A lot of things started changing as the 1940s came around.

Of course, the war in Europe has started to spread around the world, and as time passed it became more and more obvious that the United States was going to be drawn into the fray. On a happier note, music became the great unifier, pulling Americans together with popular songs that seemed to impress just about everyone who listened. Big bands were huge at this time, and their popularity was virtually unanimous, which is only one reason why Duke Ellington became a superstar at this time. As for technology, color film had reached the market, most obviously as an almost magical change in the middle of the timeless classic film “The Wizard of Oz.” Both this film and Ellington pay major roles in our song selections for this this edition of “The Great American Songbook.”

Featured tracks include:

I Thought About You – Dinah Washington

If I Only Had a Brain – The Flaming Lips

Moonlight Serenade – Glenn Miller

Over the Rainbow – Jerry Lee Lewis

Take the ‘A’ Train – Duke Ellington

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore – B.B. King

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered – Linda Ronstadt

Fools Rush In – Zoot Sims

I Could Write a Book – Ella Fitzgerald

Imagination – Dean Martin

It Never Entered My Mind – Frank Sinatra

Polka Dots and Moonbeams – Wes Montgomery

Taking a Chance on Love - - Tony Bennett