R2OK!

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6812

An excellent episode of Soul Music this morning on Radio 4.

I wasn't aware of the connection between Derek Bentley's family and Ralph.

I saw Ralph sing this song at Preston Guild Hall in the eighties- a magical moment.

He was on a bill with The Everly Brothers What a night that was. Cool

50 years after it was first recorded, Ralph McTell and others discuss a song that was written for a heroin addict, became an anthem against homelessness, and transcended the folk genre to become an enduring classic.

Ralph McTell says he’s thought constantly about the “blip in my graph” that is Streets of London. People say to him “50 years. One hit. You think you’d have given up by now”. But, Ralph says, that’s not why he writes songs. And, of course, he’s written many. Many that he considers far better than Streets of London. But this remains his best known, best loved, and most played track. It was first recorded 50 years ago, in 1969, for his album Spiral Staircase although it wasn’t released as a single until 1974.

Maria Bentley-Dingwall, the daughter of Iris Bentley. Iris was the sister of Derek Bentley who was hanged for a murder he did not commit. Iris spent her life campaigning for his conviction to be quashed. Ralph McTell grew up knowing this story, became a friend of the family, wrote a song about the case, and sang Streets of London at Iris Bentley’s funeral.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0006tks

Ian Robinson · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 6:06 pm Post subject:

I will catch that. As a kid I mainly knew Ralph McTell as presenter of Tickle on the Tum and his songs on The Wind In The Willows (both ITV shows). Keep meaning to explore the rest of his music.

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6812

Soul Music's programme this week given over to a much loved song of mine - Some Enchanted Evening.

Always reminds me of my Mum - she loved this song.

Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific.

Ezio Pinza was the first person to sing Some Enchanted Evening when South Pacific opened on Broadway in 1949. His granddaughter, Sarah Goodyear, recounts his extraordinary life story: from international opera singer, to political prisoner, then a star of musical theatre.

Perhaps best known for its 1958 film version, South Pacific famously starred Rossano Brazzi as Emile de Becque. However his singing voice was provided by opera star, Giorgio Tozzi. His son, Eric Tozzi, recalls hearing his father practice Some Enchanted Evening in their California beach-side home.

Alan Titchmarsh also features.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011rkf