Forgotten Songs from the Broom Cupboard is a trawl through a collection of 78rpm and vinyl records seeking out the obscure and lesser played artists, songs and music from 1900 to 1960. Played directly from the original record. We also look into some of the history and stories behind the music and a… read more
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This really is it folks! Episode 100, final and last Forgotten Songs from the Broom Cupboard podcast. No Sinatra type returns this time. Hope you …
We open with the madness of Irish Mambo from Alma Cogan. The two sides of Nat King Cole. First, pared back with his trio- Nat on piano, Oscar Moore …
Hardly forgotten but Frankie Laine certainly doesn't get the credit he deserve in the history of pop. An astonishing 75 year career. Singer, …
Goodbye 2022. A shorter than normal episode to mark the end of the year. Its party time, Its Scottish dance and song with a wee bit of help from across the pond. We start with Sir Harry Lauder and I love a Lassie. He …
Frankie Vaughan seemed to be constantly present on British Television in 1960s. Mr Moonlight they called him. He had a big voice and a big stage presence, top hat, bow tie and tails. He had many hits during the 1950s …
Two Harrys to start us off. Parry- Trust and Parry and James with Memphis Blues. Henry Allen and his Orchestra- Dinah Lou. Allen was one of the major trumpeters of the Swing era and played with King Oliver, Fletcher …
Stan Freberg starts us off with his version of The Banana Boat song.. 'too loud man.' Freberg was a comedian, musician, puppeteer, advertising creative director but, above all, satirist. Check out his version of John …
Back after a three month break. What better way to start than with Bob Skyles and his Skyrockets with I'm gonna die with a broken heart. Three from …
Some comedy on budget record labels. Last chance plays for some, as they are a little ropey. We start with a right cheery number from comedian Bobby …
A couple of cheery and cheeky wartime songs. George Formby with Ukelele Man. Not nearly enough ukelele playing on it quite frankly. Next Dave Willis …
In episode 91 we look at black artists who came to Britain from the 1920s to 1950s. Well the exception is Joe Deniz who was born in Cardiff. We start with Leslie(Hutch) Hutchinson. Born in Grenada in 1900 he arrived in …
Authentic cowboys, well sort of, start us off. Mac McClintock left home to join the circus. Between that, and becoming a singer, actor, composer and …
A good deal of Western Swing, some early country and a wee bit of blues. Have to give I haven't got a pot to cook(1936) another airing. Naughtiness …
We open with Maurice Rocco- Rocco's Booogie Woogie and Tonky blues. An Australian Pressing on Decca, 1940. Never released in Britain. Rocco played …
All part of my campaign to make the Welsh born band leader of the 1940s and 50s more well known. Twelve tracks fresh in and out the crate. Well wooden box. Big thanks to Rod Boyd for the donation.
First up- Oceans and …
A rousing start from Winifred Atwell with Cross hands boogie. Nellie Lutcher- Hurry on down. A wee bit naughty. She's a rather neglected R&B jazz singer and composer. Ruby Wright, the daughter of country singer …
The fantastic voice of Kay Starr starts us off with: Rock and Roll Waltz(1954), Changing Partners(1954) and Wabash Cannon Ball(1948). The Three Kays …
We start with two firm favourites. Frankie Froba- Love song in 32 bars and Teresa Brewer- Wang, Wang Blues. Then we go west- sort of! Bradley Kincaid with The Miners Song. Two cowboy songs. A traditional sentimental …
An old favourite to start us off- Frankie and Johnny. The best version, from Jimmie Rodgers. Then another variation of the Unfortunate Rake, an 18th …
Harry Parry was born in north Wales in 1912. He trained to be a musical instrument maker but the performance side took over and he moved to London to play in big bands, including Percival Mackey's. He established his …
Milton Brown and his Brownies- Down by the Ohio(1935) What an extraordinary voice Brown had. A pioneer of Western swing his career was tragically cut short when he died of injuries sustained in a car crash in 1936. Bob …
Up until now the Forgotten Songs ethos has been to show case forgotten songs and artists from all genres. It's been a real journey of discovery. I've been surprised by how much good music has been neglected. From this …
We're back after a six month break. Less chat, more music this time round. We start with a very laid back Louis Armstrong and his version of Blueberry Hill. Billie Anthony was born Philomena McGeachie Levy in Glasgow in …
The last episode of Forgotten Songs. What a pleasure it has been discovering, playing and researching these records, songs and artists. A few old …
Big thank you to Neil Guthrie for the donation of family records featured in this episode. They belonged to Martha and Geordie Hardie of Cowdenbeath.
