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[0:00] Paul Lazarus: Hi, this is Paul Lazarus. In the 1980s, I produced and hosted a radio series called Anything Goes, a celebration of the American musical theater. Now, the Broadway Podcast Network is bringing back these shows. This is the second of a three-part program saluting Hoagy Carmichael, one of my favorite songwriters. This program originally aired in 1982. Together with my guest Dick Sudhalter, we featured many Carmichael rarities and little-known recordings of his most famous songs like "Stardust" and "Skylark." We're going to play "Washboard Blues," which is right after, really, "Riverboat Shuffle," isn't it? Yeah, and again, it's one of those wonderful oddities. Carmichael, because he didn't write for the theater and because he didn't write songs to formula or to order to advance action in a plot or anything, was really able to kind of range far and wide and write what he felt like writing at any given moment.

The result is a body of material which is quite varied in its character and its scope and everything, but all, as we said before, sounds like the same guy. "Washboard Blues" was written in collaboration with a fellow who made his living as a stonecutter. His name was Fred Callahan and he lived somewhere in Indiana, not far from Bloomington. Its lyric tells, quite simply and starkly, about the despair of an old black woman who has to, every day, get up and wash clothes on her washboard down at the river and wonders why there isn't anything better to life than this. We just recorded it recently, as a matter of fact, with Barbara Lee singing it very, very powerfully, and I wish I had a copy of that record here to play.

Unfortunately, that record is a collection of Carmichael songs that's coming out on an audio file, featuring Bob Durow and Barbara Lee, especially, and they're both wonderful. Wonderful. Just in case you just joined us, you're listening to Anything Goes, this is Paul Lazarus, and my guest today does a lot of things, so I'll just say it's Richard Sudhalter. This version of "Washboard Blues" is performed by Hoagy Carmichael, backed up by Paul Whiteman and his orchestra. Yeah, it's not Hoagy's first version of it. He had recorded it with an Indiana group called Hitches Happy Harmonists a couple of years prior to that, but this was something which came along because Paul Whiteman heard Hoagy, decided that he was going to use him, he liked the tune, and Hoagy turned up at Victor Chicago Studio very nervous. I think Whiteman realized that because he had Bing Crosby just kind of hanging around.

[3:49] Richard Sudhalter: Oh, as a backup.

[3:49] ♪ Musical number: "Washboard Blues" — performed by Hoagy Carmichael ♪

[3:50] Paul Lazarus: As a backup, and Hoagy eyeing him, knowing that something was up, and Bing said, "So I like the tune, shall we? Mind if I glom onto it?" Hoagy knew what was up. He figured that if the roof caved in, Crosby would jump in. As it turned out, the roof did not cave in. Hoagy made the record. It's a very poignant evocation of the tune and the theme, and gives us a little bit of Bix in the middle just as a supplement.

[7:02] Paul Lazarus: Hoagy Carmichael performing his own song, "Washboard Blues," backed up by Paul Whiteman's orchestra. And it's a 1925 composition, isn't it? Real early. You spotted something in the piano solo there, didn't you?

[7:12] Richard Sudhalter: Yeah, that's amazing, right up front there. All of a sudden, my ears perked up when I started to hear the theme, the thematic material of "Lazy Bones." That later became "Lazy Bones."

[7:21] Paul Lazarus: Well, self-plagiarism is not against the law, you know, and Hoagy originally invented that little piano solo when he recorded "Washboard Blues" with Hitch's Happy Harmonists, because they needed another few seconds to fill out the record. So they said, "Look Carmichael, play something in there." So everybody went out of the studio for a few minutes, and he worked out a little something, and then they came back, and he played it. Wow. But later on, that theme, after "Washboard Blues" became a composition which didn't depend on the piano solo, that theme stuck in his mind, and ultimately out came "Lazy Bones." You're listening to a salute to Hoagy Carmichael. This is a 1933 song called "Snowball," and I guess it was originally written to be sung by a man, but got picked up by Mildred Bailey.

[8:03] Richard Sudhalter: Well, it's perhaps a tribute to both Carmichael and to Mildred, that the song, whose lyrics by today's standards are, to say the least, controversial. I mean, it's a period of evocation.

[8:16] Paul Lazarus: Yeah, and they reflect the kind of patronizing attitudes that whites of the middle class had toward blacks as a stereotype, the step and fetch it and all that, in those days. Funny thing is that the actual relations between whites and blacks, especially in the music business, were not really governed by those stereotypes, but the world of song, like the world of movies and all the rest of it, sometimes reflected the popular mores, really.

[8:42] Richard Sudhalter: Absolutely. So that "Snowball," while a lovely song and a very poignant song within that frame of reference, just like, for example, 10 years before, there'd been a song called "They're Pickin' on Your Baby Cause I'm a-Pickin' and He Rose," you know, it's something that was sung by Eva Taylor, who was black, on a record by Clarence Williams featuring Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet, and it's a classic. It's a wonderful record and a wonderful tune, but within a certain social frame of reference. Well, mores change and conventions change, and as a result, today, we don't sing those songs and we don't yet have the kind of perspective, given the racial upheavals of the 60s and 70s and everything, that will allow us to see those in their proper perspective. Okay, well, time heals all wounds. However, "Snowball" remains a remarkable song and a very poignant one, and of course Mildred Bailey's reading of it, which is very straight and very sweet and...

