BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #71 - "IT'S A LOVELY DAY TODAY," - ROSEMARY CLOONEY (THE PERFECT SUNNY SONG!)

There was something magical about Rosemary Clooney: the girl next door with the velvet tones. A 1950s dreamboat that you imagined might bring you cocoa on a chilly evening, and rub your temples after you had labored for hours, toiling to create the perfect arrangement for her. A game lady. I admit I may have been dazzled by the Show Biz glow reflected onto this goddess from her husband, Academy Winning actor, Jose Ferrer; her brother, Nick, the eminent broadcaster; her son, moody Thespian Miguel; and her handsome ne’er-do well nephew, George… But, bottom line: It was Rosemary’s voice — the dulcet sound from one of the swingiest jazz divas ever, that kept me, and millions like me, listening. Her career took a dip, but like I said she was “game” — game enough to attempt to make a record with Wild Man Fischer - the psychotic that Frank Zappa had discovered. She eventually made a comeback that had staying power: this recording was made in 1984, and here, the seasoned, knowing conjurer invites us to drink her feel-good potion, and become re-intoxicated.