Lonnie Donegan- Betty, Betty, Betty, Tom Foy- Lizzie, Mimosa 5in …
Best tracks and stonking tunes from Tex Beneke, Frankie Froba, Teresa Brewer, Fats Waller, Anita O'Day, Lulu Zeigler, Lorrae Desmond, Lonnie Donegan, …
Thanks to John Hearn for donation of these records. Judy Garland and Fred Astaire- A couple of swells, Perry Como- Magic Moments and Catch a fallen …
Ernie Ford- Shot gun boogie, Teddy Johnston- Mandolin Serenade, William Schwartz- song in Yiddish, Nick Lucas- My bundle of love and Moonbeams, Ester …
The Wang, Wang Blues- Teresa Brewer, Take me in your arms- Les Paul and Mary Ford, The Duke's idea and Skyliner- Charlie Barnet-, Keep your seats …
Up this time round: The Six Swingers- Hot Pie, The Stargazers- I see the moon, Savoy Havana Band- A kiss in the dark, Jay Whidden- I'll see you …
Records from 1913 to 1956. Hungarian, Trinidadian and Canadian musicians. We have Winifred Atwell- Cross hands boogie, Mario Lanza- Drinking song, Billy Williams- Little Willie's Woodbines, Mr Herbert Payne- The …
Falsetto voices, Australian and Geordie music hall and more budget record gems. Mr Hatherley Clarke (counter tenor)- Till we meet again, Florian Forde- Love me in the Lancashire way, Robert Woodville- There we are then, …
Softly as in a morning sunrise- Harry Parry, What is this thing called love- Tommy Dorsey, vocals by Connie Haines, Fine brown frame Nellie Lutcher, …
George Formby- When I'm cleaning windows, Oi- Flanagan and Allen, actually that turns into Underneath the arches. Their most famous song. Roy Fox, vocals Buddy Clark The treasure of Sierra Madre. This is the theme song …
No messing about this time round. Another back to back music episode. Blues in my condition- Cootie Williams, Numbers Boogie- Sugar Chile Robinson, My Alf- Susette Tarri, Wang, Wang Blues- Teresa Brewer, To Menneker- …
Very little chat this time round. Back to back great music. Tex Benneke- St Louis Blues March, Lionel Hampton- The Munson Street breakdown, Lucky Thompson- Just one more chance, Albert Ammons- Boogie Woogie Stomp, Anita …
Cupid on the cake, from Jock McDermott and his New Calton Players starts us off. Cake in the title, perfect. Its on a lovely Piccadilly Record label, …
A complete mix of tunes and some chat about 78rpm records. Dame Clara Butt from 1918. The top English contralto of her era. Three jolly tunes from …
A particularly upbeat selection of music this time round. Two from Bob Crosby and two Shakespeare sonnets, fabulous vocals from Marion Mann. Two from …
Two from the 1950s to start us off. Australian Lorrae Desmond and from the U.S Gogi Grant. She was named after the RCA A&R man's favourite restaurant. Lesser known British band singers Majorie Kingsley, Jean Farrar, …
Three from Harry Torrani: Sitting in a jailhouse, The Prairie Yodel and Mockingbird Yodel. All self penned. His voice is incredible of the last track and he accompanies himself on the English concertina. Both sides of a …
Three Harrys in this episode. Two from Harry Roy and two from Harry Parry. Our old yodelling friend Harry Torrani sings- Yodelling all day and A …
An energetic start from Hoosiers Hot Shot and Ella Lou Robertson. Master Joe Peterson, Rex records own boy singer, or as described on the label: The phenomenal boy singer. Not entirely true as 'he' was Mary O' Rourke. …
Three romantic favourites at Forgotten Songs. Frankie Froba was an American jazz pianist, active from the 1920s until the 50s. Here he plays with the Jimmy Atkins Trio. Always makes me chuckle- Love song in 32 bars. We …
A couple from Forgotten Songs favourite Harry Parry and his Radio Rhythm Club Sextet- Black eyes and Blues for eight. Three from another regular, …
Blues upstairs and downstairs, from Nat Gonella, starts us off. Two Scottish numbers from Greenock male voice choir, with Loch Lomond and William Hannah with Caledonian circle. Hannah was a leading pre war accordionist …
Dennis Potter's seminal TV 1978 drama was choc full of great music and songs from the 1930s, largely from British dance bands and orchestras. Bob …
Even by the 1950s 78s were beginning see their dominance fade in the record market. Vinyl 33s and 45s was here. This though is a celebration of 50s shellac. To start we have the other side of the cracked Hot Lips Page, …
Okay he's a favourite, so its four from Harry Parry, Angry, Lonesome Road, I never knew(vocals: Primrose Hayes, can't find anything out about this woman) and Pontiac jump. We start though with Hot Lips Page and Randy …
Lets bring the joy to a cold Edinburgh day. Eartha Kitt, Bob Skyles, Harry Roy and the McCravy brothers start us off. James and Frank McCravy are in …
