Walter Donaldson: My Blue Heaven - His 52 Finest 1918-1962

The very best of Walter Donaldson is presented in a double CD set for a magnificent addition to Retrospective’s invaluable series devoted to the great songwriters of the last century. From the title track, the five-million selling My Blue Heaven, and his breakthrough 1918 hit How Ya Gonna Keep ’Em Down On The Farm?, through to the 1987 hit for Nina Simone, My Baby Just Cares For Me, there are no fewer than 52 fine songs. Little White Lies, You’re Driving Me Crazy, Love Me Or Leave Me, Yes Sir That’s My Baby – so many gems that have never gone away. It’s time to enjoy them all anew. As with each of the songwriter issues, the roster of artists is phenomenal, chosen (mostly) from performers of the time of each song’s publication. They include Ruth Etting, Gene Austin, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Bing Crosby, Nick Lucas, Ted Lewis, Johnny Mercer and many others. One difference this time is that, for some of the best-loved titles, there is the bonus of an additional later version, bringing in such as Frank Sinatra, Dick Haymes and The Temperance Seven.