THE WONDERFUL SOUND OF WOOLWORTHS.

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 1:37 am

We have been listening to a Radio 2 programme tonight presented by Brian Matthew reviewing Woolworths own brand of record labels since this High Street chain store opened nearly One Hundred years ago.
We heard Al Jolson, Al Bowlly, Henry Cooper, even Brian himself with a cover version of Peter Sellars and Sophia Loren's "Goodness Gracious Me " and the wonderful Vera Lynn who sang a perfect rendition of "Up The Wooden Hill To Bedfordshire " recorded 70 years ago.
This, as far as we know is the first and only time time that she has sung on air or recorded since she sang outside Bckingham Palace to mark the Golden Jubilee of VE Day. She said that she wanted to go out on a high.
And you've guessed,... it was MATT who started and ended the programme with his commercial, for THE WONDER OF WOOLWORTHS

john · Post by **john** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:26 am

I have just had a listen to parts of it Lena and Harry, yes, Vera Lynn sounded very good didn't she? 91 years old as well, marvellous. X Factor, be aware!

ANNE & DAVID IOW · Post by **ANNE & DAVID IOW** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 5:38 pm

Heres one for Lena & Harry...Am I right in saying the Woolworths own record label Embassy did have one only number one and that was Russ Hamilton singing We Will make Love ? .. I did not listen to the programme , yet another serious miss by yours truly !!

Happy New Year to you both,

Anne & David IOW

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:33 pm

Anne and David, we don't recall or know of any Embassy recordings reaching number 1.
Russ Hamilton recorded the hit "We Will Make Love" on the Oriole label, and it was placed in the top ten here in the uk, and Russ was an even bigger hit in the USA and because of a mix up with the A side and the B side, the B side "Rainbow " ended up at Number 4 on the billboard.
There were so many singers during the Embassy reign and so many different labels at that time, and they were nearly all singing under different names.

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 12:49 am

I listened to the beginning of the Woolworths programme last night, as I just knew they would play Matt singing that Woolies song

ANNE & DAVID IOW · Post by **ANNE & DAVID IOW** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:47 am

Thanks Lena & Harry as always you answer the question, where I got the Embassy number one from goodness knows , but it has done the rounds on many a dinner party !!! (I may keep it going )

Can't let this first day of 2009 go without a mention of that lovely man and great entertainer Gary Miller, did you ever see him in performance ?

One of my great favourites of yesteryear !

David of Anne & David IOW

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:16 am

Anne and David, we didn't ever see Gary Miller perform but we still have a couple of his 78s and the first song that comes to mind is "There Goes That Song Again" ... such a shame that he died so young.

paul jh · Post by **paul jh** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:53 am

Thank you, Lena and Harry, for pointing out this Radio 2 programme. I really enjoyed it. Vera Lynn is a national treasure. I loved hearing her sing that little ditty. And I know you agree that Brian Matthew is one of the best presenters and such a gentleman. I didn't know he actually worked in the music business. One can learn so much from these Radio 2 documentaries.

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:19 am

Brian Matthew is a gentleman Paul, and many will agree that it's time he was given a knighthood, along with David Jacobs and Desmond Carrington.

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:48 am

I thought it was great news yesterday of the opening of the new Wellworths store on the old premises of Woolworths in Dorchester.
The ex-manager took over the project to reopen the store under it's new name and re-employed all the previous staff who had lost their jobs when Woolwoth's closed.
Chris Evans opened the store, and if the number of people there yesterday are anything to go by, it will be a great success.
All best wishes to Claire and her team and her Wonder of 'Wellies' Shop. They even have pick and mix!

Marian

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:41 pm

Yes, that's great isn't it. What drive Clare has shown, and to have all the staff back again. Good luck to Wellworths

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:48 pm

We need more people like Claire about---I hate walking past the 2 Woolworth's stores near me--one in Tonbridge----one in Tunbridge Wells--
yes, they are 2 different towns!!!

But walking past them , all boarded up--for a start it looks awful---then I think of all the people who are now out of work.

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 6:20 pm

The closed Woolworths shop windows in our local High street are now being plastered with drab looking adverts, or of gigs and groups that are around, unheard of by us, and along with at least Eight other shops that seem to have closed down overnight, this street that has been favourite with us for decades is now just one sorry sight, and that's putting it politely

john · Post by **john** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:56 pm

I really hope Claire makes a success of it, good on her!