Teach-In sing Ding-a-dong

It's that time of year again, when the U.K representative for the Eurovision Song Contest gets publicly humiliated with a long line of nul points from our continental cousins, except for a few sympathy points thrown our way by Ireland and the decent handful from plucky Malta (they've long memories on that island) this is an event much like Marmite, you either love it or hate it and I'm firmly in the former camp, hmm...now there's another word you often associate with this spectacle.

For the benefit of our American readers who must be wondering what on earth Scratchy is blathering on about.. a quick explanation of this event can be sought here. The gist of Eurovision is that since 1956 lots of European countries have each year entered a song, with the hope of becoming the most popular tune in the annual contest. Each member awards a number of points, up to a maximum of twelve points and it's all meant to be done in the spirit of unity and harmony.

It was taken quite seriously in the early years with many established pop stars, such as Lulu and Cliff Richard, entering quality pop songs and it was also the springboard for the careers of some internationally renowned acts, most notably Abba in 1974. However, there has always been a strong whiff of cheese to the event, with more than it's fair share of nonsensical lyrics, silly songs and ludicrous costumes. It's creditability has been a bit suspect for many a year in the U.K with the Great British Public not taking it as seriously as the organisers would like. It's nadir for the British arrived in 2003 when Jemini finished in last place with the dreaded 'nul points' This was widely seen as a backlash and an anti war protest about Tony Blair's involvement and the U.K's participation in the American led invasion of Iraq.

The integrity of the show has recently been cast into further doubt with old alliances, block voting, and traditional enmities overtly influencing the voting. This reached the depths last year as to rankle Terry Wogan so much (the much loved BBC presenter who had been the face of Eurovision for the BBC for donkeys years) that his wry commentary of the proceedings turned into ire as he all but announced his resignation from the job on air as the winner entry from Russia was being crowned, amidst bitter recriminations of undue favouritism coming from their allies in the former Soviet republics, who had strangely, nearly all given maximum marks to their powerful neighbour.

Fear not, my American friends, if Eurovision was a dastardly plan by 'cheese eating surrender monkeys' to turn us all into one big commie loving "United States of Europe" then it's failing miserably and the bickering is louder than ever..that's why we love it! This year I'm hoping for one of the representatives of the former members of the Soviet Bloc, to just lay their cards on the table and have an act performing a song called "Please Don't Turn Off Your Gas in January" before awarding the obligatory douze points.. It'll be a lot more straight forward for everyone involved..

I have dug out my one cheesy record featuring a Eurovision winner, bought mainly for the hideous cover and fashion nightmares being worn by the band. I was particularly taken with the look of the guy top right who is the spitting image of the Les McQueen character from the cult television comedy The League Of Gentlemen The sketches highlight the tragic life of the ex rhythm guitarist from fictional band Crème Brulee, played to perfection, by Mark Gatiss. The story is of a Seventies soft rock band, who entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981, and were nearly signed to Pickwick in 1976. Their big hit was "Voodoo Lady" and Les desperately hankers for a return to the limelight and recapture his youth.

Teach-In had a rather more successful career than Crème Brulee. Now, usually thought of as Abba clones, they were actually a successful band in their home country Holland, with three chart hit hits already under their belt by 1974 and were no spring chickens to the pop scene, having formed way back in 1969. The line up in the halcyon years had Getty Kaspers on lead vocals, John Gaasbeek (piano) Ard Weeink (trumpet, bass) Chris de Wolde (guitar) plus founder members Koos Versteeg (piano, accordion) and Ruud Nijhuis (drums)

The Dutch entry's night of glory, at the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest, with Ding-a-dong propelled them to have a hit with the winning song in most European countries, reaching number thirteen in the U.K. In fact, trivia fans, they were the the first winners under the now-familiar Eurovision voting system, whereby each country awards scores of 1 to 8, then 10 and 12, it's worth storing that little titbit of knowledge for future reference at a pop pub quiz! Their career fizzled out in 1978 after six albums but since then, the occasional reformation, with new members enlisted to fill the gaps, has kept the spirit of 75 ding-a-donging along.

As a postscript to the event, my personal favourite song from the 2009 contest, the Portuguese entry Flor-de-Lis, headed straight for mid table mediocrity on the night and my predictions of disaster for the U.K entry Jade weren't borne out as she was placed in a respectable fifth place, where as my friends' two year old daughter showed a keen ear for a winning pop tune, by dancing most animatedly on the sofa to the Norwegian entry Alexander Rybak, which blitzed the field with a record breaking 387 points. So much for my pop punditry prowess, the lesson learnt here is, next time ask a toddler if you want to predict a chart topper.

Teach-in performing their winning song Ding-a-dong at the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm,Sweden.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ding-A-Dong

http://www.eurovision.tv/

http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/teach_in

From Europe With Love

Can we have one more aeronautical album cover please? Oh, go on then! Behold the jet plane image on the 1965 release, called From Europe With Love, issued by 'World Record Club' (T 449) A continental compilation, that promises to be as sophisticated, debonair and romantic as the title suggests.

