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Steven Hale
Jun 28, 2021

Songs for Insomniacs 70: Jackie Gleason, “I Can’t Get Started”

If you can’t get started, maybe it’s because you’ve been imbibing steadily beginning with the Insomniacs Martini series. And who’s to say that’s a bad thing?

Tonight (installment 3), Jackie Gleason (who could neither read nor write music nor play an instrument) presents his version of the classic Bunny Berrigan/Gershwin/Duke number. Gleason’s greatest accomplishment may be to have enlisted cornetist Bobby Hackett (who is to lounge music what Chet Baker is to west coast jazz) for his signature numbers. The cornet kicks in just after the first minute, so have your cocktail of choice ready.

Steven Hale
Steven Hale

Written by Steven Hale

Music: Discovering the lost and forgotten. Politics: Exposing injustice. Screenwriting: Emotional storytelling.

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