Forgotten songs from the broom cupboard

This really is it folks! Episode 100, final and last Forgotten Songs from the Broom Cupboard podcast. No Sinatra type returns this time. Hope you enjoy this 90 minute trawl through some old favourites. I'm not abandoning the cause and will be using 78rpm records for a couple of drama type projects. Link below to one. The Brownbread Tapes. He's a man who just might have a bit of a dodgy occupation. Twelve episodes in all, done to various 78 records. Short and hopefully sweet.  https://thebrownbreadtapes.libsyn.com Here are the artists in our finale- Bob Skyles, Eddie Peabody, Winifred Atwell, Harry Parry, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Kay Starr, Tenneesse Ernie Ford, Frank and James McCravy, Teresa Brewer, Joe Turner, Jimmie Rodgers, Harry Torrani, Michael Holliday, Billy Banks, Hoagy Carmichel, Michijakko, Bob Hamilton Trio, Bessie Smith, Saunders King, Hot Lips Paige, Lou Ella Robertson, Tiny Bradshaw, Lulu Zeigler and to see us out, Nat King Cole. The utterly marvellous My Flaming Heart. Its been an absolute pleasure. Stay safe, be happy and healthy.

We open with the madness of Irish Mambo from Alma Cogan. The two sides of Nat King Cole. First, pared back with his trio- Nat on piano, Oscar Moore guitar and Bob Miller drums. They give us- I'm lost. Then rich, orchestrated Nat with the Four Knights giving vocal backing- That's all there is to that. Great title. Perry Como with 'Look out your window (Thats me standing in the rain.) Always check the weather forecast before attempting this! Then Catch a falling star. Based on a melody by Brahms apparently and featuring the Ray Charles singers. A massive world wide hit. Absolute 1930s nonsense from Billy Cotton- A Bungalow, a Piccolo and You. Love it. Our Bob Cosby section: Black Zephyr (Decca American Recording label), Fools Rush In(vocals Marion Mann), Speak to me of Love            ( Vocals Marion Mann), Down Argentina Way( Vocals Bonny King), Milk Cow Blues( Vocals Nappy Lamare), I'm Nobody's Baby( Vocals Marion Mann), Big Noise from China(Drums Ray Baudec) and the fabulous Sigh no more ladies. Music by Arthur Young, lyrics William Shakespeare! Great vocals by Marion Mann.  Mann(1914 to 2004) was discovered by band leader Emerson Gill and sang for him in the early 1930s.She was badly injured in a car crash in 1933 but recovered and sang for Bob Crosby and Jan Garber in the late 30s and early 40s. She seems to have left the business in 1947. Love her voice. We finish with the 'B' side to Catch a Falling Star, Magic Moments. Which reached No1 in Britain in 1958.     

Hardly forgotten but Frankie Laine certainly doesn't get the credit he deserve in the history of pop. An astonishing 75 year career. Singer, songwriter and actor.  A big powerful voice that succeeded in all genres of music he tackled. Acknowledged as precursor to rock and roll. He happened to be a great guy too. Here he gives us- Some day, Love is such a cheat, The little boy and the old man( duet with Jimmy Boyd.) Your cheatin' heart and, of course, Blowing wild. Eartha Kitt starts us off with Cest si bon. Cherokee Canyon from Tex Beneke, Cherokee from Charlie Barnet. See what I did there.  An artist that Frankie Laine admired as a young man was Gene Austin, falsetto crooner and songwriter. We hear him singing- I've grown so lonely thinking of you and then two interperations of Austin- Skilkret's Lonely Road. Jules Bledsoe sings the original song that was used in Showboat. Bledsoe was the first  black singer/ actor to regularly appear on Broadway. He was the original Joe in Showboat. Mugsy Spanier takes the song, written in the style of an African, American folk song, and makes it a jazzy, blues classic. Big noise from Winnetka from Bob Haggart and Ray Baudec, two members of Bob Crosby's Bobcats. Legend has it they improvised its composition while the rest of the band were taking a break. A cool track, string bass, drums and whistling. Listen to  Baudec play the lower part of the bass with his drum sticks. Marvellous stuff.

Goodbye 2022. A shorter than normal episode to mark the end of the year. Its party time, Its Scottish dance and song with a wee bit of help from across the pond. We start with Sir Harry Lauder and I love a Lassie. He was the first million record selling British artist. Fats Waller with You asked for it, you got it, Duke Ellington- It dont mean a thing( If it ain't got that swing.) Primo Scala- Grinzing. These are the fellas you want at a party to entertain. The Scottish Dance Orchestra- Highland Fling, Bobby MacCleod and his band- Bonnie Annie and McDonald of Sleat. We go out, naturally, with  Auld lang Syne. Recorded in June 1910 in London. P.A Hope is the singer. I always find it a poignant song but it seems even more so because this recording comes to us from so long ago. How the world has change in those 112 years. A big thank you to all who have listened throughout the year, from all over the world. Be safe, be happy, be healthy. See you next year. We will back to a weekly schedule, starting on Friday 6th January at 6pm. Miles Tubb- milestubb@gmail.com 

Frankie Vaughan seemed to be constantly present on British Television in 1960s. Mr Moonlight they called him. He had a big voice and a big stage presence, top hat, bow tie and tails. He had many hits during the 1950s and had a brief career in Holywood. Most notably opposite Marilyn Monroe in Lets make Love. Here he gives us The Green door. Lita Rosa- Hernando's Hideaway. Rosa started her stage career at the age of 12. At 24 she was lead female singer with Ted Heath. A strong voice which probably never reached its full potential with the material she was given. Variety is the spice of life on Forgotten Songs. So next up is Tom Wright with Driving into Glasgae in a sour milk cairt. Its billed as traditional on the Beltona label. It's not but was written in 1914 by Tom Johnstone for the comedian J.C macDonald. It's in broad Scots. Two from a F.S favourite, Kay Starr- Too busy and If you love me. Dickie Valentine was a popular crooner in Britain through the 50s. Like many British singers he existed on a diet of American covers. He died in a car crash in 1971. Joan Regan and The Squadronaires give us Ricochet. The Squadronaires were the R.A.F big band. There is some confusion of her birth name and exactly where she was born.  Again she did a lot of American covers through the 50s but her U.S recorded version of Don't talk to me of love become a Northern Soul classic. Languishing in the F.S colection has been this piece of US Billbord chart history from Tommy Edwards. It's all in the game was the first number one by an African American in the chart. Released in 1958 it was the biggest hit from this singer- song writer. He sadly died young at 47. Frank Ferera with Beautiful Love. He was a Hawaiian music pioneer. We go all posh with Air on a G string with Norbert Wethmar on violin. The only information I can be certain of about him are two references from The Radio Times in the late 1930s. Two performances with the BBC Orchestra. Florrie Forde was the Australian born grand Dame of British Music hall. Whose career spanned Victorian variety theatre to entertaining the troops in Aberdeen in 1940. She died after the performance, aged 64. Her songs included- Hold out your hand you naughty boy, Down at the old Bull and Bush and I do like to be by the seaside. Here she gives us When we were strolling around town. Maurice Winnick was another Manchester born musical child prodigy. As a teenager he was a band leader on a transatlantic liner. He had a succesful career through the 1930s and 40s. He died in 1960. He plays a lovely version of The Waltz you saved for me. The Platters need no introduction and neither does the song- Smoke gets in your eyes. Okay its not forgotten but how often do you hear it directly from the original 78?

Two Harrys to start us off. Parry- Trust and Parry and James with Memphis Blues. Henry Allen and his Orchestra- Dinah Lou. Allen was one of the major trumpeters of the Swing era and played with King Oliver, Fletcher Henderson, Coleman Hawkins and Louis Armstrong. Count Basie and his Kansas City seven- Lester Leaps in. Lester Young being the Lester. The group released six versions of the song between 1939- 1948. Sidney Bechet and his New Orleans Feetwarmers- Stormy Jones, Mugsy Spanier and his Ragtime Band- That Da, Da Strain. Robert Earl- If you love me. A popular tenor in the 1950s. His son, also Robert Earl ,is the founder of Planet Holywood restaurants. Orcestration is by Wally Stott. Musical director of Philips Records at the time.  Stott was an arranger, composer and conductor. Worked with Shirley Bassey, Noel Coward, Dusty Springfield and Scott Walker, amongst others. As well as composing Film and T.V scores- from Watership Down to the music for the TV series Dallas. In 1970 Stott undertook gender reassignment surgery and lived the rest of her life as Angela Morely. She went on to have highly succesful career in the US. Amazing story and life. Perfect for Forgotten Songs. The luck of the Irish next, Jack Daly- When the poppies bloom again. He ran out of luck I'm afraid. Could only take about a minute of his warbling! Much beter is- Sydney MacEwan and She moved through the fair. MacEwan was an ordained priest born in Glasgow in 1908. He started his recording career in 1934 and work extensively on the BBC. He did many world tours. Very popular in his day.  A favourite from George Formby- In a little Wigan Garden. We finish with the very dark Miss Otis regrets from Jay Wilbur and Elizabethan Serenade, from the Ron Goodwin Orchestra. Goodwin was a profilific film composer- Where Eagles Dare, 633 Squadron and the theme to the Margaret Rutherford Miss Marple film. Later used in 'Kill Bill'.