From Europe With Love has contributions from Emile Belcourt, Roberto Cadinale, Julie Dawn and Janie Marden and the Europeans. The music is arranged and conducted by Bobby Richards and his Orchestra.

Side One

Quando Quando
Non Ho L'eta Per Amarti
Et Maintenant

Je Ne Regrette Rien
Il Nostro Concerto

Mi'lord

Side Two

Volare

La Mer

Al Di La

La Novia

Never On Sunday
Romantica

This must be the definitive cover version of 'Never On Sunday' The song, composed by Manos Hadjidakis, went on to win an Academy Award and was the soundtrack to the 1960 Greek film, Never On Sunday, directed by Jules Dassin starring Melina Mercouri.

The Muppets - Never On Sunday

http://www.fromeuropewithlove.net/
(this has nothing to do with music, being a marketing/advertising site, but gets a mention for the quality logo)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_on_Sunday

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Record_Club

Os Sambacanas - Fly Me To Brazil

The flying theme continues with a gem of easy listening, latin flavoured album from 1969 with an aeroplane themed cover.

So welcome aboard to some more in flight entertainment, we'll be cruising at 37,000 feet with some samba influenced chilled beats, putting a new twist on some very familiar songs of the late Sixties.

This was originally recorded in Brazil by Julio Nagib, who used authentic Brazilian instruments on these tracks. It was originally released as...

Meet Os Sambacanas - Sucessos da Juventude em Tempo de Samba

Then DJM (Dick James Music) re-released it in the U.K with the new aircraft cover as shown. "Apparently Julio Nageb met the DJM people at MIDEM music fair and they bought the rights" (thanks to Gary from the comments box at the loromix.blogspot link below for the extra information)

An Adventure In Stereo indeed

Track Listing (1969)

Side 1

1. Hey Jude
(John Lennon / Paul McCartney)
2. Fly Me To The Moon
(B. Howard/B.May)
3. Romeo Und Julia
(H. Mayer / H. Bradtke)
4. Step Inside Love
(John Lennon / Paul McCartney)
5. Perto dos Olhos Longe Do Coração (Dori Épson / Marcos Roberto)

Side 2

6. Those Were The Days
(G. Raskin)
7. Yesterday
(John Lennon / Paul McCartney)
8. Delilah
(L. Reed / B. Mason/T.J Binicki)
9. Epor Isso Estou Aqui
(Roberto Carlos)
10. Namoradinha De Um Amigo Meu
(Roberto Carlos)

http://loronix.blogspot.com/

A download is available from here, for those of you wanting to pursue this further..

http://loronix.blogspot.com/search?q=os+sambacanas

http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/os_sambacanas

Paddy Roberts 'Songs For Gay Dogs'

Here's another one of those classic album covers, that needs to be documented and celebrated. The title is a bit misleading, in that it's referring to 'jolly' canines, rather than out and proud mutts. In fact, the only gay dog I can think of, off the top of my head, is Sparky from South Park, though I'm sure there must be other rainbow rovers around and about.

Paddy Roberts (1910-1975) was a singer/songwriter, who's act consisted of singing songs with slightly risqué lyrics, which would now be described as a bit naughty or politically incorrect. He had a very well refined laid back delivery, with a cut glass English accent, that reminds one of a John Le Mesurier or Noel Coward persona of a typical dapper English gentleman. This belied his South African roots, having been born in Durban as John Godfrey Owen Roberts, growing up in a comfortably off, professional family environment. He arrived in Britain in 1936 and began to build up commercial songwriting credentials, co-writing his earliest hits 'Angel Of The Great White Way' in 1938 and 'Horsey Horsey'. He also appeared on B.B.C radio, as part of the Tin Pan Alley trio. However, this burgeoning career was put on hold, at the outbreak of the Second World War, when Paddy joined the R.A.F and served as a pilot. After the War, he continued to work as a commercial pilot until the 1950's, when he resumed his songwriting career. He built up a reputation of being a prolific writer of popular songs, including a number one hit, 'Softly Softly' sung by Ruby Murray in 1955. In the same year, he contributed a tune called 'I'm in Love for the Very First Time' to the soundtrack of the film 'An Alligator named Daisy' which notably, gained him an Ivor Novello Award.

His career took another turn in 1959, when he met Frank Lee, the artists' manager for Decca Records, who was looking to follow up on the recent successful release of 'A Night With' Tom Lehrer comedy album. Paddy demonstrated some of his folk song parodies and was invited to record them as well so he was thus reinvented, as a comedy singer songwriter. The 'Strictly For Grown-ups' album was released in 1959 and reached number 8 in the U.K charts, shown above is the cover of the E.P release from that album. The hit tune 'The Ballard Of Bethnel Green' was awarded an Ivor Novello Award for best novelty song of that year. The follow up 'Paddy Roberts Tries Again' came out a year later and was another chart success for Paddy, peeking at number 16 (U.K) This was swiftly followed by 'Paddy Roberts at the Blue Angel' live album (1961) and finally, our album of choice 'Songs For Gay Dogs' (1963)

They don't appear to make characters like Paddy Roberts anymore. The civilised English gentleman type doesn't appear to exist any more, unless I'm just too common to hang around in such elevated circles. His mischievous humour, harks back to a time where 'manners maketh man' but also mischief could made, with the inclusion of a double entrendre and a 'nod and a wink' could loosen a stiff upper lip or two. Paddy promised us on the sleeve notes to this album that THIS IS A VULGAR RECORD, what he actually delivered was a CHARMING SNAPSHOT of a more refined era of British humour!

