The Bob Bain Archives

As the US heads towards the Truman vs Dewey election, Bob's show keeps the country on an even keel. Nick Fatool comes back to man the traps and a couple of the guys duet with Margo to sing "Sometimes I'm Happy". Margo takes over in the second tune with the rather old-fashioned perspective of "A Woman Always Understands" (with beautiful accompaniment by Bob). The quartet energetically revisits "Cumana", then Margo introduces us to a new ballad, titled "For Heaven's Sake". Bob gives this a gentle rhumba backing but ten years later Billie Holiday would sing this to a lush orchestral arrangement on her great album "Lady In Satin". The set closes out with a very hot version of "'S Wonderful". Stick around for the end of the "Lady Be Good" outro to hear Bob's musical wry grin. Engineers note: the balance on this show is definitely improved!

To celebrate Bob's birthday (today!), here are two tracks from his personal rough reference disks of his solo recordings on Capitol. First off from Guitar De Amor, the achingly beautiful Pavane composed by Maurice Ravel as part of his "Mother Goose Suite". Bob's affection for Ravel's music is well known and his tender acoustic performance here is spare and haunting. Then, from Latin Love, the classic Brazilian choro Tico Tico. Recorded by everyone from Charlie Parker to the Berlin Philharmonic, this infectious standard is given the classic Bain treatment-fluid acoustic rhythm with that soaring, unmistakable Telecaster lead. Happy Birthday Bob!

September 11 of 1948 brought Roy Harte back for the fourth and final time behind the drums. The quartet strolls through their version of yet another pop tune of the hour: "Hair Of Gold, Eyes Of Blue", which Gordon MacRae had recorded for Capitol and made a top ten hit of. Margo Powers is not Lena Horne but vamps her way through "Stormy Weather" nonetheless. The quartet gives us a taste of yet another ethnic musical flavor with "Song Of The Islands". Margo saunters through "Just For Now" before the guys close it out with "Anitra's Boogie". Bob and the guys romped through this tune numerous times on the show, and Alvino Rey and Carmen Cavallero recorded it too, but when (Swedish) Charlie Norman (a skilled boogie-woogie pianist) made a popular recording of it, the (Norwegian) Edvard Grieg estate decided they'd had enough and sued. Don't shoot us, we're just the podcast!

Nearly every paper sleeve for each transcription had notes by Bob, usually highlighting which songs were performed, or particular soloists. The sleeve for this episode said simply "NG". Why was this no good, was it because it's a bad dub, with high end coming and going? Was it Margo Powers uncharacteristically a bit off key? It's rough sounding, and Margo may not be at her best, but it's a bonus for us and another fifteen minutes of great Bob Bain music.

Roy Harte continues to sub on drums as September of '48 begins. The quartet revisits "Brazil", then Margo Powers covers what was a popular tune that summer: "Tree In The Meadow" (Margaret Whiting and Frank De Vol had a #1 on Capitol with it). The quartet follows that with an inventively arranged version of "Yours"-featuring an introspective Ray Sherman intro which breaks into classic rhumba rhythm. Margo is featured again on "I Love You (Just A Little Bit More)", before the quartet closes the date with their own barn burning version of "Sweet Georgia Brown". Sweet indeed!

Bob and the guys start with the languid theme, then tear into the jazz classic "Red Red Robin". Ray Sherman switches over to celeste for "The Things I Love". The band takes on "Frenesi" again, check out Bob's harmonic chops at the end! Bob then puts down his guitar to sing a duet with Margo: "Love Somebody", a tune that would be syrupy in lesser hands. Finally the quartet closes things off with Bob's bop composition "Hop The Ditty".

As always, thanks to Cris and Sunny for making these available!

Bob, his trio, and Margo Powers are back at it again, but our announcer still can't get Jud De Naut's name right. Bob's harmonic sensibilities are on full display in "Brazil" and "Frenesi", and the band closes out the show with a flagwaving "Sweet Georgia Brown" (which would soon be adopted as their play-on theme).

The quartet starts off with a picante version of "Cumana", with Nick Fatool doubling on maracas and Bob showing off some guitar effects. Margo Powers keeps things on an even keel; Bob cleverly combines "Dancing In The Dark" with "Small Hotel"; but the highlight may be the closer, "Dark Eyes". A remarkable variety of style in under fifteen minutes!

This podcast made possible by the love and generosity of Bob's daughters: Cris and Sunny/

Here the show starts to hit its stride-Margo Powers joins the guys, and the musicians get credited: Nick Fatool plays drums, Jud DeNaut on bass, and Ray Sherman at the piano.

This podcast through the love and courtesy of Bob's daughters Cris and Sunny.

Possibly the first of Bob's weekly radio shows. Though no musicians are credited, it's likely this is Nick Fatool on drums, Jud DeNaut playing bass, and Ray Sherman at the piano. Listen to Bob's smooth voice on "I May Be Wrong"!

These recordings are being shared by Bob's daughters: Cris and Sunny.