For an ode to innocence and domestic bliss, the story of “Tea For Two” surprisingly leads us to financial embezzlement, the Manson murders, a dilapidated East Hampton mansion, and heroin addiction.

But no dramatic life event should overshadow the talent and spirit of vocalists Doris Day, Anita O’Day, and Edith Beale; each woman brought something unique to “Tea For Two.” And in telling the story of the song, we are treated to the insights of legendary Nashville jazz pianist Beegie Adair.

Sources:
“Tea For Two,” Marion Harris, 1924
“Let Me Off Uptown,” the Gene Krupa Band with Anita O’Day and Roy Eldridge, 1942
“Tea For Two,” Duke Ellington, 1943
“Tea For Two,” the Gene Krupa Band with Anita O’Day, 1946
“It’s A Great Feeling,” Doris Day, 1949
“Tea For Two,” Doris Day, 1950
“Have You Met Miss Jones,” Ella Fitzgerald, 1956
“Let’s Face The Music and Dance,” Anita O’Day, 1956
“Tea For Two,” Anita O’Day, 1958
“Tea For Two (live at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival),” Anita O’Day, 1958
“Pillow Talk,” Doris Day, 1959
“The Way You Look Tonight,” Anita O’Day, 1959
“Have You Met Miss Jones,” Anita O’Day, 1960
“The Way You Look Tonight,” Ella Fitzgerald, 1963
“God Only Knows (instrumental),” The Beach Boys, 1966
“Tea For Two,” Edith Beale from the film Grey Gardens, 1975
“Tea For Two,” Beegie Adair and Jack Jezzro, 2010

Dick Cavett, March 1979
The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder, January 1980
60 Minutes, June 1980
Fresh Air with Terry Gross, 1987

“Anita O’Day: Yesterday and O’Day,’ Lara Pellegrinelli Jazz Times April 25, 2019
Singing Jazz: The Singers and Their Styles, Bruce Crowther and Mike Pinfold
Heroes and Villians: Essays on Music, David Hajdu
High Times, Hard Times, Anita O’Day
“Doris Day’s Public Image,” Hadley Freeman The Guardian May 14, 2019
The Poets of Tin Pan Alley, Philip Furia

Theme Songs
“Let’s Face The Music And Dance,” Ella Fitzgerald, 1958
“Let’s Face The Music And Dance,” Nelson Riddle, 1966

For this special holiday episode of Let’s Face The Music, we discover the origin of the happiest sad Christmas song. First introduced by Judy Garland, the song was recorded three times by Frank Sinatra – most shockingly for a war film, soundtracking a brutal execution scene.

Sources:
Chris Willman, “The history of a popular holiday song,” January 8, 2007
Seamus Sweeney, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas: The Execution Scene from The Victors,” December 20, 2018

Audio
Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, Fresh Air, NPR 1989
Hugh Martin, Fresh Air, NPR 2006

Judy Garland Lux Radio Theater, December 2, 1946
Judy Garland The Judy Garland Show, December 22, 1963
Frank Sinatra “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” 1949
Frank Sinatra “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” 1957
Frank Sinatra “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” 1963
Dave Brubeck “The Trolley Song,” 1955
Percy Faith, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” 1966

Theme Songs
“Let”s Face The Music And Dance,” Ella Fitzgerald, 1958
“Let”s Face The Music And Dance,” Nelson Riddle, 1966

On this episode of Let’s Face The Music, we hear early versions of “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” that left those involved bitter and disappointed. And we find out from Nashville composer and arranger Larissa Maestro how Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong were able to bring new life to the tune, one of the last songs George Gershwin ever wrote.

Sources:
Philip Furia, Ira Gershwin: The Art of the Lyricist, 1996
Charles Waring, “Cheek To Cheek: Celebrating The Perfect Partnership of Ella and Louis,” April 9, 2010
Tad Hershorn, Norman Granz: The Man Who Used Jazz for Justice, 2011
Michael Feinstein, The Gershwins And Me, 2012
Tom Maxwell, “The Story of Ella and Louis: 60 Years Later,” Nov 7, 2016

audio:
Fred Astaire “They Can”t Take That Away From Me,” 1937
Fred Astaire “Shall We Dance,” 1937
Shall We Dance excerpts 1937
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong “You Won”t Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart),” 1946
Thelonious Monk “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” 1947
Frank Sinatra “They Can”t Take That Away From Me,” 1954
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong “They Can”t Take That Away From Me,” 1956
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong “Stompin At The Savoy,” 1957
Jimmy Smith “”S Wonderful,” 1957
Art Pepper “Fascinating Rhythm,” 1957
Ella Fitzgerald “The Song Is Ended,” 1958
Ella Fitzgerald “They Can”t Take That Away From Me,” 1959
Oscar Peterson Trio “Easter Parade” 1960

Norman Granz, interview with Binny Lum, 1960
Louis Armstrong, Desert Island Discs, BBC, 1968
Ella Fitzgerald, interview with Bill McNeil, 1971
Michael Feinstein, Broadway or Bust, PBS, 2012

Theme Music:
“Let”s Face The Music And Dance,” Ella Fitzgerald, 1958
“Let”s Face The Music And Dance,” Nelson Riddle, 1966