What's In Your CD Player/iPod/MP3/Computer/Hi Fi, Right Now?

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Hi Marian and Paul. We were listening to Desmond Carrington on Friday while stuck in a traffic jam, so listening to Val Doonican helped to ease the frustration.
We remember the rocking chair always being his prop, but he was also known for wearing slylish jumpers, different cashmere's and Fairisle patterened.
Marian we remember Paddy McGinty's Goat, and also this one of Val's "Forty Shades Of Green".
He always appeared to have a similar easy going style of the one and only Perry Como.
Next Friday Desmond features Dorothy Squires, another great favourite of Eric Hall.

[Terence Lee]

Hi Lena and Harry

What a coincidence!

I am listening to Perry Como croon the theme from Brian's Song - The Hands Of Time. He really was Mr Cool!

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Hi Terence, Perry was one of the best crooners that came out of the stream of Italian American singers predominantly around the Forties and Fifties. A great favourite for his weekly shows here in the uk in the Sixties.

[Hilary]

Hi Terence, Lena and Harry and everyone,

I Like Perry singing "For the good times."
This is such a lovely song and is very moving as the words are so sad in a way!

I have heard a couple of cover versions of this but I haven't heard any other artist sing this one as well as Perry Como.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Hi Hilary, this song "For The Good Times" was a perfect Como number, so typical of his relaxed style.
Perry was one of Twelve children, and he owned his own barber shop at the age of Fourteen. He was married to his wife Roselle for over Sixty years, and was said to be devastated when she passed away. When interviewed once he said, I don't have a lot to tell, I haven't led an exciting life, I'm a simple guy with simple tastes.
Perry died just six days short of his 89th Birthday.
One Of The Greats.

[mariana44]

Hi all you Perry Como fans--have you heard the Carpenters Cd, where Karen sings a medley with Perry---she sings his songs, and Perry sings Carpenters. Two more true greats who, sadly, are no longer with us!

Marian

[Terence Lee]

Hi Marian

I have never heard the CD but would prefer to watch them as I think the songs may be recorded for a TV special. Am I right?

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Hi Marian Terence Hilary, we haven't heard this CD either, but this duet melody has taken criticism.
Perry and Karen sang each others songs but.... her voice lacking it's usual timbre.... A hit and miss affair , (and Richards notes.) It was a bit of a nightmare putting it together and he himself, filled in due to some of Perry's vocals being lost and his attempt at a Perry Como impersonation doesn't work.
As far as we can understand this was taken from a Christmas show.

[Hilary]

Hi Marian, Lena and Harry and Terence,

We have a nice Perry Como CD at home which contains all his best work.
As well as "for the good times" I do like "catch a falling star" and "magic moments." (I wonder why this reminds me of chocolates )

Perry had such a nice easy listening voice that you could listen to his music for ages and never get tired of his lovely voice.
Like Matt, he is very popular and we still hear his lovely music on the radio a lot, which is good!

[mariana44]

Hi Terence, Hilary, Lena and Harry.yes you may be right about this being part of a tv special, because on this cd is a duet with Ella Fitzgerald, which I have on dvd.

I have to admit, that the duet with Perry was not my favourite part of the cd, but just a part of music history I guess , you could say.

I had not heard that criticism of this medley, and had no idea that Richard sang some of the notes-I will listen carefully next time I play this cd. I do love this cd, because there are quite a few unreleased tracks from Karen, including [in the duet with Ella] "Someone to watch over me"--and my favourite track of all from Karen--"the Rainbow Connection"--just magical.

Marian

[paul jh]

I've never heard Perry Como sing "For The Good Times" but I can't imagine anyone singing the song better that Ray Price, who owns this song. His recording is beautiful and tender.

To me, Perry Como's best recording is "And I Love You So". It's such a simple arrangement and his singing is just lovely. Each time I hear it, I'm completely transfixed and can only listen to the beauty of the song.

[ROBERT M.]

Hi Paul. I am very surprised you haven't heard Perry Como sing "For The Good Times", as it was a MASSIVE hit or was it a HUGE hit, for him on both sides of the Atlantic.

[paul jh]

Robert -- Perhaps you are referring to Canada and Latin America, but For The Good Times by Perry Como was never released as a single in the United States, nor did it receive any radio airplay. Ray Price's version was very popular and played on country and easy listening radio stations. All other recordings would be "inferior" to Mr Price's version!

[mariana44]

Hi Paul---that is very strange, as I am very familiar with Perry Como singing "For the good times", but I have never heard Ray Price's version.
In fact , I have never heard of Ray Price.

Marian

[paul jh]

Ray Price is primarily known as a country and western music singer with hits back in the 1950s and 1960s. But For The Good Times was played on pop and easy listening stations as well. He was born in Texas in 1926 and still tours today! His other big hits were Heartaches By The Number, Crazy Arms, and Night Life.