A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
The music was written by violinist Georges Boulanger with lyrics by Carlos Gomez Barrera in 1926 as Avant de mourir (Before dying). I don’t think it was recorded. The English lyrics were … Continue readingThe Platters: My Prayer
Cliff was my first love. I must have seen the film Summer Holiday, which features this song, a dozen times. It was written by Buddy Kaye and Philip Springer, and recorded on 10 … Continue readingCliff Richard and the Shadows: The Next Time
Almost indistinguishable from his other hits, I’m Gonna Make You Mine (1969) and Rhapsody in the Rain (1966) this was written by Christie and Twyla Herbert. It was released in December 1965 and reached … Continue readingLou Christie: Lightnin’ Strikes
The lyrics were written by Johnny Mercer with music by Rube Bloom. One of the first recordings in 1940 was by Glenn Miller with vocals by Ray Eberle. There were … Continue readingRick Nelson: Fools Rush In
This written by Question Mark (Rudy Martinez) in 1962 and recorded with the Mysterians in 1966. It reached No 1 in America and No 37 in Britain. It is ranked … Continue reading? and the Mysterians: 96 Tears
THE science classroom at my grammar school had some stick insects in a tank, and every holiday someone took them home to look after them, usually me. They ate privet, … Continue readingOur lesser spotted trout
I suppose this is cheesy but it’s a good tune. It was written as Je n’aurai pas le temps by Michel Fugain (music) and Pierre Delanoe (lyrics) and released by Fugain in … Continue readingJohn Rowles: If I Only Had Time
Neil Young’s voice is unique. He wrote Helpless before he joined Crosby, Stills & Nash, and the new quartet recorded it for their 1970 album Déjà Vu. Young played the song with The … Continue readingCrosby, Stills, Nash & Young: Helpless
I really did not like the Animals, but some people did. (Alan Price was great when he went solo.) This was the follow-up to the dreadful House of the Rising Sun (which … Continue readingThe Animals: I’m Crying
This was written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love and released on The Beach Boys’ 1963 album Surfer Girl. Here is a live performance from 1977.