Stan Freberg starts us off with his version of The Banana Boat song.. 'too loud man.' Freberg was a comedian, musician, puppeteer, advertising creative director but, above all, satirist. Check out his version of John and Marsha. We have a bit of a British Dance Band fest- Geraldo- That lovcely weekend, vocals Dorothy Carless, Ernie Goldin- Making Whoopie, Roy Fox and his band- You Rascal You( vocals Nat Gonella, possibly Al Bowlly) Georgia on my mind, Nat Gonella and his Georgians- Georgia's gorgeous girl. I love Gonella's vocals. Harry Parry- Don't be that way and Bounce me brother with a solid four. Edmundo Ros- Rhumba Royale. Ros Lived to be a 100 and was one of the big promoters of Latin American music in Britain. Percival Mackay and his Kitcat band- Time will tell. Harry Parry played in Mackay's band.  Primo Scala's Acordion Band- Hilly Billy medly. Primo Scala was very popular and did 100s of performances on BBC radio during the 30s and 40s. The man behind the band was Harry Bidgood. Harry Roy's Tiger Ragamuffins- Where did Robinson Crusoe take Friday on a Saturday night. Great version. We finish on a favourite. Mel Torme- Mountain Greenery.    

Back after a three month break. What better way to start than with Bob Skyles and his Skyrockets with I'm gonna die with a broken heart. Three from the hugely popular Inkspots- Everyone is saying hello again, Thoughtless and one of their big hit Java Jive.  Just one of their records alone, If I didn't care, sold 19 million copies. Their style rarely changed but they were ground breakers. They sold well to both black and white audiences. Ted Heath and his music with Walking Shoes. Two soporific songs next- Paul Robson with Just a wearyin' and Rosemary Clooney with Brahms lullaby. Should have put them at the end. We all could have nodded off. Not often we play the pipes on Forgotten songs but we have two tunes from The Bowhill Colliery and District band. Bowhill in Fife was the scene of a pit disaster in 1931 when 10 men were killed. Like many factories, foundaries, collieries Bowhill had a works band. This being Scotland a pipe band as well as a silver band. The Rhytmn Maniacs with the wonderfully titled- 'The gag song( She was only a bookmakers daughter.) To be fair it does have some funny lines. Max Darewski was a Manchester born child prodigy. At the age of 9 he was conducting a full orchestra. He had a successful career as a composer. Not convinced his genius was on display with this number- Shadow man. Sadly he died only aged 35. Edna Thomas was a African American actress and singer. She performed on Broadway and on film. Here she gives a very refined performance of Mamzelle Zizi. No need to tell you about Roy Rodgers, here singing A four legged friend. Thank goodness he mentions Trigger at the end! Alma Cogan advises Never tango with an Eskimo but in this weather we need all the heat we can get. Lionel Hampton gives laid back vocals to The mood I'm in. Naturally he gives us some vibrophone too. We finish with two BBC records. Charles Williams leads his orchestra with own composition, The Devils Gallop. This was the signature tune to Dick Barton, Special Agent. A 'cliffhanger' radio series that the BBC ran from 1946 to 1951.  As we recorded this on Christmas we end with Come All Ye Faithfull, from the BBC Choir. I'm sure Lord Reith would approve. He was the stoney faced kill joy who ran the BBC for many years and he certainly wouldn't have approved of The Gag song. Far too ribald!!  

Some comedy on budget record labels. Last chance plays for some, as they are a little ropey. We start with a right cheery number from comedian Bobby Comber- La-di-da-di-da. A popular entertainer through the 20s and 30s. I can find little about his history online. Plenty of history about Sandy Powell. Here he gives us Sandy the Doctor. Next Harry Leader and his Orchestra- Little man you've had a busy day(1934). Leader was a prolific band leader who operated under many different names and had a long career. He was particularly associated with the programme Workers Playtime. Vocals are by Dawn Davis. She sang with a few British bands in the 1930s and 40s, as well as a solo and in a duo. She notably dueted with Al Bowlly. She moved to Australia in the late 40s but returned to England in 1955. Unfortunately she was unavailable to get back into the entertainment  business. She died in 1993, aged 83. Madame Nina Rae- Anne Laurie(1921) Other than being born in 1878 in Glasgow I could find nothing about her. Billy Williams, we've played before. Here he sings I'll lend you my best girl. Australian born he had a highly successful career in British Music hall. He died in 1915. Tommy Handley was another very successful comedian. Especially during WW2 in his radio programme ITMA- Its that man again. He gives us 'How many pips are there in a pomegranate'(1929).  Charlie Higgins- Down in the field where the buttercups grow. Another popular comedian from the 1930s. He played the London Palladium three times. He billed himself as  'A fool if only he knew it.' Ernest Butcher- I sing as I limp along(1935). A character actor from 1930s to 1950s. Nothing really online that talks about his singing. We have two of his records in the F.S collection. This track is self penned. Savoy Havana band- Dear love, my love. They were the resident band at the Savoy Hotel in London, 1921 to 27. Started by Bert Railton, they did the British Premier of Gerswin's Rhapsody in Blue. We get all modern to end the show. Troubled Welsh diva with Dorothy Squires- I walk behind you(1953). Composed by her partner of the time Billy Reid. She was successful throughout the fifties and into the 60s but her faded away and she died in 1998. We finish with John Kirby- Undecided and the spacey Dawn on the desert-1938 and 1939. Kirby started on the trombone, switched to tuba and ended up on the double bass. He played in many band and started his own well thought of jazz ensemble and orchestra. He sadly died young in 1952. 

A couple of cheery and cheeky wartime songs. George Formby with Ukelele Man. Not nearly enough ukelele playing on it quite frankly. Next Dave Willis with ARP( Air raid patrol.) More commonly known as My Wee Gas Mask. Probably the best known Scottish song from WW2. Joe Corrie was a Fife coal miner, poet and playright. His style was naturalistic and his subject matter the working class. He was pretty much ignored by the Scottish theatre establishment of the time. Here we have The shilling a week man. A humerous tale of money owed, performed in broad Scots. Humerous it maybe but for many life was 'hand to mouth' and the shilling a week man was a fact of life.  Bunny Berigan's blues boys with Chicken and Waffles and then he plays trumpet on Gold diggers of 1933 with The bell boys of Broadway. Two from the magnificent Mildred Bailey with her orchestra- St Louis Blues and with her Oxford Greys- Arkanas Blues. Great vocals from her. We split those two tracks with Charlie Barnet and Wandering blues, vocals by Mary Ann McCall. Ring dem bells from The Harlem Footwarmers(1929.) They also performed under 25 aliases and members included Duke Ellington and Cottie Williams. Johnny Dodds and his orch- Red onion blues. His brother 'Baby' Dodds is on drums. Bit of Boogie from Will Brady's six Texan hot dogs- Basin Street boogie(1941) Not the best condition but Taft Jordon and his mob play Devil in the moon. Taft only made two records with own group but played with the best, from Ella to Ellington. His trumpet can be heard on Miles Davis's Sketches of Spain. Quite an acolade to be asked to play trumpet with Miles! E.C Kirkeby Wallace bandleader, songwriter, vocalist and manager. He looked after Fats Waller. He also started the Californian Ramblers while working at Columbia. Benny Goodman with Blues in the night, vocals by Peggy Lee. Early peggy. She certainly hits some uncharactistic high notes toward the end. We finish with Freddy Gardner and his Swing Orch. The self composed 10am Blues from 1939. A great track from this forgotten British saxphonist, who died young at 39. Its an Indian pressing on the Rex label. 

