Afterglow Jazz and American Popular Song

Happy Birthday, Fathead

A 75th-birthday tribute to saxophonist David Fathead Newman, featuring recordings with Ray Charles and Newman's covers of The Beatles and Stevie Wonder.

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David Fathead Newman Album Cover Life

Photo: Album Cover

David Fathead Newman's album Life, featuring the song "Girl Talk" which is played on this week's episode.

This week on Afterglow we pay a 75th-birthday tribute to saxophonist David Fathead Newman, who first came to fame as a member of Ray Charles’ group in the 1950s, and who’s since made many albums as a leader that feature his soulful sound-mix of hardbop, R & B, and blues.

We’ll hear recordings Newman did with Charles and other singers such as Jimmy Scott, Donny Hathaway, and Dr. John, in addition to Newman covers of the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, and standards such as “Willow Weep for Me.”

This program also includes music from Tony Bennett, Billie Holiday, Grant Green, Diana Krall, Dinah Washington and more.

Music Heard On This Episode

Day by Day
Jimmy Scott — The Source (Label M, 1970)
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Day by Day
Jimmy Scott — The Source (Label M, 1970)
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She's Funny That Way
Tony Bennett — Ultimate American Songbook V. 1 (Columbia/Legacy, 1997)
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Night and Day
Billie Holiday — Lady Day: the Master Takes and Singles (Columbia/Legacy, 1940)
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Back in Your Own Backyard
Grant Green — Born to Be Blue (Blue Note, 1962)
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I'm Through With Love
Diana Krall — All For You (Impulse, 1996)
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Ain't Misbehavin'
Ray Charles — The Genius After Hours (Atlantic, 1961)
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Girl Talk
David Fathead Newman — Life (HighNote, 2007)
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Swanee River Rock
Ray Charles — Birth of Soul (Atlantic)
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Willow Weep for Me
David Fathead Newman — Ray Charles Presents David Newman (Atlantic)
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Unchain My Heart
David Fathead Newman — Fathead Comes On (Atlantic)
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Yesterday
David Fathead Newman — Bigger and Better (Atlantic, 1968)
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Bedroom Eyes
Woody Herman — Mosaic Select (Mosaic, 1964)
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I'm Gonna Laugh You Out of My Life
Dinah Washington — Complete Dinah Washington Roulette Sessions (Mosaic, 1962)
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These Are Soulful Days
Benny Green — These Are Soulful Days (Blue Note, 1999)
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Candy
Dr. John — In a Sentimental Mood (Warner, 1989)
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Sylvia
David Fathead Newman — The Many Facets of David Newman (Atlantic, 1969)
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That's All
Junior Mance — Live at the Top (Atlantic, 1969)
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Esther's Melody
David Fathead Newman — Fathead Comes On (Atlantic)
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When Day Is Done
Helen Humes — Swingin' With Humes (Contemporary, 1961)
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I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know
Donny Hathaway — Extensions of a Man (Rhino, 1973)
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A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing
David Fathead Newman — Cityscape (HighNote, 2006)
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David Brent Johnson

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, David Brent Johnson moved to Bloomington in 1991. He is an alumnus of Indiana University, and began working with WFIU in 2002. Currently, David serves as jazz producer and systems coordinator at the station. His interests include literature, history, music, writing, and movies.

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