What a strange year its been. Lets forget about it and party. Here to help us is: Jimmy Shand- Blue Bell Polka, Ian Macpherson- My Ain Folk, Kenneth …
Sort of a Christmas special but not really. Just warm, comforting and fun music. We hear from Fats Domino La, La, Tommy Dorsey- I'm getting sentimental over you, Harry Parry and his Radio Rhythm Club Sextet- Dim Blues, …
Three artists whose voices were precursors to Rock and Roll. Four from old Leather lungs or steel tonsils himself, Frankie Laine. Jealousy, That's …
Four tracks from Bob Skyles and his Skyrockets- Swinging with the accordion man, I want to live in Loveland and Swing it Mr drummer man. Classic Kendrick Brothers catchy fun from 1938. Donald Peers is a new artist to …
Just one record in this wee FS special. Julie London sings S'Wonderful and Cry me a River, both recorded in 1955. Cry me a River was originally …
I have a shelf of records in the studio, favourites that I keep returning to and this is a quick selection from those tracks. No notes, less blether. …
Two folky tunes from Burl Ives start us off. A jolly orchestrated(Percy Faith) version of Oh! Dear! She's wonderful beautiful and the more pared down …
A right mix of records this time round. 1910 to 1956. Sixteen tons- Tennessee Ernie Ford, A little bit Independent-Dave King, Thirteen Women- Bill Haley, Irish Mambo- Alma Cogan, I can't tell a Waltz from a Tango- Ray …
Its lurve all the way in episode 46. Frankie Laine start us off with a tale of passion amongst the oil fields, Blowing wild. Its a song full of sweep …
Sugar Chile Robinson with Numbers Boogie and Bouncing Ball Boogie. We're a big fan of Robinson here, that most grounded of child stars. Separating his two tracks is Harry Parry and his Radio Rhythm Club Sextet, vocals …
We start with two versions of the same song. Ted Heath and his music gives us an instrumental version of Mountain Greenery and then Mel Torme sings the definitive version of the song. Not forgotten Mel but is not …
The whole episode is from a charity/ thrift shop haul. Some familiar artists amongst them- Georgia Gibbs, Mugsy Spanier, Eve Boswell, Billy Banks and …
Tennessee Ernie with Smokey Mountain Boogie start us off. Thrillingly its a shout out to the daughter and niece of the Kendrick Brothers- Bob Skyles and his Skyrockets- when I play their track, I'm gonna die with a …
Bob Skyles and his Skyrockets and Tex Beneke start us off with a flourish. Sadly its the 'last chance saloon' for three of the records in this episode. Condition is a little far gone. Theses copies of Frank and James …
Its a right old mix this time round. We start with the familiar and Bob Crosby and his Bob Cats from 1937.Then four from the 1920s. Hal Kemp, the …
Some old favourites and an episode not without a few double entendres. That cheeky fellow George Formby starts us off in his little Wigan garden. I …
All records, apart from one, are from the Booth family collection. That one is Alma Cogan and the jolly but macabre Lizzie Borden. Leslie Holmes …
Its an imaginary train journey on my part. West to east across the USA, from San Francisco to Hagerstown in Washington County and this is some music to accompany the journey. Two Choo, choo songs to start: The Merry …
A short one this time round. Some snippets of some old favourites: Roberto Inglez, Leslie(Hutch) Hutchinson, Bob Crosby, Lorrae Desmond, Bob Skyles, …
Bob is back, three from him. Lovely 30s music and vocals 'On a steamer coming over,' 1933, from Billy Cotton. Eleven times married Charlie Barnet with another mode of transport 'Sky liner.' Think we need a new copy of …
In the studio my guest is a Decca XL Portable wind up record player. So many of these lovely machines were taken to the front in world War One that they were known as the 'Trench gramophone.' 'Mic'd' up it plays us …
Some records from the back of the forgotten Songs shelves! The Happy Wanderer and my mash up pronouncing Oberkirkchen starts us off. Hopefully the …
We like Lorrae Desmond on Forgotten songs so we have a couple from her from the mid 50's. Brilliant voice, unjustly neglected. Paula Green and her …
Before starting Forgotten songs from the broom cupboard I was not particularly a Country and Western fan- certainly not of the Nashville sound. …
We open with the yodelling cowboy from Chesterfield, Harry Torrani, and My Lancashire yodelling lass. What a tag line, great song too. For the first time of Forgotten Songs we have some Indian music. Manna Dey in Hindi …
Another more music, less chat episode. Ten 78rpm records from 1927 to 1951. Two from Tiny Rowland- Bradshaw Boogie and Walkin' the chalk line. Cootie Williams - Blues in my condtion, Hot Lips Page - My fightin' gal, …
