Jazzwax List: 6 Tunes For 'Toons

Years ago, cartoons were wry and played a role imparting important life lessons about hard work and fairness, from Cinderella and Bugs Bunny to Little Audrey and Casper. What's more, cartoon theme songs were immensely hummable and became ingrained in the popular culture. Cartoons' widespread popularity had something to do with their showing in movie theaters before the feature film and then their domination of Saturday morning TV. Here are six jazz songs with cartoon titles:

Krazy Kat--Johnny Mandel's flag-waver for Artie Shaw's bebop band was recorded in 1949. It's on Self Portrait here.

Little Lulu--Bill Evans' touching tribute to the girl who was in and out of trouble, but mostly always in. His waltz-time interpretation of the cartoon's playful theme is on Trio '64 here.

Mister Magoo Does the Cha-Cha--This 1955 novelty song wasn't Peggy Lee's finest moment. To add insult to injury, Lee had to share the microphone with actor Jim
Backus--the voice of Magoo--who added the sight-challenged character's addleheaded mutterings. It's on Peggy Lee: Classics & Collectibles here.

Popeye--Organist Big John Patton's 1993 tribute to the spinach-eating sea-loving sailor man is on Blue Planet Man here.

Donald Duck--Sonny Stitt's alto sails  through this quirky quacker from the 1962 release Low Flame here.

Woody Woodpecker Song--Trumpeter Woody Shaw's 1986 take on the “guess-who" bird's lumber serenade is on Solid here.