TCM's salute to the life and art of Johnny Mercer was the basis for it showing this particular short subject which featured Artie Shaw and his swing band of the time doing four numbers, two of which were current hits.
Jeepers Creepers came out that year with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Also new out that year was Deep Purple by Mitchell Parish and Peter DeRose. This was not a song curiously enough identified with Shaw, the big hit for Deep Purple came from rival orchestra leader Larry Clinton. Clinton's record with vocal by Bea Wain is the standard although Shaw at the time had one of the best big band singers ever in Helen Forrest and she does a beautiful job.
Artie and the orchestra also do instrumentals of Lady Be Good and Alone Together featuring him of course on the clarinet. Lovers of the big band era can't go wrong with this short subject.
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