This episode is all about the music. Some British jazz from the 1930s and 40s. Three lesser known bands that deserve more 'air time.' Harry Parry and his Radio Rhythm Club Sextet play: 'I've found a new baby', 'It don't …
Three dance records to start us off. Two different takes on the accordian - Jimmy Shand with Scottish dance in strict tempo and the far from strict tempo Bob Skyles and his Sky Rockets with 'Swinging with the accordian …
We open with the greatest love song ever written! Two oldies, Tom Foy, born 1879 and Stanley Kirkby, born 1878. Both men were from thr north of …
You can't go wrong with starting with Tex Beneke. We calm things down with a couple from Hutch - that rich, smooth voice- from 1938 and 1941. First time I've played Wurlitzer organ music and its from the 1937 BBC …
Music and song from the years between the two World Wars. As always we steer away from the big names. Claude Hopkins starts us off with Washington Shuffle. He was born in Virginia and was a talented stride piano player …
The first of many bespoke podcast recordings to come. Its the usual eclectic mix of tunes. The mysterious Nino Rico orchestra play Rico Vacilon. Who were these fellas? Jane Forrest is another artist with no online …
Can't resist starting off 'Mountain Greenery,' its those lyric, that delivery. Tennessee Ernie with the faintly rude sounding 'Kiss me big.' Patti Page, a massive selling artist in the 1950s, on a Trutone South African …
A third of the show is dedicated to Skiffle. Chas McDevitt and Nancy Whisky begin proceedings. Chas does some whistling during the song and Nancy wasn't too happy about it apparently. Both artists were Glasgow born. …
Mel Torme starts us off with Mountain Greenery. Love the rhyme busting lyrics. Lonnie Donegan with Ham and Eggs. Early Country from Leake County Revelers, from 1928. They were Mississippi local. From 1930 Joe and Bud …
Yes I start with Eartha again. I've no shame! Couple of Western Swing tracks, Light Crust Dough Boys, billed as a hot string band and Bob Skyles and …
Its not all 78s this time round. Two vinyl pieces of magic from Eatha Kitt from the splendid 1956 LP, 'That bad Earth.' Freddy Randall, part of the post war trad jazz revival in Britain. Illinois Jacquet and his honking …
A bonus episode as we begin this strange time in semi lock down in Edinburgh and around the world. Recorded last year. I bill it as an episode with …
Melvin Jerome Blanc, the man of a thousands voices- Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Barney Rubble and Bugs. So many Looney Tunes favourites. Three from Bob Crosby, including a Shakespearian sonnet. Les Compagnions De La Chanson …
The first Forgotten Songs from the Broom Cupboard to be recorded as a podcast. Its the same format as ever, an eclectic mix of lesser known, …
William Hannah(pictured) was the top Scottish accordian player in the 1920s and 30s and the rider of fast motorbikes. We have Georgia Gibb, Dorothy …
Quite few British artists this time round. Billy Cotton celebrates The Festival of Britain in 1951. Jazz from long servicing musicians George …
It's an odd but energetic start with Alma Cogan, the girl with a giggle in her voice. Here she sings about Lizzie Borden, the girl with an axe in her hand! Lena Horne, when she was still a big band vocalist, Connie …
Rock Island Line the song that originated in the USA and came over to UK to be sung by Lonnie Donegan. We have a 45rpm sneaking in. A local song, not even Edinburgh its Leith and from the 1980s, its certainly forgotten …
Bit of a naughty with start Cest si bon and Eartha. Fats Waller celebrates Rump Steak in a serenade. Harlan Lattimore and his spaced out 'Chant of the weeds.' Wonder what that's about? Lucky Thompson, jazz sax pioneer, …
Fats Waller bewailing those big feet. The Tanner Sisters sell their toffee apples. They were a support act for Buddy Holly when he toured Britain. …
Heavens we start off with some 45rpms. The German, well Austrian, Freddy Quinn. Huge selling star in gemany in the 1950s and 60s. He's going all South Seas and Elvis like. French star Sach Distel also sings in German- …
The rather forgotten racked Mary Ford track. There is more of course.Harry Parry and his Radio Rhythm Club Sextet, George Shearing on piano. Dinah …
Western Swing from the great Bob Skyles and his Sky Rockets on Birdbird from 1938. The Chee, Chee Girl herself, Rose Murphy. Connie Boswell, who influenced Ellie Fitzgerald. Frank Crumit sings about Prunes. Not too many …
We have a theme in this episode and a mix of 78, 45 and 33 rpm records. My favorite love song: Frankie Froba and Love song in 32 bars. We aren't talking about musical bars here it's pubs..what a woman! Other wise we …
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