Songs from "Call the Midwife" Series 5

Another series of "Call the Midwife" and another list of songs from each episode. The trailer for Series 5 was appropriately accompanied by  Bobby Vee's Take Good Care Of My Baby", as this brilliant record was released in 1961, the year in which the new series is set. The song was also used in the trailer for Series 3. 1961 is the year when I was 16 years old and writing down playlists from programmes on Radio Luxembourg so all the songs will resonate for me.

EPISODE 1

Poetry in Motion by Johnny Tillotson. A number one in the UK in January 1961 and written by Paul Kaufman and Mike Anthony.

Girl from Petaluma by Cocktail Shakers.

Gopher Mambo by Yma Sumac. A 1954 recording but great for Trixie's keep fit class.

EPISODE 2

Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin. A 1946 composition by Jack Lawrence with music from "La Mere" by Charles Trenet. Darin's version reached number 8 in the UK in 1959.

I Fall to Pieces by Patsy Cline with The Jordanaires. There is a wonderful piece on Wikipedia about this 1961 hit.

No Not Much by Pauline Shepherd and the Tony Osborne Orchestra with the Beryl Scott Chorus.

You Belong to Me by Jo Stafford. Originally recorded by Sue Thomson, this cover version from 1952 topped the carts in the USA and UK where it reached No 1 in January 1953.

Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps)  by Nat King Cole. His 1958 cover of the Joe Davis lyrics he wrote in 1948 from the original 1947 Osvaldo Farres composition in Spanish.

Fiesta by Hugh Burns. I have no idea if this is the song when Patsy and Trixie play the record for Phillis. But tunefind.com says it is.

EPISODE 3

Only two songs this week, but what brilliant songs they are:

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by The Shirelles. A 1960 release written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. The latter's 1971 recording was on her Grammy winning Tapestry album. In 1961, The Shirelles topped the charts in the USA and went to number 4 in the UK.

Take Good Care Of My Baby by Bobby Vee. After being used for the trailers for Series 3 and 5, it has it's own spot in Episode 3. Would you believe another Goffin and King composition, Bobby Vee made number 1 in both the USA and UK in 1961.

EPISODE 4

Just one song this week:

You Don't Know by Helen Shapiro. A number 1 for Helen in 1961 written by Schroeder and Mike Hawker. They also composed her first hit "Don't treat me like a child" that made number 3 earlier in 1961 and "Walking Back to Happiness" later that year.

EPISODE 5

Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White by Perez Prado. His instrumental recording of the popular song was with his orchestra featuring trumpeter Billy Regis whose trumpet sound would slide down and up before the melody would resume. Recorded in 1955, it reached number one in the USA.

(Missed by tunefind.com but having received my comment, now on their website).

Chica Chica Boom Chic by Carmen Miranda. Composed by Harry warren and Mack Gordon for the movie "That Night in Rio" from 1941.

Buttons and Bows by Dinah Shore. Written by Jay Livingston and Jay Evans for the 1947 movie "The Paleface" starring Bob Hope and Jane Russell.

Mama by Connie Francis. This was originally an Italian song (Mamma) written in 1940 by Cesare Andrea Bixio with lyrics byBixio Cherubini.  Connie recorded her version in 1959 for an album of Italian songs and released this as a single in 1960 when it reached number 2 in the UK.

My Heart Reminds Me by Kay Star. Also known as "That Reminds Me", the music was based on the Italian instrumental, "Autumn Concerto," by Camillo Bargoni. English lyrics by Al Stillman and Paul Siegel. Kay Star's version was released in 1957.

EPISODE 6

Here Comes Summer (Ha Ha) by Jerry Keller. Written by the singer himself, it reached Number 1 in the UK.

Run Rabbit Run by Pinky and Perky. A strange choice for Juke Box Jury? But then Pinky and Perky appear on this programme on YouTube with Eeny, Meeny, Miney Mo.  Unsurprisingly, I never missed an episode of Juke Box Jury with David Jacobs. It's just a shame we didn't get to hear the theme music "Hit and Miss" by my hero John Barry.

The Eyes of God by Johnny Nash.

EPISODE 7

I Can't Tell a Waltz from a Tango by Alma Cogan. Written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning and recorded in 1954. The American version was by Patti Page. Alma used to live in Holland Park and my dad often served her in the grocers (John Buckle) he managed on Kensington High Street in the fifties.

Teach me Tiger by April Stevens. What an extremely raunchy song for Barbara and Tom the vicar to dance to! When released in 1959, it was banned on many radio stations. I only knew of April through the single Deep Purple, a duet with her brother Nino Tempo.

By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Doris Day. Written by Gus Edwards and Edward Madden in 1909 and recorded by Doris in 1953.

I Love How You Love Me by The Paris Sisters. Written by Barry Mann and Larry Kolber and recorded in 1961. Although in the UK, it was the Jimmy Crawford recording that reached number 18 in the chart.

EPISODE 8

I'd Never Find Another You by Billy Fury. Written by husband and wife Gerry Goffin and Carole King (famous on Call the Midwife for composing Take Good Care of my Baby) it reached number 5 in the UK charts. One of 24 hits he had in the 1960's but without a number one in the singles or album charts.

Let's Twist Again by Chubby Checker. Composed by Karl Mann and Dave Appell, it reached number 2 in the UK charts.

Till by Shirley Bassey. Music by Charles Danvers with lyrics in English by Carl Sigman. Originally a French song, it has been recorded by many artists. Shirley reached number 14 in the UK in 1961. What a fantastic song to see out the last episode of the series.