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Barbara Windsor's Hits from Misses

Barbara Windsor explores hit songs from flop musicals, including the music of George and Ira Gershwin, Jule Styne, Jerry Herman and Cole Porter.

Barbara Windsor explores the phenomenon of hit songs from flop musicals in a journey that takes her through the music of George & Ira Gershwin, Jule Styne, Jerry Herman, Cole Porter and many others. Throughout the history of musical theatre the only silver lining in the short, unhappy life of many unsuccessful shows has been a steady stream of great songs that have gone on to enjoy a level of acclaim and success on a level that belies their often troubled origins. Some, like the Gershwin's The Man I Love were unceremoniously cut from the now forgotten shows they were originally written for, whilst others like Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein's All The Things You Are were frankly too good for the mixed up plots which they they found themselves attached to. Sometimes the director messed up, sometimes the basic concept was flawed but good songs still manage to survive. In her long stage career Barbara has experienced this phenomenon first hand - although in her case she found herself trapped in Lionel Bart's hubristic Twang! perhaps the great flop show of all time with the added distinction of containing absolutely no hit songs either - quite an achievement from a writer who only 5 years previously had created one of musical theatre's greatest hits of all time, Oliver!
Featured performers include Shirley MacLaine, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Sandy Stewart, Bernadette Peters and Barbra Streisand.

57 minutes

Last on

Christmas Day 2015 19:00

Music Played

  • Jerry Herman

    Mack & Mabel Overture

    • Mack & Mabel: Original Cast Recording.
    • MCA 1105232.
  • Shirley MacLaine

    It's Not Where You Start

    • Live At The Palace.
    • CBS S 86008.
  • Lionel Bart

    Twang!

    • Twang!.
    • ThatÂ’s Entertainment ZCTER 1055.
  • Lionel Bart

    May A Man Be Merry?

    • IsnÂ’t This Where We Came In?.
    • DERAM SML 1028.
  • Tony Bennett

    I Love a Piano

    • MTV Unplugged.
    • Columbia Legacy 828768478127.
  • Frank Sinatra

    What Is This Thing Called Love

    • In The Wee Small Hours.
    • Capitol CDP 7465712.
  • Billie Holiday

    The Man I Love

    • SwinginÂ’ At The Speakeasy.
    • Sony 88883717402.
  • Steve Tyrell

    I've Got A Crush On You

    • This GuyÂ’s In Love.
    • Columbia 5136552.
  • Judy Garland

    Boys And Girls Like You And Me

    • Meet Me In St Louis.
    • Sony 886976386320.
  • Natalie Cole

    Here's That Rainy Day

    • Still Unforgettable.
    • WEA 643027806127.
  • Sammy Davis Jr.

    Two Ladies In De Shade Of De Banana Tree

    • Still Unforgettable.
    • WEA 643027806127.
  • Sandy Stewart & Bill Charlap

    I'll Never Go There Anymore

    • Love Is Here To Stay.
    • Blue Note 7243560034129.
  • Peggy Lee

    Hey! Look Me Over

    • Extra Special!.
    • Capitol CDP 724349306523.
  • Bernadette Peters

    Time Heals Everything

    • Mack & Mabel: Original Cast Recording.
    • MCA 1105232.
  • Barbra Streisand

    Why Did I Choose You?

    • My Name Is Barbra.
    • Columbia 4688452.
  • Shirley MacLaine

    It's Not Where You Start

    • Live At The Palace.
    • CBS S 86008.

Broadcast

  • Christmas Day 2015 19:00