Matt Monro Forum

Hello everyone

I've just registered on the site as Matt is one of my favourite singers and I wanted to register my appreciation of his musical talent. I saw the recent BBC2 programme, "The Man with the Golden Voice", which I thought was really excellent: I recorded it and have watched it back several times. I have five Matt CDs, but, like the rest of you, I find it a bit annoying when compilations are issued which feature mainly the songs already available, and would like to see more rarities on the market. So I'm looking forward to "The Rare Monro" when it's released. I know there must be lots of Matt recordings which I haven't yet heard but which I'll love when I do!

Of the songs I know, my favourites are probably:

Look for Small Pleasures
Wednesday's Child
Sunrise Sunset
Softly As I Leave You
Charade.

Hi Jon--welcome to the Matt Monro Forum--hope you enjoy your time on it.

Just last week a new cd was issued called "Heart of a Man " which features some songs recorded late 50's and early 60's that have only recently been discovered.

Some great stuff on there--you will find a thread on it where we have given our views---it is well worth investing in.

Hope you get chance to join in our discussions!

Marian

Hi Jon, welcome to the site and we hope you will enjoy joining in discussing Matt's music and other artists too.
We agree that it is sometimes annoying when songs are repeated over and over again on compilations, but Michele explained that often this isn't by choice, but unavoidable due to the company or stores insisting that there needs to be at least one or two of the well known hits to attract sales, but the best is yet to come Jon. !!!!

..for your greetings, mariana44 and Lena and Harry.

I have seen the new CD, "Heart of a Man", in the shops, and intend to purchase it soon. I actually had a listen on the headphones in HMV the other day and the song "Exodus" stood out for me; this is just the kind of ballad at which Matt excels and which shows off his voice the best. Another song of Matt's which I think is one of his best vocally-speaking is "Beyond the Hill"; I have only ever heard this on a cheap audiocassette I bought several years ago in (I think) ASDA, but unfortunately it is not included on any of the CD releases currently available, or on "Heart of a Man" or "The Rare Monro" (judging from the published track listings). This is a shame as I feel it is one of Matt's most impressive performances, featuring some long, sustained notes and phrases which show off his breath control well.

I agree about the sales motivation behind putting more familiar tracks on CD issues - I guess record companies, like the rest of us, have to make money, and this is their way of ensuring that they get a return on the releases. Inevitably the more general listener will buy albums with the more famous songs on, whereas rarities and lesser-known tracks will not attract so many sales and will probably only be bought by the likes of true fans (such as us!).

Hello jon. What you say at the end of your post is correct of course.

If you haven't bought the 4 box "Singers Singer" I think you should, if your a big Matt fan. There are many rare MM songs contained in the set including the wonderful Exodus. But anyhow welcome jon.

Hi Jon-I think you will find "Beyond the Hill" on a couple of cd's,maybe even on the 4 disc set-I cannot remember at the moment, but probably not as Robert would have mentioned it. And yes, it is one of the best. But I would certainly agree with Robert , that this would be a great addition to anyones collection--It also contains a booklet with loads of informaton , Photos, and a huge discography section.

Marian

Hi Jon and welcome. Sorry I haven't posted a lot on here recently folks, but I've been trying to get to grips with a new video editing software package I bought to dowmload my holiday movies to. However, all ok now and although I was getting a bit stressed about setting it all up, it; all ok now, and listening to Matt sing at the same time helped. The "Fans Reunited" date is getting closer!

Nice to see more replies. I'm a bit perplexed though as to why there are so few, if dedicated, participants on this forum. Surely there must be many more Matt Monro fans out there who would like to discuss the man and his music?

To Mariana44 - I'll take another look at the track listings on "The Singer's Singer", but I'm pretty certain "Beyond the Hill" is not there, or indeed, as I've already mentioned, on any other currently available CD. I believe it originally appeared on the "Matt Monro Sings Don Black" album (or was that also a compilation?), which is also not obtainable. Certainly this is one for the next CD release.

Hi Jon, The track Beyond The Hill is available on a Perfect Partner offer
on www.amazon.co.uk. Take a look Jon.
There are many loyal and keen fans other than the more regular fans who do come back to visit the site Jon, but perhaps not always have anything ready to post.
Good luck on Amazon Jon

Jon Beyond The Hill is also available on "The Best Of Matt Monro" on Amazon, The Black and white cover with Matt holding the microphone.

Harry/Lena

many thanks for the info re. Amazon. It's strange, because I actually have a CD of Matt's with the very same cover as the one you mentioned, "The Best of Matt Monro", but the tracks on it are almost completely different (apart from the standards such as "Born Free", there are others such as "Memphis in June" and "Skylark" on it, but not "Beyond the Hill"). In fact, I think the one shown on Amazon is actually the same album which I had in cassette form that I mentioned before, and as the cover was identical to that of the CD I already have, I didn't bother to check the track listings when I was looking for one with "Beyond the Hill" on it. Many thanks for this recommendation.

Hello everyone. Beyond The Hill is not on the 4 box set, in fact I haven't got the song on any of my CDs. I too have the "Best of Matt Monro" mentioned above with the black and white cover, but no sign of Beyond The Hill!!!!

Other songs that I think should go onto any future releases are "How Soon" and "Friendly Persuasion" two other Matt songs not in my collection

Yes, Robert, they do change the songs and often use the same cover.
We haven't those two songs either "How Soon" and Friendly Persuasion,
but "How Soon" is on A Double CD. Walk Away/ Invitation To The Movies. on Amazon and CD Universe, but we will have to look furter for Friendley Persuasion.
We have listened to the clip of "How Soon" and recognised it as a lovely oldie ballad, so we'll have to get this one.

Hi Edgar, sorry, we just realised that we hadn't replied to your posting.
Glad to hear that you've got your Dvd downloading software sorted.
We've all said on here before that PCs are wonderful when everythings going well. They can make you feel really frustrated.
Anyway Edgar as you've said the Friends Meet up is drawing nearer

ROBERT M. wrote:Hello jon. What you say at the end of your post is correct of course.

If you haven't bought the 4 box "Singers Singer" I think you should, if your a big Matt fan. There are many rare MM songs contained in the set including the wonderful Exodus. But anyhow welcome jon.

Different version on HEART OF THE MAN.(I think)?