Bang & Jangle Radio Hour, Season 3, Episode 6: Weill-O-Rama

Kurt Weill

Anyone who's ever listened to music from the 20th century owes Kurt Weill a thank you. With a CV like Weill's, that's hardly even hyperbole. From the pop charts to the jazz clubs, he's welcome anywhere. I'm fairly confident about that because this is one of the best-researched episodes of the Bang & Jangle Radio Hour ever. Check out what these artists have done with Weill's music:

Sting - The Ballad of Mack the Knife
The Fowler Brothers and Stan Ridgway - The Cannon Song
Judy Collins - Pirate Jenny
Tom Waits - What Keeps Mankind Alive
Lotte Lenya - Alabama Song
Johnny Mercer - Moon Faced, Starry Eyed
Billie Holiday - Speak Low
Dean Martin - Here I'll Stay
John Zorn - Der Kleine Leutnant Des Lieben Gottes
Miles Davis - My Ship
Rob Burger - Youkali
The Silver Hearts - O Heavenly Salvation
Elvis Costello - Lost in the Stars

What made this episode so exciting is that I could've done it with the exact same songs, by different performers. Who knows, maybe I will; I'm pretty in love with this music. Find out in the next exciting installment!

One note: "Weill" is pronounced with a V. I know that now. A listener with a better ear for German set me straight. Sorry to everyone who cringes a little each time I say the man's name!

The Bang & Jangle Radio Hour airs Mondays 9:00-10:00 p.m. on Trent Radio, 92.7 in Peterborough, or online at http://www.trentradio.ca/stream.htm.

Season 3, Episode 6