In episode 91 we look at black artists who came to Britain from the 1920s to 1950s. Well the exception is Joe Deniz who was born in Cardiff. We start with Leslie(Hutch) Hutchinson. Born in Grenada in 1900 he arrived in England in the late 20s, via a stint in the U.S. He rapidly become the darling of high society with a refined, well mannered voice and piano. He made many records and appearence through the 1930s and 40s. His personal life was, well lets' say, lively. He had seven children by six different women and had affairs with Cole Porter, Ivor Novella, Tallulah Bankhead and Edwina Mountbatten. Amongst others.  By the 1950s his career had faded away and he died in London in 1969. Turner Layton and Tandy Johnstone were both born in the USA and met in New York. Their musical partnership found almost immediately success. Like Hutch they were adored by high society. They came to England in 1924 and their popularity grew. They are reckoned to have sold over 10 million records between 1924 and 1935. They appeared on the BBC and all over Europe. Their partnership was dissolved in 1935 when Tandy Johnstone was involved in a highly public divorce case. He eventually returned to the US, having married Raymonde Sandler, the subject of the divorce. He died in 1953. Layton stayed in Britain and had a successful solo career. He died in 1978. Archie Lewis was born in Jamaica in 1918 and came to Britain in 1942 to work in a munitions factory. He already had the a singing career in Jamaica and was soon working for ENSA in Britain. Here he met band leader Geraldo and he become one of his vocalists. He was very popular live and on record. His 1946 recording of While the Angulis were ringing sold over a million copies. He eventually returned to Jamaica, still performing live and on record. He died in 1988. I feel he really is a forgotten man in British poular music and an important part of the history of black artists on British entertainment. See a brief clip of him here: https://youtu.be/Is4WFhhJARg All these four artists were very much in the style of white vocalist of the time. In Hutch, Layton and Johnstone I'm thinking of Noel Coward. Archie Lewis was known as The Caribbean Crosby. Our only female artist here is Winifred Atwell. Trinidad born pianist. There really is nothing elite about her. She went straight for the popular and her Let's party records were No1 sellers. I prefer her boogie woogie. No need to tell you that much about Paul Robson and Josh White. Both men spent time, almost in exile in Britain, from their native US because of their political beliefs. We've played Carl Barriteau before. He emerged from Ken Snakehips Johnson's West Indian band and had a successful solo career. Joe Deniz was born in Wales, in the Tiger Bay docks area of Cardiff. He was one of three professional guitar playing brothers and was, of course, a main stay of Harry Parry's band. All these artist were pioneers in breaking down race barriers in British entertainment. Their work is mostly forgotten now or certainly under valued. Playlist: Hutch- The London I love, For all I care. Layton and Johnstone- Just an echo in the valley. Turner Layton- Question and Answer. Archie Lewis- In the land of begining again, The mission of the rose. Paul Robeson- Water Boy. Josh White- Hard time Blues. Winifred Atwell- Let's party part 1, Highland Boogie. Carl Barriteau( vocals Mae Cooper)- Primrose Hill, I'll get by(as long as I have you.) Harry Parry and his Radio Rhythm Club Sextet- Champagne. Joe Deniz on guitar. 

Authentic cowboys, well sort of, start us off. Mac McClintock left home to join the circus. Between that, and becoming a singer, actor, composer and poet, he did a whole stream of incredible jobs. Railroading in Africa, Mule train in Philipines and news gatherer in China. He was a devoted union man and wrote Hallelujah I'm a bum and Big rock candy mountain. Here he gives us The old Chisholm trail. Jules Allen sings Zebra dun. He probably was a real life cowboy at one time, driving cattle from the Mexican border to Montana. The Cartwright Brothers sing Texas Ranger. The tune and sentiment are familar. It's yet another version of The unfortunate Rake. Into Western Swing. The right key but the wrong keyhole- Cliff Bruner Texas Wanderers, I can't dance(I've got ants in my pants)- Rob Newman and his boys, Wonder Stomp- Texas Wanderers and Devil with the devil- Rob Newman and his boys. Bob Wills with Bob Wills boogie from 1946. Very rock and roll in my opinion. Jazz on 78rpm break with Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra. I cried for you- vocals by Billie Holiday and, a new favourite of mine, Blues in G sharp minor. Composed by Wilson. He was rated as the best swing pianist of his time. Back to Western Swing and Milton Brown and his Brownies. St Louis Blues. Great, trippy version, with a real tempo shift toward the end. In El Rancho Grande- Milton and Durwood singing in Spanish. From 1937, a year after Milton's death, Durwood sings If you can't get five get two. We finish with the wonderfully upbeat  tune from Virginian fiddler John Ashby- The 8th of January.     

A good deal of Western Swing,  some early country and a wee bit of blues. Have to give I haven't got a pot to cook(1936)  another airing. Naughtiness from The Sweet Violet Boys. Jimmie Revard and his Oklahoma Playboys- Ride 'em Cowboy(1936). A Bob Wills song. My only Bob Skyles and his Skyrockets trabk on vinyl next- The Rhythm King. Milton Brown and his Brownies- Yes sir(1936). Chicken Reel Stomp(1937)-The Tune Wranglers. The also performed as Tono Hombres and sang in Spanish. Wonderful blues from Buddy Jones- Settle down blues(1939) Buddy recorded over 80 sides for Decca. On piano is Moon Mulligan. Not Max as I say 'on air.' Bob Dunn on Steel guitar. Amade' Ardoin- La Valse a Abe and Two Step Eunice. A pioneer of Cajun and Zydeco music on record. Much legend surrounds his death. It now appears he probably died of V.D in 1942.  A unique voice and great accordion. The Georgia Crackers-  Joe Diamond(1927). The duo also performed as the Coffer Brothers. Dupree's Rome Boys- 12th Street Blues(1929). A popular dance band number of the time, adapted perfectly for guitar and fiddle. Lil McClintock- Don't think I'm Santa Clause(1930). McClintock was a street musican in Clinton South Carolina and only recorded four sides for Columbia. Nothing is known of his origins or what happened to him. An obscure but talented artist that came and went. Frank Hutchinson- K.C Blues(1929.)  Hutchinson is considered the best musician and singer of white country blues music and recorded around 40 sides for the Okeh label between 1926 and 1929. He played the steel guitar using a pen knife as a slide.  He'd worked as a miner in Virginia. Died young at 48.  I love this laid back track and his wee shout toward the end. We finish with that man Milton Brown and Hesitation Blues.  

We open with Maurice Rocco- Rocco's Booogie Woogie and Tonky blues. An Australian Pressing on Decca, 1940. Never released in Britain. Rocco played piano standing up. Way before Jerry lee Lewis. Succesful during the 40s his star began to wane in the 1950s. A great shame, as what a performer and composer he was. He was murdered in Thailand in 1976. Big Joe Turner(vocals) and Pete Johnson(piano)- Roll 'em Pete and Going away blues. Roll 'em Pete is regarded as one of the most important precursor songs to Rock and Roll.  Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis,  Pete Johnson and Joe Turner-  Cafe Society Rag. Meade Lux lewis- Whistling Blues. Wingie Carpenter, Trumpter, singer and bandleader- Put me back in the alley. Vocals by Mae Hopkins. Who was mae Hopkins? Nothing about her on the internet, other than cutting four sides for Decca with Mozelle France in 1940. Sam Price and his Texan Bluesicians- How 'bout that mess. Pianist who performed  in numerous bands right up until the 1980s. Throughout the 1960s and 70s he was a civil rights campaigner and activist. An amazing man. Vic Filmer and his Murray Club Band- If you can't sing whistle(1931). Excellent advice in my case. Nice quality track on the Piccadilly label. Been waiting for a Ken 'Snakehips' Johnson and his West Indian Dance Band record to turn up for a while. Here we have Seventeen Candles and Last time I will fall in love. Johnson was an important figure in the history of black British music. Originally from British Guyana his West Indian band brought a real flavour of US style band music to Britain. Johnson was sadly killed in a bombing raid in 1941, he was playing at The Cafe Paris in London. Members of the band joined other British groups and influenced British jazz for years to come. Yorke Desouza, Dave Wilkins and Joe Deniz worked extensively with F.S favourite Harry Parry. We have a wee flavour of George Formby Senior from 1920. This is on an Ariel Grand Records disc. He died the year after this recording, aged 46. He was a huge music hall and recording star at the begining of the 20th century. Elements of his act may well have inspired Chaplin's tramp. His upbringing was incredibly harsh and impoverished. A strong contrast to the height of his career when he was earning £350 a week(£40k in 2022). He was reluctant to allow his son into show business and sent him away for jockey training. Didn't stop young George though. He went on to become an even greater star. We finish with Buddy's Blues from Buddy Featherstonehaugh and his Radio Rhythm Club and the Gerry Mulligan Quartet. Yeah I know he's hardly forgotten but when do you hear him played directly from a 78 record?       

