All Things Bright and Beautiful
THIS hymn is often dismissed as being just for children, and indeed it was intended for children, but I love its celebration of creation and I have asked for it … Continue readingAll Things Bright and Beautiful
Author: Margaret Ashworth
Square
The Tornados: Telstar
I don’t know why it has taken me so long to get to the genius Joe Meek, who produced this hit in 1962. It reached No 1 in both the … Continue readingThe Tornados: Telstar
Brenda Holloway: Every Little Bit Hurts
This was written by Ed Cobb, who was a member of the Four Preps and wrote Tainted Love for Gloria Jones (1964). Every Little Bit Hurts was recorded in 1964 by Brenda Holloway, then … Continue readingBrenda Holloway: Every Little Bit Hurts
Eden Kane: Boys Cry
Eden Kane’s real name was Richard Sarstedt and he was the elder brother of Peter, who had a hit with Where Do You Go To My Lovely? in 1969 and Clive, who … Continue readingEden Kane: Boys Cry
The Melody Makers 1: Irving Berlin
This is the first in a new weekly series, introduced yesterday, celebrating the immense Jewish contribution to popular music over the last century. GEORGE Gershwin called him ‘the greatest songwriter that … Continue readingThe Melody Makers 1: Irving Berlin
The Drifters: Save the Last Dance for Me
One of the all-time great pop songs by one of the all-time great singers. This was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and recorded in 1960 by the Drifters … Continue readingThe Drifters: Save the Last Dance for Me
The Melody Makers: A new series on A&M
THERE is a small church in the Kent village of Tudeley. It dates from before the Norman Conquest but most of it was built in the 18th century. There is … Continue readingThe Melody Makers: A new series on A&M
Dave Edmunds: Born to be With You
This was recorded in 1973, which is more or less the end of pop music for me, but it sounds much earlier with its Spector-like backing. It got to No … Continue readingDave Edmunds: Born to be With You
Darlene Love: (Today I Met) The Boy I’m Gonna Marry
This was written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Tony Powers, and produced by Spector. It reached No 39 in America in 1963.
O Jesus I have promised
ONE of the great Victorian hymns was so popular in its day that reportedly the Church of England’s bishops got sick of it and begged the clergy to stop using … Continue readingO Jesus I have promised