's teamwork?
(Yours is tax free.)

When others start to part and go off the beam.
Like siamese brothers we'll be on each other's team.

No fuss about the billing it's teamwork
The smallest type is thrilling it's teamwork.
Although we hold each other in low esteem
We're loaded with teamwork!
Hey now!
What's life without teamwork?
Go boy!

Unless you got teamwork there's no team.

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