My Kinda Music

I watched the 2007 Eurovision Contest and the only song and performance I could honestly relate to was….the German entry, a old style ’swing’ number, complete with suitably attired crooner, plus a line-up of tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, piano etc.

As I write I’m listening to the excellent Rod Stewart - Thanks For The Memory, The Great American Songbook IV CD. Super songs like I’ve Got A Crush On You and You Send Me.

Other CD’s I have feature artistes like Billy Eckstine, Sarah Vaughan, Harry Connick Jr, Charles Aznavour, Jerry Vale, Dinah Washington, James Darren, Bobby Vinton, Edith Piaf, The Temptations, Barbara Cook, Matt Monro, Nancy Wilson, Robert Goulet, Dean Martin, Il Divo, Pavarotti, Ted Hockridge, Dean Martin, Al Bowlly, and Al Jolson.

I also love big-band music, and the classical piece that features a flugel-horn solo played by a brass band and played/mimed by Tara Fitzgerald in the movie Brassed Off.

The musical theatre has played a large part in my musical education. Favourite musicals include Oklahoma, Follies, Hello Dolly, Chicago, Guys & Dolls, Carousel, Miss Saigon, Me & My Girl, Singing In The Rain, The Music Man, Mack & Mabel, West Side Story, and Valmouth.

Great memorable voices of the musical theatre include Barbara Cook, Robert Goulet, Robert Preston, Lea Salonga, Barbra Streisand, Gordon McCrae, Shirley Jones, Stubby Kaye, Howard Keel, George Hearn, Millicent Martin, Maria Friedman, Hugh Jackman,  Millicent Martin, Bernadette Peters, Elaine Paige, Joanna Riding, and Ted Hockridge.

What were your favourite musical theatre moments?

Is Motor Racing Better Today?

I enjoy watching motor sport on TV, especially F1 and the World Rally Championship.

The incredible technical achievements now involved in F1 are unbelievable. Everything seems to be computerised and so many items on the car can be adjusted from the pit wall, which to my mind makes the driver and the computer technician of equal standing as far as the race is concerned.

Unfortunately (maybe fortunately) I’m of an age who can remember Grand Prix racing when the likes of the maestro Stirling Moss and fellow drivers, Mike Hawthorn, Peter Collins, Innes Ireland, Graham Hill would not simply drive the Grand Prix cars. During the Daily Express Trophy meeting at Silverstone, Moss would drive a Jaguar in the saloon car race, an Aston Martin, Maserati, Jaguar or Lotus in the sports car race, then leap into the team Vanwall, a Cooper or his own 250F Maserati for the GP race.

In one year alone, Moss drove in 62 races in no less than 84 different cars!

I remember Stirling Moss donned thin cotton racing overalls whilst Mike Hawthorn seemed to wear whatever he wore for the journey to the circuit, usually a thin jerkin, a pair of suede’s, and his trademark spotted bow-tie.

Who The Hell?

I’m sorry but I have to ask, who the hell devised the BBC4 Television show Music Hall Meltdown?

The title suggests (to me) that it is a mature form of entertainment, ideal for an older audience (who also pay licence fees), yet in my opinion viewers have been presented with some artistes of questionable talent!

The supposed comedy act who wears a flat red turban on is about as funny as a punch in the throat. Where on earth did the producer of this charade find him as there’s nowhere I can think of who would dare book him? I’m funnier when I’m suffering a migrain!

As what seems to be the norm these days, producers are evidently intent on directing programming towards an 18-24 year age group, it’s either that or they haven’t got the slightest idea as to what quality entertainment is all about. I think BBC entertainment took a nose dive when Bill Cotton Junior left his post as Head of Light Entertainment at the Beeb.

If the BBC producer responsible for the show bothered to travel out of London he/she may find there are still some very good comedians and other entertainers working in the business. I suggest the producer of Music Hall Meltdown urgently invites advice regarding the content of the show from the likes of Roy Hudd. I know the producer won’t seek such advice, but he or she should do so before the series is binned!

Prostar