In the final episode of Series 1 of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine end their alphabetical adventure with a swing – quite literally – as they explore Glenn Miller’s 1942 smash hit (I’ve Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo. Written by Harry Warren and Mac Gordon, the song became a wartime favourite thanks to Miller’s irresistible big band sound, Tex Beneke’s smooth vocals and an unforgettable film appearance in Orchestra Wives featuring the dazzling Nicholas Brothers. Lili and Tom unpack the song’s irresistible energy, the history of its writers, and why Kalamazoo really is more than just a funny name (though it’s also the “Celery City”). Along the way, they revisit highlights from across the series – from George Formby’s auction and Florence Desmond’s lipstick, to Cole Porter’s Parisian parties and the mystery of “special ginger beer.” As the pair look back on the laughter, lyricism and legacy of the songs that kept spirits high through two world wars, they also look ahead – to a festive Christmas special and a live A to Z tour in 2026. It’s a joyful finale full of swing, nostalgia and gratitude for the music (and listeners!) who’ve joined them along the way. SPOTIFY PLAYLIST You can listen to ALL of the songs that Tom and Lili talk about in the episode on their Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1FQDrBphYqYLAuN6Jm01PN?si=b777dc33a703408a REFERENCES Kitchen Cabaret – Wednesday 26th November – Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm West View, Pink Barn, Lenton Road, Folkingham, NG34 0FE Tickets £15 – Email [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1366518505000296&set=a.312306463754844 (I’ve Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo – Orchestra Wives (1942) https://youtu.be/fFv_PoZ2iP0?si=yhBbFBrq3NW5zO9n Orchestra Wives (1942) – Full Film (Colourised) https://youtu.be/1Mpktlw3hu8?si=AZB35xncCbZMrHH5 Glenn Miller – At Last (B Side to Kalamazoo) https://youtu.be/ajsptiTBPq4?si=pJcYx4y5Vv7DUwCr Sheet Music Cover https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303257221212 Sheet Music Cover (Chappel’s version) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314729356350 We found the answer to our own question – Arabian Riff https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_riff Four King Sisters with the Rhythm Reys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs438XOeYXo&list=RDXs438XOeYXo&start_radio=1 Alice Babs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pwu-ZWvxG8&list=RD5pwu-ZWvxG8&start_radio=1 Ciro’s Club Picture https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw220678/Ciros-Nightclub-group-of-jazz-musicians-possibly-including-Jack-Newman-Syd-Lawrence-and-Ray-Noble Lurland Dance Hall in Peacehaven (now a Mosque) https://www.peacehavenmosque.co.uk/ Beryldene Auction https://www.georgeformby.co.uk/auction.htm Melody Maker Archives https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Melody_Maker.htm CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:51 Catch Up 01:49 K = (I’ve Got a Gal in) KalamaZOO! 04:33 Harry Warren 06:32 Mac Gordon 08:00 Glenn Miller’s Band 09:49 Discussing the Sheet Music Cover 11:24 Discussing the Lyrics 13:05 Discussing the Music 16:37 Discussing Versions : Glenn Miller 16:50 Jimmy Dorsey 17:14 Paul Whiteman 17:27 Andrews Sisters 19:52 Four King Sisters and the Rhythm Reys 20:16 Alice Babs 21:08 What’s Our Favourite? 22:21 Discussing Series 1 26:10 Recapping Series 1 30:48 Discussing Themes and Common Threads 35:20 Mentioned in Dispatches 36:22 Teaser for Next Episode 37:19 Outro SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS You can follow the podcast on social media: http://instagram.com/warsongspod https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod Find more information about Lili Redman here: https://liliredman.com/https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/ https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil Or Tom Carradine here: https://www.tomcarradine.com/https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine CONTACT THE PODCAST If there’s a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at [email protected] to be “Mentioned in Dispatches”. LISTENING LINKS Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318 If you’ve enjoyed this episode Lili and Tom would be grateful if you’d leave a review and make sure you’ve subscribed and turned on notifications so you’ll never miss an episode.