R2OK!

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

I spent a happy two hours in the garden persevering with my lengthy weeding/clearance project while listening to Barbara Windsor sitting in for EP.

I enjoyed the programme so much and sangalong to several songs, from Flash Bang Wallop (Tommy Steele in original London cast recording of Half a A Sixpence), via Me and My Girl (Robert Lindsay/Emma Thompson), Matchmaker Matchmaker from Fiddler, Presley, Garland, Gene Kelly, Cliff, Sinatra, even some old time music hall with Marie Lloyd (Barbara's granddad's favourite!) and a live recording of Leonard Sachs chairing BBC-TV's the Good Old Days.

And also that great song from Mack & Mabel “Tap Your Troubles Away” sung by Tommy Tune at a charity performance of the show (I have the CD of that performance which was introduced by - of course - David Jacobs).

I though Barbara did a good job and I had the impression that much, if not all, of the music was her own choice. She was able to contribute a lot of info based on her own long experience and knowledge of the world of musicals and she talked interestingly of her friendship with Lionel Bart.

I think I heard at the end of the programme that she would be back for a couple more shows before EP's return.

Minx · Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 4:17 pm Post subject:

Yes, she was much better than I thought she was going to be. A very acceptable stand-in.
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Minx

To err is human, to forgive - canine.

BDG · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 202

A welcome relief from the dreaded EP, the one person on R2 I cannot abide it isn't the show I like the choice of music etc. it's her voice and well her Very Happy

gazmando · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 560 Location: Huntingdon

I didn't hear the show Eileen, but after that list of great tunes I think I'm gonna have to listen on the I Player, thanks.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

I'll have to listen again as we were away. Heard most of last week's and there were some superb tracks on it.

I didn't think she would be very good but she wasn't bad at all.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

Don Black sat in yesterday. Missed most of it so have just listened on iPlayer.

Well worth a listen!

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

Yes Helen I thoroughly enjoyed it whilst continuing my labours in the back garden.

I thought of you when Don played Gordon Macrae & cast singing Oklahoma! I hadn't acknowledged your post of a week or two ago when you said that you were once introduced to GM. Lucky you!

The Oklahoma! soundtrack was the very first LP I ever bought. BTW there's an interesting story of how Oklahoma! was given its exclamation mark when it was first produced in New York. It was told by wonderful Helene Hanff (she of 84 Charing Cross Road fame) when she was a lowly assistant in the publicity office of the Theatre Guild.

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

Welcome back Barbara Windsor! I very much enjoyed listening to Don Black for a couple of weeks but am delighted to hear BW again.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

Hi Eileen

Some good songs today!

I'll have to look up the explanation about Okahoma! I remember watching Elaine Stritch in 84 Charing Cross Road many years ago now.

Digressing a little but don't know if you saw either of the Easy Listening Shows that were on BBC4 a few weeks back? during the documentary someone mentioned Lenny Dee in connection with 'easy listening', he was the guy whose supper club we were in when I met Gordon Macrae! I checked him out on Wikipedia and it turned out he was far more famous than I ever gave him credit for, and had appeared on the Ed Sullivan show. It also gave the name of his club that I'd long since forgotten!

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

Hi Helen.

I recorded the Easy Listening programmes but haven't got round to watching yet. Must watch soon in case they get deleted in error.

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

Helen, here's some info about Oklahoma!

"In 1942 Helene Hanff found a job as a press agent to Joe Heidt of the Theatre Guild. There was one show which was doing badly in the provinces, a musical called Away We Go. A talent scout working for the critic Walter Winchell saw it in New Haven and sent a telegram to him which read: "No Legs, No Jokes, No Chance!" Helene Hanff's job was to type and copy the 10,000 press releases needed for the show. Twenty-four hours before the show was due to arrive in New York, the title was changed to Yessirree, and she had to type the press releases again. The producers were still not happy and before the opening night they told Helene Hanff to copy the releases a third time. The name they finally chose was Oklahoma!"

From my memory of reading her book, she and another typist had to add the exclamation mark by hand to the final press releases. I must get a copy of that book.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

Thanks for that Eileen.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

Just a heads up to say Elaine in interviewing John Wilson on today's show if anyone is interested.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

Yes Helen I'd heard about that already so I made a point of stopping everything I was doing so I could listen and concentrate. I am a huge fan of John Wilson and admire him tremendously.

It was a fascinating interview and covered a lot of ground. He always has something interesting to say and ... well I could go on at length.

Lovely talented chap and not even forty yet. He's done so much already in his life up till now.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

I heard it too, and as you say a good interview. I've not heard him very much and a lot I didn't know. There was also a good piece in the Sunday Times Culture section.

Looking forward to the Prom next week. Think I'll record the sound from Radio 3.

Did you stock up on cassettes?

H

PS I wonder who is going to sit in while Elaine Paige is on Broadway?
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

I must try to get hold of that Sunday Times piece Helen.

And yes I have plenty of cassettes from when I cleaned out the local Argos of all their stock during the summer! I really must try to get to grips with a better way of recording from the radio. Did you hear Paul O'Grady today and his amazement that people still use them? Oh dear.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

I did hear him Eileen!

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

graham b · Joined: 23 Sep 2010 Posts: 211 Location: Wakefield

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

Thanks for that info Graham. I look forward to that. Very Happy

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

There's a good long article about John Wilson and the Prom in next week's Radio Times which arrived today.

The Great Gildersleeve · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 249 Location: North East England

I'll look at the article...I heard the interview on Sunday...missed the Doris Day feature on Michael Ball though Sad

And I hear there is a longer interview soon in a special programme in a fe weeks...

Not really my fault I had some things to sort out, a problem I didn't even know that we had but finally today I hope the CAB has solved it.

At least I should catch the Prom Very Happy

I'm so happy that people like John Wilson are around and so enthusiastic.

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

John Wilson is certainly the man of the moment and it's good to see him getting so much coverage.

I'll probably record the Prom Concert being screened next Saturday and watch it at a later date.

There was some talk that his light music concert with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in June was being recorded for later TV showing. Does anyone have any info re this?

Ian.

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

Ian: Here's a post of mine from What Other Radio ... ?

Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 9:08 pm Post subject: Radio 3 Light Music

Helen it has just been announced that tonight's concert has been recorded for showing on BBC4 around Christmas so that's something to look forward to.