All part of my campaign to make the Welsh born band leader of the 1940s and 50s more well known. Twelve tracks fresh in and out the crate. Well wooden box. Big thanks to Rod Boyd for the donation. First up- Oceans and Notions. Harry Parry Trio. Joe Deniz- guitar, Tom Bromley- bass, Roy Marsh- Vibraphone. Composed by Marsh. Harry Parry Sextet- Sweet Georgia Brown, My Blue Heaven, Alexander's Ragtime Band, Blue Lou, Java Joint, Doggin' around, Rose room. Travelling Blues- vocals Johnny Green. Boogie rides to Yorke- Piano by Jamaican born Yorke Desouza. He moved to France in the 1930s and England in the 40s. Excellent jazz pianist whose career faded away in the 1950s. Composed by Desouza and Parry. Great example of the talent Parry brought into the band. Viva Harry Parry!

A rousing start from Winifred Atwell with Cross hands boogie. Nellie Lutcher- Hurry on down. A wee bit naughty. She's a rather neglected R&B jazz singer and composer. Ruby Wright, the daughter of country singer Kitty Wells, with Boy you got yourself a girl. Jeri Southern- Call me tonight. A torch singer whose career sadly faded in the late 50s. Giselle McKenzie- Seven lonely days. Canadian born, popular in US T.V and musical theatre. Bill Perry's Entertainers from 1927 on a rare Puritan label. The Wisconsin record label only existed between 1917 and 1929. Jane Froman had a long and successful career in the US on radio, T.V, film and on record but what a tough life she had. Severely injured in an airplane crash in 1943 she struggled with pain for the rest of her life. Three band singers- Anita Boyer with Artie Shaw, Connie Haines with Tommy Dorsey and Jean Farrar with Harry Roy. Juthika Roy,  a classical, devotional and singer in Hindi and Bengali films. Connie Boswell- This time its love. Professor J Earl Hines and his godwill singers- Get on board little children. Hines was a gossip singing pioneer with his Gossip choir at St Paul's church choir in L.A. He gave vocal training to a very young Etta James. Forgotten songs oldest record, so far. Bluebells of Scotland by Madame Derring. Recorded in August 1906 in London. What an amazing concept, a piece of history 116 years old. It cost me £1. Harry Parry and his Radio Rhythm club sextet with St Louis blues. Vocals by Rita Marlowe. Another singer with very little history. A fine voice, especially for the blues.  

The fantastic voice of Kay Starr starts us off with: Rock and Roll Waltz(1954), Changing Partners(1954) and Wabash Cannon Ball(1948). The Three Kays with The Cuckoo. A popular English group in the 1950s. Cuckoo is probably a description of a lot of the rest of the content of the show. Albert Burdon with Albert before the means test(1931). I do quite like it. There are genuine gags and its quite subversive. The Street Singer with Trouble in paradise. Arthur Tracey was born Abba Avrom Tracovutsky in Ukraine in 1899. He originally used the name The Street Singer to avoid being banned from Vaudeville for appearing on the radio under his own name. Suzette Tarri performs The Boarding House. She was, what we'd call now, an observational comedian. Had a long career from the 1920s to 50s. Surely record of the week: Jack Hodges, the Raspberry King  with Everything is fresh today. Eat more fruit he says, blowing raspberries! Thirteen Woman from Billy Haley. A sexiest dream. Who knew the dropping of an H bomb could be so positive. Bizarre. Victor Theremin was born Lev Therman in St Peterburgh in 1996 and was the inventor of the first commercially produced electronic instrument- The Theremin. He was also involved in espionage. Working with the notorious Soviet  NKVD developing listening devices. The Theremin has been used in such films as Spellbound, The Day the Earth stood still and Hellboy. Next a 1916 version of Another little drink. Miss Louie Brooks, Jack Henty( the prolific Ernest Pike) and Charlie Collins. Charlie Collins was a songwriter of this era and earlier. Indeed it wrote some of the best known songs from the golden age of the British music halls- Dont dilly dally on the way, Boiled beef and carrots and Any old Iron? I can find no record of him performing though. Surely this is the same man? We finish with the Canadian born W V Robinson and Freaks of the mouth organ from 1926. Utter nonsense!!      

We start with two firm favourites. Frankie Froba- Love song in 32 bars and Teresa Brewer- Wang, Wang Blues. Then we go west- sort of! Bradley Kincaid with The Miners Song. Two cowboy songs. A traditional sentimental tale from Peg Morland with Cowboy Jack. Morland lost half a leg in an accident while working as a railway brakeman. A completely different cowboy from Leo Fuchs, a Yiddisha one. I love the flitting between English and Yiddish. I'm sure there are many 'in jokes' going on. The Sweet Boys give us two delightful pieces of nonsense. First- I give in so easily. Sang by Gale Ryan. Can find out nothing about her. Another familiar artist to F.S,  Roberto Inglez. Born in Elgin Scotland as Robert Ingles. He led the Savoy Hotel Orchestra in the late 40s and early 50s but then left and moved to Chile. Where he continued in music career. We have Wedding Samba, Autumn Leaves and La Raspa. He lends his charming soft vocals to this last track. Two from the immensely entertaining Charlie Barnett. Big Maceo was a hugely influential blues pianist. He died young in the early 1950s. Two tracks from him and we will certainly be playing more in the future. We end, again, with western Swing and three great tracks from Jimmie Revard and his Oklahoma Playboys . A very popular Texan band in the mid, late 1930s.   

An old favourite to start us off- Frankie and Johnny. The best version, from Jimmie Rodgers. Then another variation of the Unfortunate Rake, an 18th century Anglo- Irish folk song. Here we have Bright Summer Morning from The Virgin Islands. Recorded in 1953, Viola Penn sings and plays guitar. He's back, Milton Brown and his Brownies- Fan it! and Goofus. Moondog with two tracks. An extraordinary artist and performer and composer. Genre defying. He performed on the streets of New York from the 1940s to the 1970s. Leonard Bernstein, Benny Goodman knew him. Charlie Parker was a fan and he influenced Philip Glass. He was blind, made his own instruments and dressed as a Viking. Brilliant. Back to a 78rpm and way back to 1918. The Six Brown Brothers, they were brothers, with When Aunt Dinah's daughter Hannah bangs on the piano. They were a Vaudeville act that all played saxophones. In fact they are credited with making the sax popular in the USA. Four in a row. Dallas String Band with Dallas Rag(1927), Jeeps Blues- Port Arthur Jubileers, Too tight Henry- Charlston contest part 2(1928) and Florene- Leon Selph and his Blue Ridge Playboys(1941). We had Georgia fiddle music a couple of episodes ago, now its Texas fiddle. Sally Johnson- The Lewis Brothers and the very scottish sounding Eck Robertson - Great big Taters. We go out with glorious 78s all the way. Josh white with I'm gonna move to the outskirts of town. A modern, more affluent take on the blues. White recorded quite a few tracks in London at this time, early 1950s. Bessie Smith with Muddy Water(1927). She's with her Blues boys. One of which was Fletcher Henderson. As if I'd planned it he's up next with PDQ Blues also 1927. We finish with more Western Swing. Adolp and Emil Hofner duetting on Swing with the music. I really hope you have been.   

Harry Parry was born in north Wales in 1912. He trained to be a musical instrument maker but the performance side took over and he moved to London to play in big bands, including Percival Mackey's. He established his own six piece band and was asked by the BBC to lead the band for their Radio Rythmn Club show. He was popular throughout the 1940s and into the 50s. He died at the age of 44 in 1956.  His music was fun, with a real swing and he brought interesting vocalists and musicians to perform and record with the Sextet. Jazz legend George Shearing was his pianist for many years. Check out Bob Stanley's book, 'Let's do it.' It's a great read about the history of British and American pop. It has a complimentary section about Harry in it. BBC Radio one D.J John Peel was a fan of Parry.      Bounce me brother with a solid four, vocalist Doreen Villiers. Mr five by five- vocalist Dave Wilkins. Stars fell on Alabama- vocalist Harry Parry. Black eyes(1941). Crazy rhythm(1942). It don't count(1941). Lonesome road(1946). Blues around my bed, vocalist Ruby Marlow. Pontiac jump. Stardust. Parry opus. My blue heaven. We end with the wonderful Softly as in a morning sunrise.  

