The Bob Bain Archives

January 26, 2024 is the centenary of Bob’s birth, and for our final podcast we’ll take one last walk with him. No playlist could possibly capture the fullness of his career or his life and character, but here in less than an hour we’ll hear both familiar and little-known highlights of his life in music and be reminded once again of his artistry, sophistication, taste, and humor.

Listen not as background music, but rather to reflect upon the meaning and impact of Bob on each of us and our culture.

Amour, Bob--you’ll always belong to our hearts…

Here from 1962 is an early instance of the wonderful Clark Family Christmas Eve parties. Bob and Judi were in attendance and may or may not be audible, but what is audible is the youthful exuberance of the cousins and good cheer of all. Our emcee, Uncle Derf, is by turns funny, kind, and long-suffering. Christmas is for children, and surely every cousin had a happy Christmas...

Let's celebrate Bob's birthday this year by listening to some beautiful music he made with his dear friend Nelson Riddle. The pair met as young bucks on the stand with Tommy Dorsey, and were lifelong friends through the many ups and downs of their personal and professional lives. 

In a box marked "Ann Terry's Xmas Taping" without date, titles or any other identification, we find this holiday greeting for us in 2022: four tunes sung by pros that Bob undoubtedly knew and worked with at very least. Though we may not know all of their names (or who wrote the charts), their cheer and conviviality is as apparent as their skills.

A very merry Christmas to you wherever you may be this season, and may this be a reminder of finer things...

Today, April 28, is Ann Clark Terry's birthday! We celebrate our favorite lead singer with just a few examples of how she and Bob combined talents to create exceptional music. 

Tommy Todd was a brilliant musician who loomed large in Bob's early career, but sadly little record remains of his inventive and unconventional approach to music. Here are some very rare recordings Bob made with him back in the day.

January 26 is Bob's birthday--and he shares it with legendary trombonist Dick Nash. Here's a toast to them both, with music that featured them both by Henry Mancini.

Wally Brady, ersatz music executive and perennial publishing also-ran, was active in the 1950's and 1960's in a series of joint ventures and acquisitions. Pooling dollars and pounds from backers, he sponsored a series of singles and LPs, forever in search of that one big hit.

Utilizing the time honored trick of claiming 50% of the composing and running all the music publishing through his own company (Blackhawk Music), Brady sponsored a few recording sessions with Bob at the helm. Released on Brady's own Montclare Records, the black text-only cover proclaimed "Guitars A La Mod" "Montclare Records Presents 12 Original Instrumentals 12", with the song titles listed beneath (and the same thing on both sides of the jacket!).

With no documentation available, it's speculation as to when the sides were recorded, or who the musicians are. Bob only confessed under duress that this commercial attempt was in fact he and his friends "fooling around" in a studio. If we presume these are the same players as heard on Bob's King Jordan "The Phantom Guitar" record (a leap of faith), it would be Plas Johnson on tenor, Paul Smith and/or Don Trenner on organ and piano, Joe Mondragon on bass, Frank Flynn on drums and percussion, and Bob driving the rhythm and detuning when the mood struck. King Jordan rides again!

Submitted without voiceover, here is yet another insight into Bob Bain’s life.

Today’s podcast is a recording made by Bob at his home in 1965 for one of the epic Clark Family Christmas Eve parties. This cherished memory starts with Bob accompanying the Bain and Henderson kids on his composition “Relatives”, then Aunt Jean leads the Friley, Terry,  Branson and Schwartz kids through “Frosted Windowpanes”, “Nan’s Carol” (sung to the tune of Girl From Ipanema), and the legendary “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” (the Ting-A-Ling song). The recording paused, then picked up midway through the Clark Sisters incomparable version of “The Christmas Song” (regrettably, a noisy mic cable distracts here, but the performance is worth listening past that) and “Winter Wonderland”. Then we hear Pop Clark and Aunt Marguerite perform “Second Hand Rose” and “When It’s Circus Day Back Home”. Note Pop’s spot-on Fanny Brice accent, how cleverly he adapted the lyric gender, and his circus rap—pretty hip for a guy from North Dakota. Marguerite’s chops as accompanist are first rate.  The music extravaganza continues with Pop and Mom Terry in the remarkably anti-war song “Not Me” and Pop runs through a couple of risqué jokes that would’ve played very well in vaudeville. These are the voices and songs of people now in the past, presented here for us to remember. 

Found in Bob's personal LP collection, this singular recording reprises the style of the radio show: girl singer with Bob, Jud De Naut on bass, and (in this case) Don Beamsley on piano and tack piano. 

Though an accomplished and busy club singer, our research found this recording and no others available, making this a rare touchstone to an era of torchy chanteuses. The liner notes mention "clever special material written exclusively for her" which must mean Jud's two tunes were written with her in mind.

Bob's copy was signed on the back by everyone: "To Bob-With deep appreciation for your wonderful efforts for us. Love, June", and "For Robert [struck through] Furnace Furniss Bain. Frankly, I'm a little bored with the big reputation you have built for yourself in music. Actually to me you are nothing but a run of the mill genius. XXX Jud" and finally "Me Too. Don". Clearly they had a good time making this record.

There were a pair of Gourmet Restaurants, in Hollywood and in Beverly Hills, and the owners took a gamble and opened a third restaurant adjacent to Disneyland as part of the Disneyland Hotel complex in 1956. June Rudell had a long engagement in the lounge (which sat 650), and so this recording may reflect her many solid hours of dates there. Gourmet lovers rejoice!