[9:34] Richard Sudhalter: As are most of her interpretations.

[9:38] Paul Lazarus: Indeed. Has, at least for me, the capacity to move and to be very deeply affecting.

[9:43] ♪ Musical number: "Snowball" — performed by Mildred Bailey ♪

[12:30] Paul Lazarus: You're listening to "Thanksgiving," now I'm living, life is one sweet song. Boy, howdy, skies just can't be cloudy since love came along. Where sweet sunshine smiles at me, every day's a jubilee. Oh, "Thanksgiving," now I'm really living since love came my way.

[14:39] ♪ Musical number: "Thanksgiving" — performed by an unknown artist ♪

[14:42] Richard Sudhalter: Welcome back to our celebration of Hoagy Carmichael. Today, we continue to explore the remarkable contributions of this legendary songwriter and performer.

[15:12] Richard Sudhalter: Hoagy's music has a timeless quality that resonates with audiences even today.

[15:40] Richard Sudhalter: One of the standout aspects of his work is the way he blends melody and emotion, creating songs that are both memorable and deeply moving.

[16:04] Richard Sudhalter: As we dive deeper into his catalog, we'll hear some of his lesser-known pieces alongside his most famous hits.

[16:28] Richard Sudhalter: Let's take a moment to appreciate the unique sound of "Washboard Blues," a delightful tune that showcases Hoagy's playful side.

[16:52] ♪ Musical number: "Washboard Blues" — performed by Hoagy Carmichael ♪

[17:19] Richard Sudhalter: That was "Washboard Blues," a perfect example of Hoagy's ability to capture the spirit of the times.

[17:47] Richard Sudhalter: Moving on, we have another gem from his repertoire, "Snowball," which highlights his lyrical prowess.

[18:16] ♪ Musical number: "Snowball" — performed by Hoagy Carmichael ♪

[18:44] Richard Sudhalter: "Snowball" is such a charming piece, isn't it? It really reflects the whimsical nature of his songwriting.

[19:12] Richard Sudhalter: Next, we’ll listen to "Thanksgiving," a song that evokes a sense of nostalgia and warmth.

[19:40] ♪ Musical number: "Thanksgiving" — performed by Hoagy Carmichael ♪

[20:10] Richard Sudhalter: That was "Thanksgiving," a beautiful reminder of the simple joys in life.

[20:38] Richard Sudhalter: Now, let's turn our attention to "Ballad in Blue," a more introspective piece that showcases Hoagy's depth as a composer.

[21:06] ♪ Musical number: "Ballad in Blue" — performed by Hoagy Carmichael ♪

[21:24] Richard Sudhalter: "Ballad in Blue" really captures a poignant moment, doesn't it?

[21:52] Richard Sudhalter: Up next is "Small Fry," a delightful tune that brings a smile to your face.

[22:20] ♪ Musical number: "Small Fry" — performed by Hoagy Carmichael ♪

[22:40] Richard Sudhalter: "Small Fry" is such a fun song, and it really highlights Hoagy's playful spirit.

[23:08] Richard Sudhalter: Now, let's listen to "Even’n Tide," a song that beautifully captures the essence of a quiet evening.

[23:36] ♪ Musical number: "Even’n Tide" — performed by Hoagy Carmichael ♪

[24:04] Richard Sudhalter: That was "Even’n Tide," a lovely piece that evokes a sense of peace and tranquility.

[24:34] Richard Sudhalter: Finally, we’ll wrap up this segment with "Billy-A-Dick," a song that showcases Hoagy's unique storytelling ability.

[25:02] ♪ Musical number: "Billy-A-Dick" — performed by Hoagy Carmichael ♪

[25:30] Richard Sudhalter: "Billy-A-Dick" is a fantastic example of how Hoagy could weave a narrative through his music.

[25:58] Richard Sudhalter: Thank you for joining us as we celebrate the incredible legacy of Hoagy Carmichael.

[26:26] Richard Sudhalter: Stay tuned for more insights and music from this remarkable artist.

[26:52] Richard Sudhalter: We have so much more to explore in our next segment, so don’t go anywhere.

[27:20] Richard Sudhalter: Until then, let’s keep the spirit of Hoagy’s music alive.

[27:48] Richard Sudhalter: Thank you for listening, and we’ll see you next time.

[28:18] Richard Sudhalter: Remember, the music of Hoagy Carmichael is always worth celebrating.

[28:42] Richard Sudhalter: Join us again as we continue this journey through his extraordinary career.

[29:12] Richard Sudhalter: Until next time, keep enjoying the magic of musical theatre.