Milton Brown and his Brownies- Down by the Ohio(1935) What an extraordinary voice Brown had. A pioneer of Western swing his career was tragically cut short when he died of injuries sustained in a car crash in 1936. Bob Skyles and the skyrockets- Swing it Mr drummer man(1938). Clifford kendrick on drums. Hoosiers Hot shots- Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia. Seemlessly moving into two tracks from the fabulously named Hell broke out in Georgia LP.  First, more great names, Gid Tanner and his Skillet lickers- Don't you cry my honey(1930.) The Swamp rooters- Swamp cat rag(1936) They were led by fiddler Lowe Stokes, a member of the Skillet lickers. We stay with the fiddle but slow it down with The Leake County Revellers- Good night Waltz(1927.) East coast country blues is how the source LP describes the next two tracks. Lottie Kimsbrough and Winston Holmes- Lost Lover Blues(1928) A great track from lesser known artists. I've heard blues and yodelling before but never blues yodelling and birdsong. Fred McMullan and Ruth Mary Willis- Just can't stand it. Little known about these two. Both made a few recordings in the early 30s. McMullan died in the early 60s and was in prison at one point in his life. No further record of Willis's life. Just two examples of artists whose talents were recorded in the 1920s and 30s and then they just disappeared. Meade Lux Lewis- Honky Tonk Train Blues. Jimmy Yancy and Faber Smith- I received a letter. Pine Top Smith-  Pine Tops's Boogie Woogie. The first time boogie woogie appears on a record label and is mentioned in a song. Pine Top Smith was a real pioneer who sadly died at the age of 25. A wee excerpt from a rather 'faded' 78rpm featuring a meeting between The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. The two pioneering acts of early country music. Then it's Jimmie solo, not yodelling, with I'm Lonesome too. Back to Britain. To listen to how the US influenced music here. Harry Torrani- Log Cabin Yodel (1932.) Slim Whitman rated Torrani as the best yodeller of all time. He certainly had a sweet spot voice. Incidentally yodelling was introduced in the US by a Swiss group who toured the whole country in the middle of the 19th century. Bob Mallin- Oh they're tough, mighty tough in the west. A very English delivered comic cowboy song from the late 30's. Lonnie Donegan is no stranger to Forgotten songs. Here he sings Don't let the sun go down on me. One of the many blues, folk and traditional songs from the US that he sang. He was a man who loved the very music we play here. We finish with Mugsy Spanier- Lonesome Road.  A superb laid back, instrumental version of this popular song that was written in the style of an African American folk song by Nat Skillret and Gene Austin.  

Up until now the Forgotten Songs ethos has been to show case forgotten songs and artists from all genres. It's been a real journey of discovery. I've been surprised by how much good music has been neglected. From this episode though I'm focusing on the choice of music. We will concentrate on Americana and American roots. Early folk, country, blues, jazz, boogie woogie, blue grass and, of course, western swing. This is our introduction. Jelly Roll Morton- Oh didn't he ramble. 1939. Sidney Bechet clarinet. Next a four song sequence that shows the development of one song- The unfortunate rake. From its likely Anglo Irish origins in the 18th century to its crossing the Atlantic with early settlers to the US.  We have The unfortunate rake- A.L Lloyd singer, Alf Edwards concertina. One day in May- Holly Wood from a version collected in 1941 in Salem Virginia. The Streets of Loredo- singer Harry Jackson ( Wycomig version of cowboy lament in 1938). St James Infirmary Blues. Saunders King and Orch. Saunders on guitar and vocals. Composer Joe Primrose.                                                                   Songs all the way- Powder river, let'er buck- Powder River Jack and Kitty Lee. Bucking Bronco( My lover is a rider)- Mildred and Dorothy Good. Amade Ardoin- La valse de mon vieux village. Pearl Dickson- Twelve pound daddy. Missippii Matilda- Hard working woman. Doc Watson- Am I born to die? McCravy brothers- Dip me in the golden sea.  Milton Brown and his brownies- Some body has been using that thang. Sons of the west- Sally's got a wooden leg. Cliff Bruners Texas Wanderers- Kangeroo blues. The sweet violet boys- I haven't got a pot to...cook in.     

We're back after a six month break. Less chat, more music this time round. We start with a very laid back Louis Armstrong and his version of Blueberry Hill. Billie Anthony was born Philomena McGeachie Levy in Glasgow in 1932. Here she sings her biggest hit, This Ole House. There were a few covers of this record in the British charts. Rosemary Clooney made no1 but Billie Anthony made no4. She had a great voice and it's surprising that her career had just petered out by 1960.  Tony Martin stirs up  passions with Kiss of Fire. He had a seven decade career and was married to Alice Faye and Cyd Charisse-  but not at the same time!  Strict tempo dance music next. Developed to standardise dance styles strict tempo bands never had a vocalist. I suppose it could be accused of being a little souless but in this section of records its comes over as chilled and relaxing. Two from the king of strict tempo Victor Silvester. A dancer himself he, along with Josephine Bradley, was a founder member of The Imperial Society of teachers of dance. Which I have to say does sound a tad pompous! Silvester sold 70 million records in his time. Check him out below. Its a fascinating read:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Silvester Both Josephine Bradley and Henry Jasques were originally dancers. Indeed Jasques was British Ballroom champion from 1934 to 36. His 1944 book on ballroom is still a highly sort after work. Latvian born Oscar Rabin joins the strict tempo crew with Love is all. Jo Stafford had highly successful career over five decades. Opera trained her voice is very pure. She married the band leader Paul Weston and they produced alot of fine work together. They had a side project though: Jonathon and Darlene Edwards, a truly bad caberet act. Listen here, if you dare: https://youtu.be/NySAbB2JLII Some more obscure artists next. Victor Olof with Tancuf, a Slovakian dance, Harry Wulson yodelling in 1929. He produced a few such records but I cannot find a biog of him. The Accordion Emsemble were probably a Zonophone house band, here they play Espana Valise recorded in 1920. Gene Austin was extremely well known in his time. One of the first crooners he was also a fine songwriter, When My Sugar Walks Down the Street and, Forgotten Songs favourite, The Lonesome Road are just two of his compositions. Here he sings- I've grown so lonesome thinking of you. PIano duo and co bandleaders Victor Arden and Phil Ohman give us Kiddie Kapers. That leads us perfectly to two records on 45rpm. First a track that was very popular in my 1960s and 70s childhood. Sparky's talking piano. It was actually recorded in 1947 with the child actor Henry Blair voicing Sparky. The rather creepy piano's voice was created by a Sonovox voice processor. Which makes the human voice sound, well, both robotic and musical. It was invented in 1939 and had an early notable demonstration by Lucille Ball in a Pathe newsreel. We dissolve seemlessly from that to Sacha Distel singing Ich bin ein spielman. Back to 78s with with Coleman Hawkins with Half step down please. Tito Burns and his Sextet play Sloppy Joe. Burns had a career as a musician, accordian and piano, and as an impresario and manager. He discovered Dusty Springfield, managed Cliff Richard and organised the European tours of Simon and Garfunkle. We close with Joe Daniels and Drumnastics. Hope you enjoy it. Its good to be back.    

The last episode of Forgotten Songs. What a pleasure it has been  discovering, playing and researching these records, songs and artists. A few old favourites and a couple of new discoveries. Alma Cogan- Lizzie Borden, Eartha Kitt- C'est Si Bon, Mel Torme- Mpoutain Greenery, Tennesse Ernie Ford- Sixteen tons, George D'Albert - Your own Street, Bob Skyles and his Sky Rockets- My darling Texas Cowgirl, Lets play love, I'm gonna die with a broken heart, Carl Weismann and his singing dogs, Lonnie Donegan- When the sun goes down, Hal McIntyre- South Bayou shuffle, Harry Parry and his Radio Rhythm Club Sextet-Softly as in morning sunsrise, Mugsy Spanier-Lonesome Road and our last record.... the very best of love songs. Nat King Cole- My Flaming Heart. A big thank you for listening. Stay safe, happy and healthy Miles Tubb

Big thank you to Neil Guthrie for the donation of family records featured in this episode. They belonged to Martha and Geordie Hardie of Cowdenbeath.  Lonnie Donegan- Betty, Betty, Betty, Tom Foy- Lizzie, Mimosa 5in record- My Kid, Jutkika Roy- Hindustani song, David McCallum- Scottish melodies,  Callendar Cable Works Band- Swallows Serenade, Miss Lydia Russell You're driving me crazy, Bobby Comber- Peg leg Jack, Buddy Prince- Little pal, Florrie Ford- Ta ta be lucky and lets pretend we're having fun. Bing Crosby(yes Bing Crosby!)- Beautiful dreamer.

