Episode 6: Laughing at Life, track by track! "Laughing at Life"
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IN THIS EPISODE:
We continue our song-by-song exploration of our newly released album, Laughing at Life, with a chat about the title track, made famous by Ruth Etting in 1930. Our producer/arranger, Oded Lev-Ari, talks about his concept for the arrangement and some of the tricks he used, including getting inspiration from a thesaurus, Count Basie, and Duchess' own phrasing.
AN EARLY REHEARSAL OF "LAUGHING AT LIFE"...
We were on tour in Montana, hanging out in our hotel while rain fell outside. We rehearsed by the fireside, not yet knowing that this tune would become the title track of our upcoming CD.
WHERE TO BUY LAUGHING AT LIFE:
- Anzic Store (Support our amazing indie label! You can buy a hard copy or download, AND you'll get free shipping!)
- iTunes
- Amazon
DEEP CUTS FROM THIS EPISODE:
"America's Sweetheart of Song," Ruth Etting, lived a wild and sometimes tragic life: she married a Chicago gangster, performed on Broadway in the Ziegfield Follies, and eventually retired to a farm (yes, really) in Colorado, where she lived until she died, age 80, in 1978.
Another recording that inspired Oded's arrangement: "Cute," composed and arranged by Neil Hefti, performed by the Count Basie Orchestra on their 1958 album, "Basie Plays Hefti."
