A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
AS with my articles on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, I can’t do better than repeat what I wrote for Easter Sunday last year. THERE can be no greater example of bitter anguish turning into … Continue readingThe Easter Sunday Hymn: Jesus Christ is Risen Today
The King in his glorious youth. This was written by by Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe for the soundtrack of his second film, Loving You (1957). It reached No 1 in America … Continue readingElvis Presley: (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear
THIS week we saw the year’s first brood of mallard ducklings on the stream at the back of our house on their way to the Ribble about half a mile … Continue readingOh no, it’s duckling time
This was written by Sharon McMahan and first released by Barbara Lewis in April 1964, reaching No 34 in America. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvmEU1DDb_4 The Searchers covered it in July … Continue readingThe Searchers: Someday We’re Gonna Love Again
AS with the Palm Sunday hymn, I don’t think I can do better than repeat what I wrote last year about the terrible events of Good Friday. Faced with religious elders and a … Continue readingThe Good Friday Hymn: Man of Sorrows, What a Name
This was written by Allen Toussaint under the name Naomi Neville and was released in 1963, reaching No 61 in America. It became the title track of Redding’s debut album in … Continue readingOtis Redding: Pain in My Heart
This is a brilliant song which is strangely underrated. There are two excellent versions but Billy Fury gets the headline because he is one of my all-time favourites. The song … Continue readingBilly Fury: King for Tonight
This was the group’s debut single released in the UK on 6 August 1965. It reached No 14. Group members Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane derived the tune from Solomon … Continue readingSmall Faces: Whatcha Gonna Do About It
Ok, it’s cheesy, but it’s a great melody. It was written by Don Black and Mark London as the theme song for the 1967 film To Sir, with Love, starring Sidney … Continue readingLulu: To Sir With Love
This song by Motown’s Holland-Dozier-Holland (Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian and Eddie Holland) was the B-side of Jimmy Mack, which was Martha & the Vandellas’ last Top Ten hit in … Continue readingMartha & The Vandellas: Third Finger, Left Hand