A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
One of the great Billy’s dramatic numbers. It was written by Alan Fielding, who also wrote Fury’s 1962 hit Last Night Was Made For Love. It was released in 1963 and got … Continue readingBilly Fury: When Will You Say I Love You?
This was written in 1958 in Spanish by Chilean musician Joaquín Prieto, when it was called La Novia (The Bride). It was translated into English by Fred Jay as The Wedding. It was … Continue readingJulie Rogers: The Wedding
SOMETHING a bit different this week. His Eye is on the Sparrow is a Gospel hymn mainly associated with black singers, but it was the work of two white people. The lyrics … Continue readingHis Eye is on the Sparrow
This was written by three of the group’s members, Mike Wilshaw (keyboards, bass) Fritz Fryer (lead guitar) and Lionel Morton (singer). It was released in 1964 and went to the … Continue readingThe Four Pennies: Juliet
THIS delightful work is a combined musical thank you letter and a joke about academic stuffiness. The career of Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was something of a slow burn, and he … Continue readingBrahms’s Academic Festival Overture, Op 80
This was made when Jackson was 14, and regardless of anything that happened later, I think it is a brilliant song. It was written for the 1972 film Ben. The lyrics … Continue readingMichael Jackson: Ben
Ok, Phil Spector was a weirdo but he was a pop genius. I can’t think of a better producer (Brian Wilson not far behind) and he was a great songwriter. … Continue readingThe Ronettes: Be My Baby
WHEN Storm Ciara arrived last weekend, it was one of the few occasions I can remember when the weather warnings turned out to be accurate. In Lancashire we were lashed … Continue readingRubble by the Ribble
AN Anglican clergyman was travelling through a gorge in the Mendip Hills when he was caught in a storm. Finding refuge in a rocky fissure, he did the obvious thing … Continue readingRock of Ages
I am not Dylan’s greatest fan, though I did queue for nine hours to get tickets for a concert at Earl’s Court in 1978. My seat was so far back … Continue readingBob Dylan: My Back Pages