Matt Monro Forum

Catching up with some Radio shows on the " Listen Again "feature that we missed over the past few days.
On Tuesday evening Desmonds' theme on spy films and the songs from those films included "The Quiller Memorandum," so the song had
to be. Matt's beautiful rendition of Wednesday's Child.
In addition to Desmonds' Tuesday evening programmes, for the next Four Fridays at 7'0clock- 7.30 Desmond is looking at the careers and music of these entertainers... Friday 23rd Feb.. Flanagan and Allen. FrIday 2nd March....Eartha Kitt. 9th March....George Formby. and the 16th March....Tommy Steele.

Hope this isn't too off topic: I have a lovely version of "Wednesday's Child" sung by Edward Woodward. Sadly, Edward Woodward's L.P's have never been reissued on CD, so all my L.Ps are very precious to me. Anyone here like his singing?

I like to listen to Desmond Carrington's show and Malcolm Laycock too, as I like dance band music of the 1930's and so on. My favourite singer of that time is, Al Bowlly.

Hi Sheila--good to welcome you on board---Edward Woodward was mentioned quite recently on this forum--if you did a search on him you should find it easily.

My husband and I liked Edward Woodward's singing-very distinctive--but the Lps have got lost in the process of several house moves-I have never checked to see if they are on Cd.

And we often go off-topic--that is one of great things about this forum-you never know what is going to turn up next !!!

Hi Sheila, we also have some Edward Woodward's music.
We like his LP with songs from theold time Music Hall like " Champagne Charlie", "I'll be your Sweetheart" etc.
We like Malcolm Laycock's programme, particularly for the British Dance Band music , we have quite a collection and of course Al Bowlly is a favourite of ours too. Beautiful singer.

Hi! Thanks for the welcomes Yeah, I know the LP you mean and have that one in my collection. I think I have all Edward Woodward's releases. I keep and eye on ebay, Amazon and I Tunes for more stuff too. Most of my dance band records were bought at the record fairs around London when I lived down that way. Mostly, the one at The Fairfield Hall, Croydon. I especially like the recordings Al Bowlly made with Ray Noble, Lew Stone and Roy Fox. I have noticed that Matt, not too surprisingly has recorded some of the same songs as Al Bowlly did and of course they both recorded under Decca for a time.

I know what you mean about house moves Mariana, I have been through quite a few of those.

Hi Sheila, " One Morning In May" recorded by Al Bowlly with Ray Noble is a favourite of ours, and Matt's recording of this song is equally superb. Both sound very similar.

Hi everyone, I never even realised that Edward Woodward had ever sang. I must be too young to remember!

"Wednesday's Child" is one of my very favourite Matt recordings. I don't have any of Edward Woodward's music, though unlike John with an 'h' I do know he used to sing and released albums. Makes me wonder about other performers perhaps better known for something other than singing but who also did a bit of warbling. Don Estelle, the short guy from "It Ain't Hal Hot Mum", had a nice voice, and there is also of course Jimmy Young (who did have commercial success as a recording artist). There was even Ken Dodd...

Edward Woodward sang in the typically English manner and appeared in several successful stage plays.
Don Estelle and Jimmy Young and Ken Dodd all had good voices, Don Estelle had special training from when he was a young boy. His Cds contain some great numbers and Jimmy Young has made quite a number of LPs, and so has Ken Dodd. The song "Tears" always associated with Ken.

Yeah, I think I tend to prefer English people singing with an English accent not trying to be American Edward Woodward was in a Broadway stage production of "High Spirits" I have the CD, it is well worth a listen to, if you can get it E.W's voice suits Noel Coward's stuff a treat.

Another guy better known for acting rather than singing is Ray Barrett of The Troubleshooters, fame. The LP of his I have is on the Fontana lable from 1969, called "No Trouble Now". The sleeve picture shows his lighting a cigarette Tracks include, "I Have Dreamed", "If You Go Away", "The Very Thought of You" and "Can't Get Used To Losing You" there are 12 tracks in all. Don't think he any other releases but maybe someone here knows differently?

A friend of mine has a Ray Barrett album Sheila, I'm not sure what it's called, but I'll ask next time I speak to her. She'll be amazed to know someone else has one too!! She really liked him when she was young.

Marian

Another actor who brought a couple of records out as well was Richard Chamberlain, I am sure I have an lp of his somewhere, entitled Theme From Dr. Kildare.

Yes, Richard did sing at one time--the theme from Dr Kildare was probably the best known. I thought he was great as Dr Kildare---not so sure about his roles in "The Thorn Birds" or "Shogun". Amazon has Richards "Greatest Hits" on cd at only £54.99!!!!

Another actor turned singer is David Hasselhoff-I have a cd of his, where he sings songs about various places in America.

"Greatest Hits" of Richard Chamberlain I don't think I can name one of his hits was his version of Dr Kildare a hit

The theme tune to Dr Kildare was called 'Three Stars will shine tonight'

If you are talking of actors turned singers then lets not forget William Shatner, and his truly unique approach to 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds!! and 'Mr Tambourine Man' on his 1968 album 'The transformed man'.