Track Listing of 'Songs For Gay Dogs'
Side A
1. Three Old Ladies
2. Down in Drury Lane
3. Don't Use the WC/Gentlemen Must Refrain
4. Ten in a Bed
5. Foggy Foggy Dew
6. Lady Jane
7. How the Money Rolls In
8. Woodpecker's Hole
9. Turn Over

Side B
10. Virgin Sturgeon
11. Elsie Elsie
12. Sweet Fanny Adams
13. Sammy Hall
14. Whore of Dunblane
15. Cow Kicked Nelly
16. Little Piggy
17. That's All for Now

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddy_Roberts_(songwriter)

A comprehensive biography can be found at www.sterlingtimes.org/paddy_roberts.htm

Paddy is covered and can be heard at bootsalesounds.blogspot.com

Tony Fayne

One of the most interesting parts of being a vinyl junkie is that sometimes it throws up some fascinating references that have become a mere footnote in music and entertainment cultural history. I will use Tony Fayne as an example: he here is, looking rather dapper, on this 'British Institutions Explained' Philips E.P from 1961 (an album with the same title was also released) that was nestling in amongst a frankly shocking selection of singles at a chazzer. Not wishing to leave to shop empty handed, I took a punt on this and passed over my 20p to the nice lady behind the counter. When I got home and gave it a spin, I was pleasantly amused by his stand-up comedy routine on Garden Fetes, The Police and British Railways.. all of these subjects, held up pretty well, compared to their latter day equivalents. It goes to show that, nearly fifty years on, us Brits are still exasperated by and also affectionately mock these national institutions that rule our daily lives. It must be one of the glues that hold us together socially, a national characteristic, that runs through to our funny bones. This is a vein of humour that is deeper than all the rapid surface level changes that influence our fast changing society.

Mr Fayne was, judging by this recording, a good raconteur, with a heavy reliance on the power of puns and clever word play that the English language affords it's users. However, a little further research reveals that he was a veteran of the London Palladium scene, who had supported Judy Garland on her London debut. Initially, Fayne was part of a double act with a Philip Evans who wrote the material. They specialised in doing impressions, in synch, of BBC sporting commentaries and appeared on shows such as 'Variety Bandbox' and 'Calling All Forces' He went solo in 1958 and also had T.V appearances on 'Toast Of The Town' which later became 'The Ed Sullivan Show' to his credit but what intrigued me most was that he was the straight man, to the redoubtable Norman Wisdom, in a comedy partnership that lasted forty years.

Scratchy has now resolved to partake in his afternoon tea break beside the tiger rug from now on, whilst wearing a crushed purple velvet jacket and a bow tie, all in honour of that gentleman of timeless chuckles - Mr Tony Fayne.

http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,442585,00.html

http://www.swalwelluk.co.uk/picpages/pic-radioef.html

Mel Tormé - I've Got The Whole World On A String!

Yesterday, it was the British Moto GP at Donington, where the Aussie sensation and reigning World Champion Casey Stoner put in another explosive performance, finishing at the front of the pack. British hopes rested with James Toseland, who put in an characteristic home grown performance by crashing on the first corner of the first lap and limping home in 17th place. Earlier in the week, I had witnessed a BBC breakfast newsreader flirt outrageously on the interview sofa with this biking hunk, as her middle aged male co-host looked on enviously at the young hunk, ruminating on the facts that all his mature witty banter in the world wasn't ever going to be a match for a twenty years less girth, a chiselled chin and a promise of a 1500cc thrillride. This morning, on the same programme, he enjoyed rather too much, cueing up the V.T of a montage showing all of Mr Toseland's crashes/going off track mishaps from his 'weekendus horribus'

All of this two-wheeled talk brought to mind this album cover featuring a very cool crooning cucumber indeed. Mel Tormé might not have as fast a bike as Mr T, but he certainly has got the girl and she looks pretty pleased with the power of his engine as well. This is a U.K release on Allegro from 1964 which is basically a reissue of his 1958 classic 'Prelude to a Kiss' a concept album based around a brief fling between Mel and a woman, whose voice appears in dialogue segments before each song. However, this release conveniently leaves out all the chit chat thus leaving us to enjoy his velvety voice poured over masterly crafted lounge tunes. It is generally agreed that this was Tormé in top form on this record and is a high point from his back catalogue. Norton beats this.. a triumph, possibly matchless! no BS(a)... ahem, I'll get me leather coat.