Matt Monro Forum

Hi everyone.

Did anyone catch the documentary on Doris Day on BBC1 over the weekend?
I thought it was brilliant, she has a wonderful voice and boy, couldn't she act?!. A real star.
She also sang with another of my faves, Gordon McCrae, in a couple of movies.
About a year ago, I went to see Oklahoma in 70mm at the City Screen in York, and Mr McCrae sounded wonderful, belting out from the massive speakers behind the screen, made the hairs on the back of my kneck stand up.

Gray

Hello Gray and everyone. Yes I watched the Doris Day documentary last night, it was excellent. What a great voice she had (Paul from Maryland) would agree, i'm sure. Doris Day's story is quite a sad story really, with the train accident and the breaking of her leg. Also her choice of husband's during her early career who physically and mentally abused her. Then lately the passing of her beloved record producer son Terry Melcher, who Doris grew much closer to later in life.
She sang some great song's over the year's including the wonderful "Secret Love". Doris only took up singing after her accident. While laid up in hospital she listened to the radio, and dicovered all those fabulous song's from the 30's and 40's. Doris retired from both the movies and singing in 1967, at the age of only 43 or 44, what a shame. She looked really beautiful in her early film's.

Hi Gray and Robert, we didn't watch the Doris Day documentry, but we remember from the late Forties and early Fifties when request programmes were frequent and popular on the radio, such as "Two Way Family Favourites" ( before yout time we know) specially because wives and sweethearts and family members had their husbands and fiances serving in the forces, Doris Day's songs along with Vera Lynn and Ann Shelton from here in the UK, her songs were the most popular and the most frequently requested here in this country. For those years and so many years after, this country's singers were Crosby, Sinatra, and Doris Day for popularity.
In fact without doubt or hesitation, Crosby was always regarded as THE Number One where male vocalists were concerned and in front of Sinatra.
Gordon Macrae was also a wonderful vocalist and we have many of his recordings including duets with Jo Stafford.

I can only dream about seeing a Doris Day retrospective in my country. If you're over 50, you're basically forgotten here. And many people here don't even remember her as a singer. They only remember the movies and (maybe) Whatever Will Be Will Be. But could she ever interpret a lyric. Her son (and I agree) considered her one of the greatest interpreters of song, but sadly she's often neglected in favor of Billie Holliday, Sarah Vaughn, and Peggy Lee. (None of them can compare to Doris Day or Ella Fitzgerald).

I bought most of my Doris Day CDs in London, where you will find 10 times more of her CDs than any American record store. My recent purchase was the two LPs on one CD (similar to the Matt Monro series) of Latin for Lovers and Love Him. I'd highly recommend it. It's worth it just for the songs Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars, Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps, and Nightlife. Another excellent recording is her version of Rodgers & Hart's Little Girl Blue.

I believe Doris Day spends most of her time in Carmel, California, with her cats and dogs.

You are correct about Bing Crosby...no one has had the chart success in the United States that he had. I don't think he has the best voice (you all know my favorite!), but he had a huge impact on how popular songs are sung.

Hi Paul, along with our favourite Doris Day collection is a double CD on the "PERFORMANCE " 38122 label UK with the title : "The Girl Next Door"
So many nice numbers on there 47 tracks.

Hi everyone and Paul,

I love Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps, great song and sang to perfection. It was used to good effect in the movie Strictly Ballroom, (or so I think!)
A couple of years ago I travelled to San Francisco and spent a brilliant fortnight tracking down all the places used in famous movies such as Vertigo, Dirty Harry and Bullitt.
Loved it - great holiday.
Also, went to Carmel and drank in Clint's bar at Mission Ranch (brilliant - I'm a massive Eastwood fan and that was just wonderful for me) and(here's the point of all this inaine chatter!) found Doris Day's house.
Phew! Sorry about that, rambled on a bit before I got to the point!

Gray

Hi Gray,
Don't know if you know already, but apparently today is Clint Eastwood's birthday. Carol mentioned it on "Countdown".

Hi Marian---dare I ask---are you a "Countdown " addict , too!!

Marian {2}

Hi Marian and Mariana44 Here's another Countdown addict.
Des Lynham is doing ok since taking over as presenter and it's a good excuse for tea and biccies.

Is "Countdown" a movie, TV programme, radio programme, or something else?

Hi Marian & everyone

Yes, thanks for mentioning Clint's birthday, I did know - he was 76 I think.
He is the last of 'the true' movie stars still making films if you ask me, a proper movie star.
A presence, like John Wayne, a good 'old fashioned' leading man, do you know what I mean?

And on the topic of Paul's posting, would any of the Countdown addicts like to explain the phenomenum that is 'Countdown'?!
I won't stand in the way of fans of the show to wax lyrical about it's vitues!


Gray

Hello, Marian 2, Lena and Harry, Paul jh, and Gray.
Yes, I do watch a lot of Countdown, but not every day, like I'm sure some of you do. (I've got rather hooked on "Deal or No Deal" though.)
Loved the final of Countdown with young Connor winning the other day. Very appropriate to dedicate the new trophy to the late, great Richard Whitely, who is sadly missed, but as you say, Des is doing a great job in replacing him in the chair.
"Countdown" is a daytime word game TV programme which has run for years on Channel 4 in the afternoons. It's hard to describe really, you really need to watch to appreciate its wide appeal.

Marian.

Hi all--well, I have to admit, I am a true addict!! I have a book where I play along and record my scores everyday--I am usually a close third!!!

I also thought it was very moving to see Connor presented with the Richard Whitely Trophy--it was a great way of keeping his name alive and associated with the programme--I miss seeing Richard, but Des is growing on me--he is more relaxed about it now--and I love when he does his impressions!! Connor gave another great performance on Wednesday in the Champion of champions---it is going to take someone really special to beat him!!

And yes, I also watch Deal or No Deal too!!

Marian

Hello everyone. Just to explain to Paul quickly what the TV show is about. It is not a chart run down show as you might expect from the title, it is a game show to do with letter's and number's. To either make word's up or to find the solution's to a number's game.
The name "Countdown" refer's to the clock which they use during each round of the show. The clock counts down from 30 second's to zero. Hope that help's to explain the show a little bit to you Paul. ??

Clint Eastwood is currently producing a TV Documentary on Tony Bennett to celebrate Tony's 80th Birthday on August 3rd.
I taped the Doris Day BBC TV TWO biodocumentary but will watch it when I have time.