1930's Radio Transcriptions

• Artist: Cliff Edwards
• Rating:
• Release Date: February 06, 1997
• Type: Compilation (best of), Live
• Genre: Vocal Music

Review

Despite his popularity in vaudeville, on Broadway, on records, and in the movies from the 1920s to the '40s, Cliff Edwards, the ukulele player with the warm manner and the conversational tenor, lapsed into obscurity long before he died destitute in 1972. 1997 saw the release of two Edwards albums, however -- Sony Music Special Products' ten-track Ukulele Ike, and this album of radio performances. Despite its title, more than half of the album comes from June 1947. The 1947 material finds Edwards in a friendly, bantering mood, while the 1930s performances are isolated tracks. Edwards sings some of the songs most closely associated with him, including his biggest hit, "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," and "Fascinating Rhythm," which he sang in the Gershwin musical Lady, Be Good! There are also '20s hits such as "Ain't He Got Fun?" and "If You Knew Susie," while Edwards' rendition of "Sweet Leilani" demonstrates his influence on Bing Crosby, who had the hit with it. If Edwards' music was more generally available, this release would be nonessential, though enjoyable. Under the circumstances, it's a vital portrait of an unjustly forgotten singer. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Introduction: Oh! Honey, It's So Funny		Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(2:59)
I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me	Jimmy McHugh, Clarence Gaskill	Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(1:19)
Ma, He's Making' Eyes at Me		Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(1:34)
I Love Sweet Rosie O'Grady		Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(2:26)
Fascinating Rhythm	George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin	Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(1:44)
All Alone	Irving Berlin	Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(2:05)
I'm Headin' for the Last Roundup		Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(2:26)
M-O-T-H-E-R		Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(3:07)
They Called It Ireland... Closing		Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(3:34)
Ain't We Got Fun?	Gus Kahn, Richard A. Whiting, Raymond Egan B.	Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(2:37)
I'm a Night Owl		Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(1:38)
It All Belongs to Me (Closing)	Irving Berlin	Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(2:32)
Good Little, Bad Little You	Bud Green, Sam H. Stept	Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(1:47)
Sweet Lelani	Harry Owens	Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(2:27)
I Can't Give You Anything But Love	Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields	Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(2:37)
Ain't Misbehavin'	Fats Waller, Andy Razaf, Harry Brooks	Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(2:20)
Together	Lew Brown, Buddy DeSylva, Ray Henderson	Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(2:02)
If You Knew Sussie	Buddy DeSylva	Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(1:42)
There'll Be Some Changes Made	W. Benton Overstreet, Billy Higgins	Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(1:43)
Marta	Moisés Simóns, L. Wolfe Gilbert	Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(2:28)
The Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me	Russ Morgan, Charles R. McCarron, Arthur Swanstrom	Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(2:30)
Song of the Island	Charles E. King	Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards	(2:26)

Credits

Edward Burke (Producer), Edward Burke (Archivist), Edward Burke (Liner Notes), Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards (Vocals), Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards (Ukulele)