Series 7 starts at the beginning of 1963 with the same snow and ice that we saw in the Christmas Special. The thaw didn't set in until the start of March.
Episode 1
He's so Fine by the Chiffons. Written by Ronald Mack, it was not released in the UK until March 1963, so perhaps a little premature for the time of this episode.
Shakin All Over by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates. Written by the Johnny Kidd, it reached No 1 in the UK in 1960.
Theme from Z Cars. The television theme was arranged and conducted by Norrie Paramor and recorded with his orchestra.
Episode 2
Your Tender Look by Joe Brown and The Bruvvers. Written by John Beveridge and Peter Oakman it reached No 33 in the UK charts in 1962. It followed the far preferable and brilliant Picture of You, Joe's previous No 2 hit and is a complete rip off of that song. So disappointing that they chose the wrong track.
Fascination by Julie London. From the 1962 album Love Letters and written by Fermo Dante Marchetti, Maurice de Feraudy and Dick Manning. I would be very surprised if this album track was played on Trixie's radio in 1962. So why not Julie's hit single Cry me a River?
Queen for Tonight by Helen Shapiro. Written by Ben Raleigh and Art Wynne, this was a No 33 hit in 1962. Another obscure release, ignoring her previous No 1 hits.
I Think I'm Falling in Love by John Leyton. Written by P Jacobs (a pseudonym for Joe Meek) this did not trouble the hit parade in 1962. (Why not his big hit Johnny Remember Me.) So again, hard to believe it would have been played on the radio. Are the producers just trying tothtest me? The play list was never like this.
Episode 3
I cannot think of an episode in all the seven series that had as many songs as this one.
The Rivers Run Dry by Vince Hill. This 1962 recording was written by Les Vandyke (such a prolific songwriter in the 6o's, just look at the list on Wikipedia, especially all those hits for Adam Faith) and was the first hit for Vince, reaching number 41 in the UK singles chart.
Come Dance With Me by Peggy Lee. Composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Sammy Cahn as the title track from Frank Sinatra's 1959 album of the same name. Peggy's recording was on her 1961 album Ole ala Lee. I still have an old Peggy Lee LP but not this one.
Little Band of Gold sung and written by James Gilreath. It reached number 29 in the UK chart in 1963, but I must admit I had never heard of the singer or the song.
She's Got You by Patsy Cline. Written by Hank Cochran, this single was released in 1962 and reached number 43 in the UK charts. One of my favourite singers, her previous singles I Fall to Pieces and Crazy are wonderful recordings.
How Do You Do It by Gerry and the Pacemakers. Written by Mitch Murray, their first ever single reached number 1 in the UK charts in April 1963.
Just Like Eddie by Heinz. Written by Geoff Goddard, an associate of producer Joe Meek, the record made number 5 in the UK charts in 1963, the only success for the singer. And it must be over fifty years since I heard the recording. I know it was played a lot on the radio in the sixties.
Will You Love Me Tomorrow by Helen Shapiro. This classic was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was a huge hit for The Shirelles in 1960. Helen recorded the song for her 1962 album "Tops" with Me. The second time for her in this series, I'm glad to say.
Every Step of the Way by Johnny Mathis. Written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman and included in Johnny's 1964 album I'll Search My Heart and other Great Hits. The single was released in 1962 but never entered the UK charts.
My Kind of Girl by the great Matt Monroe. Written by William Bell, Leslie Bricusse and Booker T Jones, it peaked at number 5 in the UK in 1961. Matt's Softly As I leave You is one of my all time favourite tracks.
Nothing But The Best by Frank Sinatra. Written by Johnny Rotella, the song was recorded for the 1962 album Sinatra and Swingin' Brass. However, it looks like it was omitted from the original LP and was only included as a bonus track on the 1992 CD.
I don't usually include pieces of instrumenal music in these posts, but those that were played during the beauty contest need a mention: Lalo Bosa Nova (Quincy Jones), the brilliant Desafinado (Stan Getz and Charlie Bird) and others.
Boy, that was hard work, ten songs in this episode. But all worthwhile as I got to hear some great sixties songs on YouTube. One other thing to mention. Tom tells Trixie they are off to the cinema to see "The Birds". Although this film had been released in the USA by Whitsun 1963 (when this episode takes place), it was not released in the UK until the September. That was the month I left home to work in London, and can remember after seeing the movie, walking back to my digs over Hammersmith Bridge and being horrified by the closeness of the seagulls.
Episode 4
After the record breaking ten songs in last week's episode, this week, for the first time ever, there were no songs at all!
Episode 5
Only one song this week, and only a very short burst of:
I Like It by Gerry and The Pacemakers. Another Mitch Murray composition, this was number one in the UK charts in June 1963, so spot on for this summery episode. Gerry's follow up to his first number one included in episode 3.
Episode 6
Two great songs this week.
Come Outside by Mike Sarne. (I don't think we heard Wendy Richard (an actress famous for the TV show "Are You Being Served" who provided spoken interjections.) Written by Charles Blackwell, t reached number one in the summer of 1962.
It Might As Well Rain Until September by Carole King. Written by the singer and long term collaborator Gerry Goffin, The song was actually written for Bobby Vee because at the at time Carole was not a singer and just wrote hits with Gerry for other artists. However, she sung this on a demo recording to show how it should be done and everyone was so impressed it was released as a single, paving the way for her great career as a singer/songwriter. It was released on 1962 and did far better in the UK (reaching number three in the charts, her best performing single here) than the USA where it languished at number twenty two.
Episode 7
Two songs again this week.
Stay by Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs. Written by Williams himself when he was only fifteen years old and recorded in 1960. At one minute 36 seconds, it remains the shortest single ever to reach the American charts. Not sure why this was played on the radio, when, in 1963 it was the version by The Hollies that reached number 8 in the UK charts.
I must admit, I cannot remember the original. The most familiar versions to me are those by The four Seasons and Jackson Browne, having heard the latter sing it live as his closing number many times.
Wonderful World by Sam Cooke. Thank you producers of Call the Midwife for playing this at full volume, it took me right back to when I was fifteen. My friend David played it on his parent's radiogram and I had my first crush on his older sister. The song was composed by Lou Adler and Herb Alpert with extra lyrics by Cooke that resonated with some of my experiences at school:
Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about a science book,
Don't know much about the french I took
But I do know that I love you,
And I know that if you love me, too,
What a wonderful world this would be
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about a science book,
Don't know much about the french I took
But I do know that I love you,
And I know that if you love me, too,
What a wonderful world this would be
Don't know much about geography,
Don't know much trigonometry
Don't know much about algebra,
Don't know what a slide rule is for
But I do know that one and one is two,
And if this one could be with you,
What a wonderful world this would be
Don't know much trigonometry
Don't know much about algebra,
Don't know what a slide rule is for
But I do know that one and one is two,
And if this one could be with you,
What a wonderful world this would be
The song was released in 1960 and reached number 27 in the UK. Strangely, a release in 1986 made it to number 2!
Listening on YouTube, I stumbled on Lesley Gore's 1963 hit You Don't Own Me. I had posted in November 2016 about the version on Strictly Come Dancing and how I have always loved this song.
Episode 8
Teddy Bear's Picnic by Henry Hall with the BBC Orchestra and sung by Val Rosing. The melody was written in 1907 and was recorded as an instrumental until Jimmy Kennedy wrote the lyrics for the BBC and Henry Hall in 1932.
Tricks of the Trade by Vince Hill. One of his early solo recordings from 1962 - 1964 for Piccadilly, part of Pye Records. Not released as a single. Writer unknown.
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