Episode 17-November 15, 1948

Halfway through November we find Bob teamed up again with Tommy Todd on piano, Ralph Collier on drums, and Jud DeNaut anchoring on bass. Tommy’s singular, adroit approach is evident throughout, right from the beginning “Sweet Georgia Brown” and on into “Brazil”, where Ralph plays both drums and maracas. Unctuous announcer Eddie brings in song star Margo Powers to sing “Everybody Loves Somebody”, with Tommy switching over to celeste. Bob and… Jud? Tommy? sing together opposite Margo in “I May Be Wrong” (previously Bob sang on his own in the debut episode). Margo is on her own in “Walkin’ My Baby Back Home” (Nat Cole’s iconic version was recorded later, in 1951). Tommy alternates on the celeste and piano for “When Dreams Come True”, giving Bob a great stage for his harmonic sensibilities. Engineer’s note-the recording engineer for this broadcast ranks near the bottom for his cloth ears. Discerning listeners will wonder why Bob sounds so off-mic at the top, was Margo’s mic really hot enough to hear her clearing her throat at the end of “Brazil”, is Bob using (and why are we hearing) a metronome for the last three tracks, why does Bob go off-and-on mic in “When Dreams Come True”. At least he got the NBC chime right! Sound gripes aside, this is fifteen minutes of bliss.