Should Have Been a Hit!!!!

[usafret]

HELLO ROBERT, I WAS REFERRING TO THE JUKE BOX IN THE PHILIPPINES (WHERE I FIRST HEARD MATT IN 1965)--HOWEVER I DID REMEMBER HEARING MATT ON THE JUKE BOX IN THE 70'S , IN A LITTLE BEER JOINT (PUB) ACROSS FROM THE DAYTONA BEACH AIRPORT.
YOU CAN BET I PUT MY SHARE OF MONEY IN IT.
ED

[ROBERT M.]

Now I understand Ed, as I know Matt was massive in the Philippines

Don't you call them "Bars" in the US Ed but at least you know we call them "Pubs" (short term for Public House)

[paul jh]

Robert -- We call these establishments bars, taverns, pubs, lounges, clubs, or beer joints.

And how long have you have 6 favourite Matt Monro songs? I recall you listing five songs. Have you added Where In The World to your list?

As Michele and Matt have written, Matt Monro was very popular in the US. He may have not had many chart records (just as other great singers rarely made the hit singles chart), but he was played on the radio and his 45s included in jukeboxes. In fact, I recently found some old Matt Monro 45s in Pennsylvania that came directly from a jukebox, because I even got the jukebox label included in the sleeve! (More details on that in the Jeopardy! game.)

Time to submit another song that should have been a hit: When Joanna Loved Me (which was one of those 45s I found in Pennsylvania).

[ROBERT M.]

Yes Jeff, Where In the World has been added to my top 5, to make a top 6

But do Americans call them Pubs I thought only we called them that

[Angela51]

Hi Robert .......... What about 'BOOZERS' heard that said often enough




Angela

[paul jh]

Robert - We have Irish pubs, English pubs, and just plain old American pubs. What we don't have is the pub culture.

[john]

"All That Remains" in my opinion should have been a hit as well, this is a lovely ballad.

[ROBERT M.]

I agree john, but with the song being on disc 2 of THE RARE MONRO, I don't play it as often as those tracks on disc 1 I wish it was on disc 1 instead of maybe "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"

[john]

I have to admit Robert that I play disc 1 more than disc 2 as well.

[paul jh]

We were thinking the same thing, Robert. I also wish All That Remains was on disc 1. Since Can't Take My Eyes Off You was on The Ultimate, I often skip it, even though I like Matt Monro's performance. But since there's so much I love on disc 2 (especially Blue Moon, Floral Dance, and I've Got Love), there's plenty of opportunity to hear All That Remains. But still, it fits better with the style of songs on disc 1.

Last week on some Radio 2 programme (I believe Alex Lestor), a listener asked for Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Andy Williams to be played. He said it was the perfect example of a pop song. To me, it's stricly MOR. One of the mysteries of my life will be how could Andy Williams' version of this song be more popular in the UK than Frankie Valli's far superior recording.

[ROBERT M.]

I think the reason for that Jeff, is that Andy Williams was a far more popular singer in the UK than Frankie Valli was. CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU was a very popular tune played on the radio, so it became a big hit over here for Andy Williams, which was in Andy's popularity heyday in the UK

[hpooch]

Two Songs that should have been big hits for Matt and on my top ten favorites are "Till Then My Love" (The B Side of "Beyond the Hill") and "Without You" (mentioned in the previous topic). Both these songs were omitted on most newer CDs of Matt's compilations and were not in "The Singer's Singer" 4-cd Set and should have been included. Also Matt's rendition of "Memory" and "Over the Rainbow" are included in my top 10 favorites.
Another attribute of Matt's voice is his ability to hold on to the last note of each song up to when the background music ends in many of his "big
voice" songs. Not even Sinatra could hold onto a final note like Matt!!
Maybe Al Martino, Don Cornell, or Jerry Vale...& of course Pavarotti!!

[ROBERT M.]

Yes Henry, isn't it great listening to those Matt songs where he holds the last note...............................BRILLIANT...........................is our Matts voice