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07/06/2009

The show that celebrates the art, craft and inspiration of the popular song. Looking at the lives and music of Helen Carr, Clifford Grey and Kay Cavendish.

Helen Carr is certainly a worthy addition to our growing list of lesser-known girl singers of the LP era and we make no apology for including three tracks by her this week. We wish we had room for another one by Betty Bennett but she'll be back soon. In the meantime, our gang of sleuths out there (you!) have been sending us plenty of further clues to follow up - suggestions for recalling yet more forgotten artists - and if we can find them, you can look forward to hearing them on 'The Song Show' soon.

The achievements of Clifford Grey (January 1887 - September 1941) a songwriter whose name is hardly a household word these days, do help to make the case for our musical archaeology. Quite apart from winning bobsleigh medals, he was involved in Sometimes I'm Happy, Valencia, I'm A One-Man Girl, My Love Parade, Let The Great Big World Keep Turning and the wonderfully-named Another Little Drink Wouldn't Do Us Any Harm! His life in Hollywood, too, as a screenwriter, is worth exploring.

We mention, en passant, Kay Cavendish (one of The Radio Three vocal group we heard singing Anything Goes with Lew Stone's Band). Some will recall her as "Kay On The Keys" crooning softly to her own piano accompaniment. Born Kathleen Murray, she'd earlier been one of The Six Of Us vocal group before forming The Radio Three and finally The Cavendish Three, who by 1939 were Kay, Pat Rignold & Dorothy Carless. Like Clifford Grey, she combined music with sport: in her case - golf!

1 hour

Last on

Sun 7 Jun 2009 21:00

Music Played

  • Original Screen Cast ‘Hit The Deck’

    Hallelujah

    • That’s Entertainment.
    • Rhino.
    • 8122 73192-2.
  • Helen Carr

    Got A Date With An Angel

    • Helen Carr – The Complete Bethlehem Collection.
    • Bethlehem.
    • 20-4002-2.
  • Dean Martin

    If You Were The Only Girl In The World

    • Dream With Dean – The Intimate Dean Martin.
    • Reprise.
    • R 6123.
  • Betty Bennett

    Dusty Springfield

    • Betty Bennett – The Song Is You.
    • Fresh Sound.
    • FSR 5035 CD.
  • Dusty Springfield

    If You Go Away

    • At Her Very Best.
    • Universal.
    • 9840305.
  • Al Bowlly

    The Very Thought Of You

    • The Essential Collection – Pennies From Heaven.
    • Avid West End.
    • AVC 984.
  • Lew Stone & His Band + The Radio Three

    Anything Goes

    • The Essential Collection: Pennies From Heaven.
    • Avid.
    • AVC 984.
  • Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra

    Jeepers Creepers

    • The Essential Collection: Pennies From Heaven.
    • Avid.
    • AVC 984.
  • Helen Carr

    Not Mine

    • Helen Carr: The Complete Bethlehem Collection.
    • Bethlehem.
    • 20-4002-2.
  • Helen Carr

    I Don't Want To Cry Any More

    • Beauty & The Beat.
    • Bethlehem.
    • 20 4002-2.
  • Fats Waller and His Rhythm

    Everybody Loves My Baby

    • Fats Waller 1940-1942 Vol 6 Of Complete Works.
    • JSP.
    • JSP 952.
  • Comedian Harmonists

    Whispering

    • The Comedy Harmonists – Auf Wiederseh’n.
    • ASV Living Era.
    • CD AJA 5204.

Broadcast

  • Sun 7 Jun 2009 21:00