Matt Monro Forum

The 12th of April is my one year anniversary on the Matt Monro forum, when I first posted as a "guest" on the thread about the Worst Recording by Matt Monro. For nostalgia purposes, I have copied my first message below and the warm response I received from a young man in Yorkshire.

So since it's my first anniversary I thought I'd start a new discussion.

Name a Matt Monro song that is just fabulous but for some reason we hardly ever discuss it in the forum. We all know the ones that get mentioned so frequently (On Days Like There, From Russia With Love, We're Gonna Change The World, September Song, One Morning In May, All Of A Sudden, In The Still Of The Night, Maria, Hello Young Lovers, Walk Away, My Kind Of Girl, Portrait Of My Love, etc.). But let's give some recognition to the ones that are rarely mentioned. And if you'd like, please tell us why it's so special to you or why it's so wonderful. Thank you.

I will start with My Love And Devotion.

His singing on this song is simply lovely and it was a fairly big hit. But no one hardly ever mentions it on the forum. I wonder why? It's definitely in my top 30 Matt Monro songs. I think it's such a romantic song.


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Now, as promised, here's my very first posting on April 12th: The song that I always skip is Maria (from West Side Story). I don't like the song, and I don't think Mr Monro added much to the song. But I love everything else he recorded.

And the warm response I received:
Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 11:52 pm Post subject:
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To the above Guest, I know that is your opinion, but to be honest I dont think you know what your talking about. Maria is one of the classic songs from any musical, in fact it is a GREAT song and so emotional. So if you dont like the song you shouldnt have expressed an opinion at all, as no matter who sang the song you wouldnt have liked it anyway. I may be getting on my high horse, but I love the song, especially sung by Matt who gives it an added dimension, so powerful and so exciting and the way he reaches those final notes are astonishing. So for you to express an opinion like that when you dont even like the song is absolute TOSH. :

P.S. After one year I still don't know what TOSH means!

A favourite of mine (amongst the many), but rarely discussed is the wonderful WITHOUT YOU. Hearing the title of this you probably automatically think of Nillson's song, but this is of course a completely different song. This is featured on one of the first albums I bought, A Time For Love album, and immediately loved this song. Originally released in 1964, it was a top forty hit for Matt. Great stuff!

p.s. Happy anniversary Paul!

You are so right John. That is a great song that we rarely mention in the forum. I had the same experience. It was on the fourth or fifth Matt Monro compilation I bought. I was expecting the Harry Nilsson song, which has been ruined by Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Westlife(?), and just about every TV singing competition contestant. But it wasn't the Nilsson song, but a song I had never heard of before. It's now one of my favourite Matt Monro songs.

Hi Jeff it's me I think your first post on this great MM forum absolutely deserved the answer I gave you, don't you as you now seem to have grown fond of the song.

"Tosh" is another name for "Rubbish" But well done on staying with us for the past year, after my "angry" reply Jeff, as I thought I may have put you off coming back again

I agree with you regarding "My Love and Devotion" definitely one of my top 20 Matts songs. I just think that Matt recorded sooooooooo many great songs over the years (especially in the 60's - early 70's) that a few of them are bound to be left out of our discussions.

For me two songs stand out from the crowd (from those songs you mentioned Jeff). "Before You Go" and my new found treasure "Where In the World" are just sublime Matt Monro songs, that tug at your heartstrings, and make (me) go weak at the knees. The latter song has been giving me a tear in my eyes whenever I play the "Rare Monro" - as it is a typical MM ballad, with great feeling and emotion and as you know Jeff, I like the MM ballads. Anyway thanks for starting up another good subject Jeff, which should have many interesting and different replies

Hi Jeff--that was interesting going back a year----dosn't time fly??
I remember quite clearly your original posting and Robert's defence of the song and all the discussion afterwards. You were very brave to come back, as I recall most of us were of the same opinion as Robert!!

But we are glad you decided to stay with us.

Well, I am going to mention, one of my very favourites that is not mentioned too often, and that is "With these hands"--I have heard this song sung before, but Matt's version is in a class of it's own !!

