A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
LAST year the Environment Secretary George Eustice outlined ambitious government plans to restore and protect nature and wildlife, including a world-leading programme to halt species decline. Obviously I didn’t trust this … Continue readingThe end of insects is the end of us
This is one of my all-time favourite songs. It was written for the 1936 film Swing Time by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Here is the scene with Fred Astaire … Continue readingThe Jaguars: The Way You Look Tonight
This was written by Chad Stuart, half of the duo with Jeremy Clyde. It is co-credited to Wendy Kidd but according to Wikipedia this was her reward for lending Stuart … Continue readingChad and Jeremy: Yesterday’s Gone
In an era when they were only too keen to ban pop songs perceived as overtly sexual, this classic slipped under the radar. It was written by Jiles Perry Richardson … Continue readingThe Big Bopper: Chantilly Lace
This (to me) weird number was written by Rick Evans in 1964. It was released by him and Danny Zager in 1969, topping the charts on both sides of the … Continue readingZager and Evans: In the Year 2525
WHEN we lived in London we used to see and hear a lot of ring-necked parakeets. In my opinion they are beautiful birds, bright green and a brilliant exotic sight, … Continue readingThe Parakeet Regiment
This is by Gerry Goffin (apparently he said it was his favourite of the lyrics he wrote) and his wife Carole King. Here is the demo, which to me outshines … Continue readingThe Drifters: Up On The Roof
This written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love and released on their 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2 and as the B-side of the single Dance, Dance, Dance, which reached No 8 in the … Continue readingThe Beach Boys: The Warmth of the Sun
This was written by two of the trio, John Carter and Ken Lewis (former members of Carter-Lewis and the Southerners). It was their second single and was released in January … Continue readingThe Ivy League: Funny How Love Can Be
This was written in1954 by Jimmie Crane and Al Jacobs. The first recording was by Roy Hamilton, peaking at No 8 on the US R&B chart, though anything less like … Continue readingTimi Yuro: Hurt