Harlem

27th April
2008
written by Matt The Cat
Eddie Rich Of The Swallows Joins Matt The Cat

On Harlem

Eddie Rich, the original lead tenor of the Baltimore R&B; vocal group The Swallows joins Matt The Cat on this week’s Harlem. Eddie will share stories of how The Swallows got signed to King Records in 1951 as well as what it was like to tour the South during the 1950s. The Swallows are mostly remembered today for their risqué classic, “It Ain’t The Meat”, but there is so much more to this wonderful group. Matt the Cat uncovers the Swallows greatest recordings this week on Harlem.

Harlem Airs On The 50s on 5:
Monday 4/28 @ 1pm over Baltimore
Tuesday 4/29 @ 9pm over LA – Midnight over NYC
Friday 5/2 @ 6pm over Philly
Sunday 5/4 @ 11am over Atlanta

19th April
2008
written by Matt The Cat

Turn down the lights,

Turn up the hi-fi, for…

Dreamy Ballads

This week HARLEM dedicates an entire hour to the great, dreamy ballads of the early to mid-1950s. We’ll groove on the smooth sound of Baltimore’s own Cardinals as well as the raw West Coast Blues of Floyd Dixon. So pour the wine, dim the lights and turn up the satellite hi-fi for a very special edition of HARLEM with Matt The Cat.

Harlem Airs on the 50s on 5:

Monday, April 21st at 1pm ET

Tuesday, April 22nd at 9pm PT – midnight ET

Friday, April 25th at 6pm ET

Sunday, April 28th at 11am ET

-MTC

12th April
2008
written by Matt The Cat

Every Hit Version of The Song….

Open The Door, Richard

In the late 1940’s, the phrase, “Open The Door, Richard” was on everyone’s lips. The song of the same name began as a comic routine, but blew up to the point where it sent four different versions to #2 on the R&B; charts. This week HARLEM uncovers as many versions, sequels and answer records as it can to represent this historical record. You’ll hear versions of “Open The Door, Richard” by Jack McVea, Dusty Fletcher, Louis Jordan, Count Basie, The Charioteers, The Pied Pipers, The Three Flames and even the Hit Paraders. Matt The Cat will also give you the story behind who wrote it and who got sued over it. This is one HARLEM not to miss. So put down that beer and OPEN THE DOOR, RICHARD!

Harlem Airs on XM-5:
Monday 4/14 @ 1pm EST
Tuesday 4/15 @ 9pm over LA and Midnight over NYC
Friday 4/18 @ 6pm over Baltimore
Sunday 4/20 @ 11am over Newark

I hope you enjoy this evolution of a song.

-MTC

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