Matt Monro Forum

Just to let you know that on Eric's programme yesterday he announced that next Sunday the 10th Sept: Matt Jnr will join him as guest, along with Tim Heath- son of Legendary Band leader Ted Heath, and jazzman Kenny Ball.
A great programme again yesterday and Eric played Matt's recording of " My Kind Of Girl."

Thanks for informing us of this exciting programme, Lena and Harry. I have enjoyed both Ted Heath and Kenny Ball's recordings. Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen's recording of Midnight In Moscow is one of the most swinging instrumentals I've ever heard! Very interesting that both Matt Monro and Ted Heath's sons are carrying on the tradition of fine music from their fathers.

This 10th September radio programme will be a must-listen! However, I'm not sure where Eric Hall resides within the BBC radio. Is it Radio Essex? I'll use the listen again feature next week.

Yes, Radio Essex Paul.

Matt Jnr was guest on Eric Hall's programme this afternoon.
People were phoning in with happy memory stories of how and when they met the great Matt Monro, plus all Matt's well known songs were played today, and next Sunday Eric's guest is Tony Christie.

What did you think of Frank Sinatras version of Matts "My Kind of Girl" L&H?? It was different, but absolutely nowhere near as good as Matts original version, in my opinion

Thanks so much Lena and Harry for telling us that Matt Monro Jnr was on Eric Hall's programme again. I am listening to it now and enjoying it so much!

Robert - I didn't care for Frank Sinatra's My Kind Of Girl. It should only be sung by Matt Monro.

Katie's version of From A Distance was the first time I could ever make it through this song; she sang it quite well. Chas did a nice rendition of I Had The Craziest Dream, but that song belongs to Helen Forrest.

Matt Jnr sure does love Autumn Leaves. Right now I'd love to hear Fly Me To The Moon. But Walk Away is playing now, and it's exquisite.

I didn't know that Winifred Atwell was a ragtime/honky tonk pianist. More music for me to purchase on my next trip to HMV!

Hi Paul, glad you enjoyed Eric Hall's show, and yes no one can compare with Matt's "My Kind Of Girl" and so we learned that Matt Jnr's favourite song of his Dad's is "Portrait Of My Love."
Matt Jnr seemed to be enjoying himself, sharing jokes with Eric who is often quite sharp with his witty replies.
Winifred Attwell made regular appearances on our screens mainly in the Fifties, a lady with a big smile, a huge personality and very popular.
She would begin playing her current hits like "Black and White rag " "Party Hits and More Party Hits " and then would say " And now over to my other piano " this was honky Tonk time. We have most of her records on the Decca label.

I thought it was funny, when Eric Hall said he wanted to go for a "wee wee" live on air Paul, could you understand Erics talking this week??

Generally I understood Eric better this week, but his assistant helps a lot in the general understanding of the program. It was funny when Eric kept calling Chas as Chris. I also enjoyed the banter about the museums. Sometimes I just listened in amazement. This programme can be so raw, yet real; nothing like this would be on radio in the US. The callers didn't sing much this week ... I missed that. And I did some pre-Eric Hall homework and did a google search on bubala. That also helped.

I'm confused about Eric's and the listener's love of Guy Mitchell. I always considered him a one-hit wonder with Singing The Blues. Clearly I'm wrong. And I thought he was American. Is that correct?

It did seem like Matt Jnr was more relaxed this time in talking with Eric about his father and his music. I don't have time to listen again (again), but I liked very much Matt Jnr's comment of how just being the most technically correct vocalist doesn't mean everything. You have to interpret the lyric, almost live the lyric. He said it better than that, but that was his general point. This also applies to the piano and just about anything in music.

Thanks for the info on Winifred Atwell. She certainly seems like a happy person on her album covers. And her music is certainly cheerful.

Paul, Guy Mitchell is American, born in Detroit, Michigan in 1925. Guy Mitchell recorded many easy listening tracks Paul with the Glen Osser orchestra, including a 2 on 1 CD I have, which seems to have been deleted now, when I checked HMV website.

I remember Guy Mitchell very well too!! Anyone remember "She wears red feathers and a hooley hooley skirt"? I think that was Guy Mitchell..
It went on...
"She lives on just coceenuts and fish from the sea,
A rose in her hair, a gleam in her eye, and a love in her heart for me".


Marian

Guy Mitchell sang those "funny" type songs when Mitch Mitchell was his producer. He later moved on from those

Guy Mitchell was a popular crooner who had his first hit record in 1951 "My Heart Cries For You."
Guy Mitchell, Al Martino, and Eddie Fisher roomed together in New York when they were all trying to make their careers in singing at that time.
She wears Red Feathers, "My Truly Truly Fair " "Chic a Boom Chicarac" "The Roving Kind" all followed and his biggest hit came about 1956 or 7 with "Singing The Blues" also recorded by Tommy Steele.

My best friend liked Tommy Steele when we were at school in the fifties. We went to see him in concert in Cardiff. He came out on the balcony round the back of the theatre after to show and sang "Butterfingers" to us. It was wonderful!

Marian.

Hi Marian, Tommy Steele was born in Bermondsey London and was probably the first Rock and Roll idol to appear on our screens.
He always had a great smile and a great personality.
I saw him at The London Palladium when he appeared with Roy Castle in "Singing In The Rain" in 1984. It was brilliant.