Memory: The Singer's Singer

[mike]

There are only a few songs by Matt which I don't really like, but Diana is not one of those

Do tell

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Well money does talk all languages Karl, I've a feeling it was a brave person who had to tell Sandie Shaw she would have to sing and record that song. but there you go, I suppose once the £ signs flashed up it worked magic.

[ROBERT M.]

Patti Page had the big hit in the US with How Much Is That Doggie In The Window

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Yes, and as far as I know, like many, she accepted the rewards graciously. and I suppose if I was forced to choose between the two ( heaven forbid) it would be Patti's version

[Rmoore]

........if Matt had stated that he disliked Diana so much, surely that would have hurt the feelings of lyricist Don Black his best mate, so it just does not add up really

Matt didn't state publicly that he disliked the song so it wouldn't have hurt Mr Blacks feelings. This is something Michele has told me. I think Hate is probably the wrong word for mat's feelings, but he didn't like it that's for sure.

[karl]

Richard I bet you wish you never mentioned this!!!!

Anyway, even if Don Black did write it - it wasn't mandatory that Matt should like it.

[Rmoore]

In a nutshell Karl!

[ROBERT M.]

There are only a few songs by Matt which I don't really like, but Diana is not one of those

Do tell

Well Mamma Packed a Picnic Tea for starters

[ROBERT M.]

Anyway, even if Don Black did write it - it wasn't mandatory that Matt should like it.

Yes, of course Matt didn't have to like every song Don wrote, but he wouldn't want to hurt Don's feelings by telling him the truth

[Rmoore]

Mama Pack a Picnic tea is a rare moment where George Martin lost all sense of what makes a good song - a rarity with George, John Burgess on the other hand picked more than his fair share of clunkers - particularly on the Long & Winding Road LP but none of them quite as bad as Mama Packed. But even that is better than 'French Poodle'.

Richard

[karl]

Robert. Don Black may be a good songwriter but he's not God. People in showbusiness face criticism constantly and they are bound to realise everything they do is not wonderful!

[mike]

There are only a few songs by Matt which I don't really like, but Diana is not one of those

Do tell

Well Mamma Packed a Picnic Tea for starters

Listening to it on itunes right now. It certainly is an odd one. French Poodle next up.

[ROBERT M.]

Robert. Don Black may be a good songwriter but he's not God. People in showbusiness face criticism constantly and they are bound to realise everything they do is not wonderful!

Yes Karl you are correct, but I'm saying Matt would not tell Don about any "clunkers" because of their close friendship...............I bought the Don Black book Wrestling With Elephants nearly 10 years ago (where have those 10 years gone!!), but I cannot see any mention of the song Diana

[Rmoore]

You can read an awful lot of rubbish about Matt in that book too!

[ROBERT M.]

You can read an awful lot of rubbish about Matt in that book too!

Yes Richard, you are not kidding ..............after I read the chapter that Don wrote about Matt, I thought he had made most of it up ............I disliked Don for a long time afterwards because of it.

If Don wrote false truths about Matt, couldn't Michele do anything about it ? as it is libel.........isn't it ?