Matt Monro Forum

I implore anyone to listen to the gorgeous voice of Mr. Peter Cox .He is still extremely busy as lead man of 80's band Go West, but a superb singer in his own right. I love him! He really is unique.

Was he the one in that programme---"Reborn in the USA" or something--with Tony Hadley???

Marian

Hi Laura, we haven't any of Peter Cox recordings, so are not familiar with his music, but have been listening to some clips of his songs and, yes he is a good singer and also we have read some very good reviews about his music.
We are sure someone here will reply to you about Peter.

yes he,s with 1980s band go west but a real superb voice .he , s done a few solo albums with very little joy ...........

Oh right - the Go West guy - yeah, he had a great voice in a 1980s kind of way - I loved 'King of Wishful Thinking' from the Pretty Woman soundtrack

I'm still wondering--was he in "Reborn in the USA"--with Tony Hadley, Sonia, a few others I cannot remember. I think it was Tony who actually won.
I love Spandau Ballet 's "Through the Barricades".

Marian

I'm almost sure he was Marian.

I also like 'Through the barricades', but always feel its about to burst into a much bigger song, but then it never does! I have to say that with the possible exception of Messrs Buble and Connick, that few current male vocalists have the ability to dazzle me with their artistic talents, mainly because they all sound so alike!

Couldn't agree more Mike, and with one or two exceptions, the same applies to these female no hopers the ones who again all sound the same these days, like wailing banshees.

Its not to say that I don't like modern pop music, but its all sold as a package - the sound of the song, the look of the video, the story of the group (many of whom have been manufactured by record producers). I appreciate it for the modern 'product' that it has become, but I am not sure if I will still be listening to their songs in 40 years time! Its not new, this packaging goes back to the 1950's particularly with the ascendence of Elvis Presley, who spawned a whole host of imitators!

The record producers in the USA and indeed the UK presented the newly recognised teen market with a product that was sexy, exciting, and so very different to what they were used to, and modern pop musc was born - particularly when TV got in on the act. In the USA, an pop artists career could be made or lost depending on an appearance on 'American Bandstand', which in the 1950s was broadcast live daily for an hour in the 'after school' slot. A production line of soon to be forgotten teen idols started on both sides of the Atlantic, some of whom have managed to stay the course, but the majority of whom have served their purpose of 'filling a gap in the market' for a few years.

But the likes of Matt Monro, Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett, Doris Day and all the other 'old-time' singers (although Bobby Darin had of course been the 1st pop star to cross over to 'adult entertaining'!) were/are craftesmen of their trade. They have their own distinctive sound, an understanding of the lyrics, and the ability to put real emotion into their interpretation of their version of it.