Best tracks and stonking tunes from Tex Beneke, Frankie Froba, Teresa Brewer, Fats Waller, Anita O'Day, Lulu Zeigler, Lorrae Desmond, Lonnie Donegan, Les Paul, Mary Ford, Leslie Hutchinson, Sugar Chile Robinson, Jimmie Rodgers, Harry Torrani, Phyllis Robins, McCravy Brothers, Geoffrey Goodheart, Tiny Bradshaw, Bob Crosby, Marion Mann and Frankie Laine.

Thanks to John Hearn for donation of these records. Judy Garland and Fred Astaire- A couple of swells, Perry Como- Magic Moments and Catch a fallen star, Marino Marini- Volare, Edmundo Ross- Rumba Royale, Roberto Inglez- Autumn leaves,  Mantovani- La Cumparista, Benny Goodman- These foolish things remind me of you, Felix Mendelssohn- Scotlandia, Herijati- Kenaghan Masa- (Indonesian song), Carman Cavallaro- Lovely look at, The star gazers- An old beer bottle, Billy Cotton-Two on a tandem, The French can- can, Hang on the bell Nellie.

Ernie Ford- Shot gun boogie, Teddy Johnston- Mandolin Serenade, William Schwartz- song in Yiddish, Nick Lucas- My bundle of love and Moonbeams, Ester Walker-  You gotta know how to love and Hard to get Gertie, Carl, Natalie and Arnold Golmetch- Greensleeves to a ground, Jimmy Young- No arms can ever hold you, Perry Como- Idle gossip, Weston Brothers- Scottish Memories, Robert Wilson- Down in the glen and Victor Sylvester- Autumn Leaves.

The Wang, Wang Blues- Teresa Brewer, Take me in your arms- Les Paul and Mary Ford, The Duke's idea and Skyliner- Charlie Barnet-, Keep your seats please- George Formby, I never knew heaven could speak- Bob Crosby, vocals Marion Mann, Effie Atherton-Dennis the Menace, Jimmie Rodgers- Away out on the mountain, Harry Torrani- The watermill yodel, Claude Hopkins- Ain't misbehaving, Fats Waller- Vipers rag, Albert Ammons- Boogie woogie stomp, Hobo Jack Taylor- The bum's rush, Wingie Malone-South with the boarder, Johnny Rae- What's the use, Frankie Laine- High Noon.

Up this time round: The Six Swingers- Hot Pie, The Stargazers- I see the moon, Savoy Havana Band- A kiss in the dark, Jay Whidden- I'll see you again, Paul Specht- I'm knee deep in daisies, Jelly Roll Morton- Oh didn't he ramble, Mugsy Spanier- Hesitating blues, G.H Elliott- I want to go to Idaho, Ethel Smith- Charmaine, (Whispering) Jack Smith- Ain't she cute, Kay Starr- Three letters, Tony Martin- Flamenco Love, Gene Autry and Jo Stafford- My heart cries for you, Anne Stephens- Buckingham Palace, Rudy Vallee- You're driving me crazy, Charlie Barnet- I like to riff.

Records from 1913 to 1956. Hungarian, Trinidadian and Canadian musicians. We have Winifred Atwell- Cross hands boogie, Mario Lanza- Drinking song, Billy Williams- Little Willie's Woodbines, Mr Herbert Payne- The sunshine of your smile, Nat Gonella- Capri caprice. Frankie Vaughn, Perry Como, Geraldo and Billy Cotton. Joe Petersen- Home on the range, Guy Lomardo- All my love, Blue Hungarian band- The skaters Waltz, Edith Lorand- The woman's heart, Don Roberton- The happy whistler and with Lou Dinning You're free to go. And you are but do come back!      

Falsetto voices, Australian and Geordie music hall and more budget record gems. Mr Hatherley Clarke (counter tenor)- Till we meet again, Florian Forde- Love me in the Lancashire way, Robert Woodville- There we are then, Herbert Payne- Blighty, Charlie Collins- Paddy Malone's Aeroplane, Fred Douglas- On the first dark night of the year, J.C Scatter- Blaydon Races, Randolph Sutton- if you're really truly in love and I met Sally by the seaside, Alfredo and his band-Cheer up and smile, Radio Melody Boys- There's happiness ahead, Sam Brown- Dancing with tears in my eyes, Jack Payne- The kid from Spain, Jay Wilbur- Miss Otis regrets and anonymous piano recorded in Biggars recording Studio, Glasgow in the 1950s?   

Softly as in a morning sunrise- Harry Parry, What is this thing called love- Tommy Dorsey, vocals by Connie Haines, Fine brown frame Nellie Lutcher, Let's play love - Bob Skyles, Beautiful dreamer Archie Lewis, Whisper again that you love me-Al Dexter, Ain't misbehaving - Hutch, Look at 'em doing it- The Original Dixieland Jazz Band(1919), You better watch yourself bub- Nellie Lutcher, The man I love - Sophie Tucker, It don't count - Harry Parry, Tip toe through the tulips with me- Solemn and Gay, Moonlight Waltz, I'm gonna die with a broken heart and my darling Texas cowgirl - Bob Skyles and his Skyrockets.

George Formby- When I'm cleaning windows, Oi- Flanagan and Allen, actually that turns into Underneath the arches. Their most famous song. Roy Fox, vocals Buddy Clark The treasure of Sierra Madre. This is the theme song from the Humprey Bogart film. Bob Crosby and Marion Mann with Never knew Heaven could speak and Speak to me of love. Jimmie Rodgers- Everyone's doing it in Hawaii and Frankie and Johnny. The magnicent Sophie Tucker with Life begins at forty and Nellie Lutcher with Hurry on down. Both delightfully naughty. Jack Hylton, Hoagy Carmichael, George Wettling, Hutch and Italian Samba from Tino Vailati. Johnny Duncan with The last train to San fernado. We finish with a uncharacteristically slow and moody number from Mugsy Spanier- Lonesome Road. One of my favourites from the 100s of records I've played on Forgotten Songs.

No messing about this time round. Another back to back music episode.  Blues in my condition- Cootie Williams, Numbers Boogie- Sugar Chile Robinson, My Alf- Susette Tarri, Wang, Wang Blues- Teresa Brewer, To Menneker- Lulu Ziegler, Forever and ever- Dinah Shore, Bradshaw's boogie- Tiny Bradshaw, Your feets too big, Dragging my heart around, Shortnin bread- Fats Waller, Down and out blues- Flanagan and Allen, Gin mill blues- Joe Sullivan, Swinging with the accordion man- Bob Skyles and Skyrockets, Prima second e tersza- Roberto Murolo, Earth Kitt- Monotonous, When the sun goes down- Lonnie Donegan and Hal McIntyre- South Bayou shuffle.  

Very little chat this time round. Back to back great music. Tex Benneke- St Louis Blues March, Lionel Hampton- The Munson Street breakdown, Lucky Thompson- Just one more chance, Albert Ammons- Boogie Woogie Stomp, Anita O'Day- The lady is a tramp, Harry Parry- Mr five by five, Carl Barriteau- Primrose Hill, Hal McIntyre- Why don't you fall in love with me, Harlan Lattimore- Chant of the weeds, Bob Crosby- Tin roof blues, Lorrae Desmond- On the waterfront, Harry Parry- Lonesome Road,  Les Paul and Mary Ford- In a lonesome old town, Mugsy Spanier- Lonesome road , Joe Sullivan and Joe Turner- I can't give you anything but love, Andy Kirk and his clouds of joy- Take those blues away, Billy Banks- Oh Peter and Spider crawl.

