Despite its cheerful title, C'mon...Get Happy! conveys a broader range of emotions than one might expect from one of Nelson Riddle's solo efforts of the '50s. Bandleader and arranger Riddle could conjure up a wide palate of moods in his work with Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, and that sort of eclecticism is reflected in the lush "I'll Get By," the midtempo contemplation of "For All We Know," and the jazzy drift of "Am I Blue." But this is still a far cry from the lonesome sound of Sinatra's classic In the Wee Small Hours, which Riddle arranged; most of this album's 12 songs are upbeat and enthusiastic, and even the slower numbers boast a purposeful swing and the arrangements are punchy and gracefully embroidered with exceptional instrumental work from Riddle's studio orchestra. And though most of Riddle's albums feature standards instantly recognizable decades later, there are a few lesser-known numbers on C'mon...Get Happy! that show his skill extended to less familiar melodies, such as "Diga, Diga Doo," "Time Was," and "S'posin?." While Riddle's style is imaginative and exciting throughout, the man didn't descend into eccentricity for its own sake, and C'mon...Get Happy! remains a charming and engaging listen five decades after it was initially released.
"Rain" was Rudy Vallee's claim to fame as it became the first song where he used his famous megaphone. That was in 1927 and the creator of this song is Eugene Ford. Nelson Riddle literally creates a light patter of rain in the opening bars of his arrangement with tremulous strings and bells which lead into Riddle's heart beat rhythm. Strings are the leading voice at the start with muted brass a...
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Nelson Riddle was one busy person in July 1957. He was the music director and arranger for Nat "King" Cole's ill fated NBC television show, receiving lots of air time for his own arrangements for orchestra thanks to Cole's selfless promotion of his great friend's work. Except for one telecast (where his spot was taken over by Gordon Jenkins), Riddle stayed with his friend Nat Cole until the bitter
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Master composer and lyricist Hoagy Carmichael wrote "I Get Along Without You Very Well" as a stand alone song in 1939, quickly establishing itself as one of the best remembered pop songs of its time. Bill Miller, Frank Sinatra's longtime pianist and music director, begins Riddle's chart with a perfectly poised piano performance which leads into a the statement of main melodic theme by flutes an...
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"Time Was" was one of the many Spanish songs imported to America during a strike by publishers against the radio networks in 1941. Although the strike was brief, it yielded a gold mine of Spanish language songs which became popular overnight. One of these songs was "Duerme" with lyrics by Gabriel Luna and music by Miguel Prado. With a set of English lyrics by Sidney Keith Russell, it became "Ti...
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The 1930 stage musical "Three's a Crowd" sported a marvelous score by lyricist Howard Dietz and composer Arthur Schwartz. The stars weren't too bad either with Fred MacMurray and comedian Fred Allen in the cast. One of the songs in the show was "Something to remember You By." Nelson Riddle writes a shuffling riff for trombones before Harry "Sweets" Edison plays along with guitarist Nick Bonney ...
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The stage musical "Blackbirds of 1928" sported an excellent score by lyricist Dorothy Fields and music by Jimmy McHugh, of which "Diga Diga Doo" took the country by storm. This is undoubtedly Nelson Riddle's greatest arrangement and spotlights flashes of Stravinsky within a lightning quick framework. Listen for solos by George Roberts on bass trombone, Harry "Sweets" Edison on muted trumpet, Ba...
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The classic team of lyricist Ted Koehler and composer Harold Arlen wrote "Get Happy" as part of their 1930 stage musical "Nine-Fifteen Avenue" starring Ruth Etting. Judy Garland virtually made this song her own over the years, becoming closely identified with the high spirits of the music and lyrics. Nelson Riddle writes a chart that begins with a tornado of bustling brass and swirling strings....
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"I'll Get By" was written in 1928 by lyricist Roy Turk and composer Fred E. Ahlert. Less than 15 years later, it became one of the signature songs recorded by the great vocalist Dick Haymes. Frank Flynn delicately plays his vibes in the brief intro in this Nelson Riddle chart before the trombones swing gracefully through the main melodic line. Muted trumpets take over with fillers by Flynn. Sax...
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Lyricist Sam M. Lewis and composer J. Fred Coots wrote "For All We Know" in 1934. Their song became an instant hit with the public with numerous recordings by all of the major singers and instrumentalists over the years. Nelson Riddle wrote his arrangement centering around the valve trombone of Juan Tizol, one of the great musicians in jazz. Tizol plays with great lyricism and beautiful phrasin...
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This music lovers anthem was written by composer Vincent Youmans and lyricists Billy Rose and Edward Eliscu for their 1929 stage musical "Great Day!" And indeed this is a red letter day for Nelson Riddle has written a classic arrangement that is so tightly woven that everything is in its right place and ready to sweep the listener down the river to heaven. A hypnotic feel best describes the ope...
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An unlikely 1936 film musical starring Bing Crosby and Martha Raye (yes, she could really sing) called "Rhythm on the Range" sported music by Leo Robin and Richard Whiting. I say unlikely because could anyone imagine Bing Crosby and Martha Raye on a dude ranch? A lower range brass fanfare gathers strength before receding into the background for a romantically lush treatment of the main melodic ...
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A popular song from 1925, "Then I'll Be Happy" was written by Sidney Clare and Lew Brown with music by Cliff Friend with the lines before the official title being "I Wanna Go Where You Go, Do What You Do." It's a brightly fast chart that Nelson Riddle writes, this time accenting the bright accents from upper flutes and piccolo with glockenspiel before the trombones take over before Harry "Sweet...
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The colorful song "Am I Blue" was written in 1929 by lyricist Grant Clarke and Harry Akst. Nelson Riddle has written a very relaxed sounding arrangement with Harry "Sweets" Edison in the unusual position as leading voice before the trombones loan their considerable dark tone to this unusually rich textured performance. Solos come from Frank Flynn on vibes and George Roberts on bass trombone wit...
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The charming ditty "S'posin'" was written in 1929 by lyricist Andy Razaf and composer Paul Denniker. Nelson Riddle writes a quick silver rendition of "S'posin'" which features the lower register saxes and trombones before Nick Bonney takes in a few licks on electric guitar before the strings play a breezy display of the main melodic line with "Sweets" Edison providing fillers on muted trumpet. ...
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Word smith Buddy De Sylva, composers Herb Nacio Brown and Richard Whiting created a sparkling musical for the stage in 1932 called "Take A Chance" starring Ethel Merman, Jack Haley and Jack Whitney. Out of this magnificent work came a song called "You're An Old Smoothie" which describes in positive terms a smooth talking fellow. Nelson Riddle has fashioned a remarkably upbeat, humorous chart wi...
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 "C'mon...Get Happy!")
