British Hit Parade CDs
Posted by: Dungassin on 19 November 2010
Indulging myself in a bit of a nostalgia-fest ATM. Just discovered the "British Hit Parade" series of CDs - basically slowly releasing all the British NME chart entries that are >50 years old and hence out of copyright. I'd forgotten how many versions of the same song appeared at the same time! Lots of UK covers of American hits, which at the time (well, actually a few years later when I was old enough to buy singles etc) led me to seek out the originals. Lots of crap, but some absolute gems! .... "Oh, Diana, can't you see ... "
I sang that in a talent contest at the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr when I as about 3. I won second prize but my parents assured me I was really the best. 
Yeah. As I said, there are some absolute gems on these CDs, and also some utter dross. I've only got/ordered as far back as 1956. Wonder what will happen when they get to the Beatle years - will those classics also be out of copyright by then, or have they changed the rules?
My dear departed mum always used to tell me that she was in a Carroll Levis** talent contest back in the 1940s and was offered a touring contract as their band singer, but turned it down to marry my dad instead. Lucky me!
Never sure if that was true, but she certainly had a lovely singing voice, which, alas, became defunct when she became completely deaf c. 1970.
** He was apparently someone well known who ran forerunners of "Opportunity Knocks" etc.
Currently listening to 1957 part 2. I have to admit to rapidly skipping to the next track when Winifred Atwell came on.
My dear departed mum always used to tell me that she was in a Carroll Levis** talent contest back in the 1940s and was offered a touring contract as their band singer, but turned it down to marry my dad instead. Lucky me!
Never sure if that was true, but she certainly had a lovely singing voice, which, alas, became defunct when she became completely deaf c. 1970.** He was apparently someone well known who ran forerunners of "Opportunity Knocks" etc.
Currently listening to 1957 part 2. I have to admit to rapidly skipping to the next track when Winifred Atwell came on.
Was it recorded?quote:Originally posted by TomK:
I sang that in a talent contest at the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr when I as about 3. I won second prize but my parents assured me I was really the best.
Still enjoying these sets. Ain't nostalgia great?
One thing that's just occurred to me is that Woolworths (remember them?) used to sell their own records, which were all cover versions by IIRC unnamed artists. I remember being afflicted by some of these as presents from well meaning older relatives? Label was "Winfield" IIRC
One thing that's just occurred to me is that Woolworths (remember them?) used to sell their own records, which were all cover versions by IIRC unnamed artists. I remember being afflicted by some of these as presents from well meaning older relatives? Label was "Winfield" IIRC
I think Woolworths used to sell Top Of The Pops LP's on the Hallmark label, like this...
Not sure if anyone took the records out of the covers
Not sure if anyone took the records out of the covers
quote:Originally posted by DenisA:
I think Woolworths used to sell Top Of The Pops LP's on the Hallmark label, like this...
Not sure if anyone took the records out of the covers
You could be right.
In retrospect I think Winfield was just Woolworths name for some of their own brand products e.g. sewing machines etc, so that's probably how I got confused.
Anyway ... just finished listening to The Platters "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes". I show my age by wanting to sing "they asked me how I knew, it was Esso Blue..." That, along with being unable to hear the William Tell Overture without shouting "Hi Ho Silver, away!" is one of the legacies of my youth.
Cue Monty Python "when I were a lad" type sketch ...
You were lucky. We had to heat our house wi' candles.
You were lucky. We had to heat our house wi' candles.