Cupid on the cake, from Jock McDermott and his New Calton Players starts us off. Cake in the title, perfect. Its on a lovely Piccadilly Record label, the label only ran from 1927 to 1931. Our oldest record for a long time is, By the light of the silvery moon.  A 1910 rendition of this classic song by Mr Jack Charman. He sang under at least 25 aliases and was the first artist to record Hinky, Pinky, Parlez vous in 1915. Its a John Bull record label. They sold their records via the 'Tally man' systems- they came to your door and tried to persuade to sign up to a contract to buy a series of records. Also up Leslie (Hutch) Hutchinson, an early recording from 1929, Delia Murphy, Frankie Laine, Nat King Cole,  Maurice J Gunsky , Max Bacon and three from the insane Red Ingles, particularly love one of the titles, Git up off the floor Hannah. Duo Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar sing Ukulele Lady from 1922. They are LGBT icons. Nellie Lutcher is new to me. She influenced Nina Simone, sung, played piano and composed. A cracker of a track from her- He's a real gone guy. Carl Barriteau was one of many black artists and singers who came to Britain between the wars. Born in Trinidad, raised in Venezuela, he came to London in 1937. He eventually joined Ken (Snake hips) Johnston's west Indian band. He was playing with them at the Cafe Du Paris in 1941 when a bomb exploded. It killed Johnston and one other member of the the band. Carl went on to record for Decca and died in Australia in 1998. A local note of interest for Forgotten Songs, Carl was either in residence or played frequently at our local dancehall here in Edinburgh, Leith, The Eldorado- between 1949 and 1951. Two from him, vocals by Mae Cooper. Fascinating artists and lives. It's what Forgotten Songs is all about.    

A complete mix of tunes and some chat about 78rpm records. Dame Clara Butt from 1918. The top English contralto of her era. Three jolly tunes from eight inch budget record labels. Don Porto's Novelty band(Harry Bidgood), Alfredo and his band and Billy Whitlock. Sandy Powell is on a Broadcast budget record too. A very successful northern English comedian from the 1920s to 1960s and a very astute business man. He sold over seven and half million records and refused to take a flat fee for recording, instead he earned a penny a side. That certainly all added up!  Also the prolific English baritone Stanley Kirkby, Turner and Layton, Lorrae Desmond, Roberto Inglez, Ron Goodwin, Tennessee Ernie and Mantovani. We finish with Bob Crosby and Looping the Loop from 1938.

A particularly upbeat selection of music this time round. Two from Bob Crosby and two Shakespeare sonnets, fabulous vocals from Marion Mann. Two from Bob Skyles and the Skyrockets- Lets play love and My darling Texas cow girl. Elias and his zig zag jive flutes with Tom Hark, the original and a massive world wide hit. Its in the Kwela style, South African penny whistle with a skiffle type beat. Two from Red Nichols. Nat Gonella and Lionel Hampton. Fab 1920s music from The High Hatter, vocals by Frank Luther and Maestro Paul Laval and his Woodmindy Ten. Pioneering jazz guitar and violin from Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti. Fletcher Henderson masquerading as Duke of Harlam and his Flunkies. Talking of maestros- we have the three boogie woogie pianos of Meade Lux Lewis, Pete Johnson and Albert Ammons. If that wasn't enough we have the man who produced the first commercial record with the term Boogie Woogie on it, Pine Top Smith. Flipping the side of this Brunswick reissue of a 1928 recording we have Pine Top Smith's Blues. Smith was a real pioneer but sadly died of gunshot wounds at the age of 25 in 1929. Harry Parry sees us out with the superb Softly as in a morning sunrise. Joyous stuff.

Two from the 1950s to start us off. Australian Lorrae Desmond and from the U.S Gogi Grant. She was named after the RCA A&R man's favourite restaurant. Lesser known British band singers Majorie Kingsley, Jean Farrar, Mae Cooper and my favourite Doreen Villiers. Jazz vocal and guitar from Mary Osborn, with her trio. Two tradition Scottish songs with female vocals, Esther Yunson with On the bonny banks of Loch Lomond and NIna Rae with Hame of mine. Madeline Green, was the first black female vocalist to be signed by Benny Goodman, she sings here with Earl Hines. Ivy Benson and her girl band were hugely popular during WW2 and into the 1950s. Ivy plays the sax but no credit to the vocalist. 

Three from Harry Torrani: Sitting in a jailhouse, The Prairie Yodel and Mockingbird Yodel. All self penned. His voice is incredible of the last track and he accompanies himself on the English concertina. Both sides of a Hoosier Hot Shots: Sentimental gentleman from Georgia and Meet me by the icehouse Lizzie. Unusually its on the English Rex label. They are billed as America's Hill Billy Aces. Another English exponent of cowboy music was Johnny Denis. Popular in the 1940s and 50s, he gives us My, my ain't that something. He even whistles. Hardly forgotten but Hank Williams gives us Howling at the moon. Hank Snow: Down the trail of aching hearts. What a great C&W title. Lonnie Donegan is back with Dead or alive. Les Allen was, I think, Canadian born and sang for Geraldo in the 1930s. He sings Empty saddles. I love Peter Lind Hayes version of the Carson Robinson song Life gits teejus don't it. If you've been in a 'lockdown' situation the lyrics will certainly ring true!  

Three Harrys in this episode. Two from Harry Roy and two from Harry Parry. Our old yodelling friend Harry Torrani sings- Yodelling all day and A yodellers dream girl. I love Torrani's voice and lone guitar accompaniment. Self indulgence it maybe but we have two Tubbs in this episode. Ernest Tubb, the Texan Troubadour and country music pioneer, with the very C&W title- Lets say goodbye like we said hello. Our other Tubb is Carrie. Popular English soprano from the first quarter of the 20th century. Its on a rather warped HMV 12in record. So not able to play it all, maybe just as well! Musical theatre artist, Grace Moore give us- One night of love, actor Wayne Naughton does an amusing monologue- Nonchalant Nonsense, Lew Stone- Shades of Hades and Thompson's old grey mule, Ruby Wright- Boy you got yourself a girl and Nat Gonella- Georgia's gorgeous girl. Edythe Baker was an American pianist who recorded 22 pieces while in England in the late 20s. Here she plays Birth of the blues on a 12in Columbia record from 1927.  Ernest Butcher sings I limp as I go along. A very British tramp or hobo song from a 1937 film, The song of the road. In amongst it all is Lenny Carson and whizz kids with Hug me, kiss me, love me from 1950. But who was he and the whizz kids? The only reference to him online is this record. Enjoy and stay safe.   

An energetic start from Hoosiers Hot Shot and Ella Lou Robertson. Master Joe Peterson, Rex records own boy singer, or as described on the label: The phenomenal boy singer. Not entirely true as 'he' was Mary O' Rourke. Dressed as a boy for the majority of her career, she was still performing as a boy soprano in her 50's. Also Vic Lewis, Harry Gold and his Pieces of Eight, Harry Parry, Jimmy Bylthe's Ragamuffins and Flannagan and Allen. I have another Durium card record in the collection. Auf Wiedersehen my dear and Rain on the roof from 1934. Its Lew Stone, Al Bowlly and, I think, Nat Gonella on the second track. See if you agree. Thorley Waters was a British character actor and he sort of sings and talks his way through a song from a musical show from the 1950s called Gay's the word.' It was an Ivor Novello show and very successful at the time. Two from female US singers who didn't make it big. Don't know why. Mindy Carson gives us Barrels and barrels of roses and Cathy Carr, Please, please believe me.  Both excellent tracks. A great song from Ben Malone, I don't work for a living. From the early 30s, it was recorded by Hobo Jack, Carson Robinson and Frank Crumit. Who was Frank Malone though? He's described as a light vocalist on the Decca label. I can nothing out about him. A mystery. A forgotten artist, perfect for us here. Our oldest record is,  A paradise for two from 1917. It plays surprisingly well and is by the Royal Cremona Orchestra. There were a few Cremona groups and bands around at this time. I've learnt some thing new here. Not previously knowing that Cremona are a prestigious Italian maker of stringed instruments. Molly Picon career is certainly well documented. A child star in the Yiddish theatres of New York she went on to make Yiddish films in Europe and also performed back in the US on radio, Broadway and TV. Her last film role was as Roger Moore's mother in the Cannonball Run. On Forgotten Songs variety is the spice of life. Hope this episode is a good example of that. Stay safe, stay positive.       

