Caption: Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin
Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin 

Sex, Jazz and the Bawdy Blues

From: Jeff Haas
Length: 59:01

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In this hour, it's the shared history of jazz and sex—from the blues' raunchy roots to the French lounge singer who made the Pope into his "greatest PR man." Read the full description.

Serge-birkin-240px_small This week it’s an hour of sex, jazz and the bawdy side of the blues. We’ll talk with our historian Lewis Porter about the blues’ racy reputation during the 1920s and 30s, and explore the role New Orleans’ turn of the century Red Light District played in shaping the music. And we’ll take a look at how jazz helped spark one of the twentieth century’s first great sexual revolutions, and get to know one of the music’s true sex symbols: French singer Serge Gainsbourg. 

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Piece Description

This week it’s an hour of sex, jazz and the bawdy side of the blues. We’ll talk with our historian Lewis Porter about the blues’ racy reputation during the 1920s and 30s, and explore the role New Orleans’ turn of the century Red Light District played in shaping the music. And we’ll take a look at how jazz helped spark one of the twentieth century’s first great sexual revolutions, and get to know one of the music’s true sex symbols: French singer Serge Gainsbourg. 

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Length
Fever Peggy Lee Very Best of Peggy Lee. Musical Concepts 2009 03:16
You've Got to Give Me Some Bessie Smith Alexander's Ragtime Band. Phoenix USA 1990 02:50
I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl Nina Simone Very Best of Nina Simone. RCA Records 1998 02:33
Corinne Corinna Red Nichols and His Five Pennies Flappers! 1920s Songs Featuring Women’s Names. Van Up Records 2010 02:58
My Heart Belongs To Daddy Eartha Kitt Miss Kitt, To You. RCA Records 1992 03:03
Makin' Whoopee Frank Sinatra Concepts. Capitol 1992 03:06
You're My Meat Louis Jordan Louis Jordan and His Tympani Five. Future Noise Ltd 2008 02:58
Sporting House Rag Jelly Roll Morton Last Sessions. Grp Records 1940 02:20
Love For Sale Billie Holiday Complete Billie Holiday on Verve. Verve 1959 02:56
La Decadanse Serge Gainsbourg Love and the Beat, Vol. 1. Sunnyside 2005 05:14