I also agree with you on "My Love and devotion "--great great song, just beautifully sang by Matt.

Paul

I agree about Love and Devotion: a fine recording. My own nominations would be Look For Small Pleasures, Wednesday's Child and Sunrise Sunset: three of my absolute favourites.

I agree with you Mariana, WITH THESE HANDS is a great version, I prefer it to Shirley Bassey's original, it has a lot more "go" in it. This is also on the Time For Love album!

Jon

I also adore 'Sunrise Sunset', and 'Wednesday's Child' is magical movie music.
Can I propose 'Who Can I Turn To'?
For me, Matt Monro's rich voice is showcased brilliantly on this song, it seems perfect for his voice. (I also love Sammy Davis Jnr's version).

Gray

Well congratulations Paul, and well done on not being shy of repeating your earlier postings about Matt's recording of "Maria." Roberts reply was understandable, and your opinions of music are often rather odd to us but your citicism of songs are respected as shown at the fans re-united last November.
And it's your contributions and everyone elses who post that make this web-forum the best on the net.
My Love and Devotion is beautifully sung by Matt, and we couldn't imagine anyone attempting to sing and compete with. "Can this Be Love"
Since "Heart Of A Man" with This Is Real, This Is Love. and "The Rare Monro" " Birth Of The Blues" there are so many that have added to our top list.

Hi Jeff - well done on your 1st year of thoughtful, intelligent and provocative postings. And also your challenging question!

I suspect I have a limited Matt Collection in comparison to others - about 80 tracks. From that I would nominate All that remains - it is wonderful ballad, with a sad story to tell, delicately and beautifully sung by Matt (but with an injection of power at just the right moments!), all backed up by a lush and sympathetic orchestration. The opening bars and closing notes are played beautifully by guitar, and almost offset the sadness of the song itself!

Thanks for your suggestions. I don't know many of them: only Who Can I Turn To and Sunrise Sunset. I guess after I'm completely saturated with The Rare Monro I will have to dig out my copy of A Time For Love which I bought in Singapore in the 1990s just waiting to play it on the rainy day when I need to hear new Matt Monro music. I think many of your suggested songs are on it.

It's great to have so many Matt Monro songs to listen to. Just how many different songs did he record? I think it must be around 750. Does anyone know the official number?

Why are all of you so soft on Jon and not asking to see his picture? You wouldn't leave me alone about putting my picture on the forum!

HERE ARE 2 SONGS , RARELY DISCUSED,"AND ROSES AND ROSES" AND "YOURS ALONE" AND MATT SINGS THEM TO PERFECTION.
I HAVE HEAR "AND ROSES AND ROSES" BY THE GREAT PERRY COMO AND ALSO ANDY WILLIAMS, BUT THEY CAN'T COMPARE WITH MATT'S VERSON.
ED

HI PAUL I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY SONGS MATT RECORDED ALSO, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS THAT MANY.
FROM WHAT I CAN GUESS IT MAY BE AROUND 400 OR A LITTLE OVER, NOT COUNTING THE SPANISH ONES.

I COUNT 48 SPANISH SONGS, WITH "HAVA NAGUILA" WHICH IS NOT SPSNISH OF COURSE.
HE DID SO MANY GUEST SHOTS AND SANG SONGS ONE TIME ONLY , WHO KNOWS. (MICHELE?)
IT REALLY WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A MORE ACCURATE COUNT THOUGH.
ED

Hello Ed and everyone -- I agree that And Roses And Roses is beautiful and we have rarely mentioned it in the forum. I don't know Yours Alone --- stll another song I need to learn!

Perhaps 750 was too high and 400 is more accurate; 400 is still quite an achievement. Think of today's recording artists. Coldplay (whom I adore) have been in the business for eight years and have only recorded about 50 songs.

Hi All

I agree, if 400 recordings is an accurate figure, that is an amazing statistic.
Coupled with Matt Monro's longevity, it all adds up to a tremendous artist.

Gray