Three romantic favourites at Forgotten Songs. Frankie Froba was an American jazz pianist, active from the 1920s until the 50s. Here he plays with the Jimmy Atkins Trio.  Always makes me chuckle- Love song in 32 bars. We get properly soppy with our other two tracks. Nat King Cole with My Flaming Heart and Eartha Kitt singing Lazy afternoon. Both superb vocalists obviously, but I think these rank among their finest performances. Cole sang My Flaming Heart in the film Small Town Girl. The song was nominated for an 0scar in 1953 but lost out to Doris Day and Secret Love. The Nat King Cole Trio and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra accompany. Written by Albert Schubert, Barry Abbot and Ruby Toomb . Ruby was actually Rudolph Toombs, a prolific doo wop and R and B song writer. Lazy afternoon was written by John La Touche and Jerome Moross and was originally performed in the 1954 musical Golden Apple by Kay Ballad. Barbra Streisand covered it in the mid 70s. This song belongs to Eartha though. There is none of her characteristic playfulness here. This is languid, sensuous, serious and superb. Henri Rene provides silky, smooth orchestration. It certainly makes you yearn for a lazy afternoon. Enjoy, these are songs not just for valentines day after all. 

A couple from Forgotten Songs favourite Harry Parry and his Radio Rhythm Club Sextet- Black eyes and Blues for eight. Three from another regular, Harry Roy- They're building another alley for Sally, There's joy in your heart coming home and Sentimental interlude. Wingy Manone is back. Love this one armed, hot trumpeter and we even get his great vocals in Manone Blues. Also up Kay Starr, Joan Regan and Felix Mendelssohn- he's accompanied by Roland Peachy on steel guitar. Humour, dated, from Clown Argo and Co and a comedy skit called a Gale in the night. Can find out nothing about them. Really quite bizarre is Alfi and Harry with The trouble with Harry. Its the conceit of Ross Bagdasarian, songwriter and producer at Liberty Records. Not out right funny but rather cool. Bagdasarian had a big hit with Witch Doctor under the name David Seville.  Freddy Mills, world champion boxer 1948-50, gives us a selection of singalong party songs. An all round celeb, films, TV and adverts, he was also a business man. He was found dead in his car in 1965. Verdict suicide, almost certainly murder. A much happier story is Ethel Smith, an amazingly good organist, who lived to 93. She gives us her biggest hit, Tico, Tico. Next a real oddity on a hand written MSS record label. They were the company that supplied record pressing equipment. What's the story behind this metal 78 of Get ready, get set, jump. Was it a sly pressing for a friend? A sample? Andy Iona, sounds Scottish but he was Hawaiian. Composer, writer and played steel guitar and saxophone. From him- Indebted to you. Lovely vocals on this track. A bonus record too, Charlie Barnet. Stay safe, stay positive.     

Blues upstairs and downstairs, from Nat Gonella, starts us off. Two Scottish numbers from Greenock male voice choir, with Loch Lomond and William Hannah with Caledonian circle. Hannah was a leading pre war accordionist and lived about 20 miles away from the Forgotten Songs studio in West Lothian. Also up The Avenue Tango Band with the rather tame, The golden tango girl,  Anton Walbrook, Benjamino Gigli, Carrol Gibbons and Benny Goodman, vocals by Helen Forrest. Three budget records: The Bluejays- Louise, Roland Blair- I cover the waterfront and, on a six inch The Victory label, The waters of kilarney. Frank Ferera is back with his wife Louise Greenus, Hawaiian Guitar duet. Early jazz from The  Happy six. Mr Sydney Coltham gives us a very refined song, which I think is pre 1920. Satya Chowdhury was born in Bengal, India and was very popular in the 1940s. Both starring and being a play back artist in many Indian films. Excellent track from Irish born Phil Green and his Basin Street band. He was long time arranger and conductor for Decca recorders.  What's that hammering? Ted Heath and Blacksmith Blues, vocals by Lita Rosa. Stay safe, stay positive.   

Dennis Potter's seminal TV 1978 drama was choc full of great music and songs from the 1930s, largely from British dance bands and orchestras. Bob Hoskins, Cheryl Campbell and Gemma Craven starred and did a great job of lip syncing to the likes of Al Bowlly, Roy Fox , Lew Stone, Bert Ambrose, Arthur Tracey, Maurice Winnick, Jack Paine, Jack Hylton, Billy Cotton and Henry Hall. They all feature in this episode, as does George Hall, with Roll along Prairie Moon  and Flannigan and Allen with Shine on harvest moon. Other songs are Goodnight Vienna, We'll all go riding on a rainbow, Wednesday night hop, Stage coach, Man of my dreams, Home of the range, The waltz you saved for me, In the valley of the moon, Night and day, Life is empty without love, My Wild Oat, Its only a paper moon, Moon over Miami and You rascal you.  

Even by the 1950s 78s were beginning see their dominance fade in the record market. Vinyl 33s and 45s was here. This though is a celebration of 50s shellac. To start we have the other side of the cracked Hot Lips Page, Randy Hall record from FS54, I tin whistle you. Earl Grant with Hunky dunky doo. Pianist, organist and singer. Sadly he died young at 39 in 1970. Lys Assia, Swiss winner of Euro vision in 1956, sings O Mein Papa. Also Eddy Arnold, Alma Cogan, Charlie Gracie, Fat Domino, Lonnie Donegan and Winifred Atwell.  Delighted to have Rose Murphy back, the Chee, Chee Girl. Surely one of  the most unusually voices of the 50s. Rose Brennan is back too, singing, as she did for many years, with Joe Loss. I think female singers and artist were really came to the fore in the 50s.  Hungarian born Eve Boswell gives us, Where you are. Love the fact that she started in the entertainment world in a family juggling act. Jill Day was hugely popular in this decade with her own TV show. She sings: Give her my love when you see her. Jim Dale, Actor, song writer, director, composer and star of a few Carry on films gives us a perfect piece of 50s pop in Be my girl. In amongst it all is Jack Scott, Canada's greatest Rock and Roll artist.  Two belter from him, Leroy and My True Love. Stay safe

Okay he's a favourite, so its four from Harry Parry, Angry, Lonesome Road, I never knew(vocals: Primrose Hayes, can't find anything out about this woman) and Pontiac jump. We start though with Hot Lips Page and Randy Halls and the Tin fluters. Not on his hot trumpet but brilliant vocals. Much sadness, this record is cracked! Fantastic combination of Joe Sullivan(pictured) and Big Joe Turner next and the brilliantly titled: Low down, dirty shame blues.  I have a real soft spot for the unjustly neglected Joe Sullivan. He returns with the flip side, I can't give you anything but my love. Also up Harry Roy and Marjorie Kingsley, Roberto Inglez and Nat King Cole.  Another return to FS is Charlie Barnett. Wonderful, joyous fare, Ebony Rhapsody and I like to Riff. A decent copy of the magnificent Munson Street Breakdown has turned up, Utter brilliance from Lionel Hampton. We end with a 1950s song from the Tanner Sisters and a little bit of Culture from Maggie Teyte. She sees out with with Plassir d'amour.   

Lets bring the joy to a cold Edinburgh day. Eartha Kitt, Bob Skyles, Harry Roy and the McCravy brothers start us off. James and Frank McCravy are in a particularly joyous mood with Ring them heavenly bells. Brilliant close harmonies, fiddle and banjo. Two from Carroll Gibbons and his Savoy Orpheans. Vocals are provided by Anne Lenner and Lesley Douglas and Edna Kaye.  One from Geraldo- All of me, The Rhythm Kings- The girl in the little green hat, The Rhythm Maniacs- Baby, oh, Where can you be.  Arthur Godfrey was a massive star in the US on TV and radio in 1950s. He was a troubled, complex character whose 'folksy' image didn't really stand up to scrutiny. That said If I were on a desert island with you is a fun song. We have four records from budget labels. I keep referring to them as eight inch but two are nine inch. Confusing. Well of course the idea was to get the same length of recording on to a smaller record and charge less. We have on the Broadcast label, The Midnight Merry makers- Louise, The Radio Melody Boys- There's happiness ahead(Edison- Bell Radio label. On Woolworths own Crown 9in record, Rossinni's Accordion Band- How much do I miss you and The Radio Serenaders- Lovely to look at. An awful lots of these records had Harry Bidgood behind them. The penultimate record is Felix Mendlessohn, no not that one, the one who had Hawaiian Serenaders. Stay safe, stay positive.        

What a strange year its been. Lets forget about it and party. Here to help us is: Jimmy Shand- Blue Bell Polka, Ian Macpherson- My Ain Folk, Kenneth McKellar- Ae Fond Kiss, The Logan Family- A new year's sing song, Tom Wright- McGinty's Meal and Ale(Part 2), and from 1910, P.A Hope with Auld Lang Syne. Here's tae us..  You'll be hearing from me again in 2021. A happy and healthy one to you all.