Lionel Bart Story

[samkydd]

Starting on August 12th on Radio 2

This three-part documentary is jointly presented by Barbara Windsor (who was in many of Lionel Bart's early musicals) and Matt Lucas - a huge Lionel Bart fan! It tells the story of Lionel's life, his rise to fame, Oliver, making and losing millions and then fighting his twenty year battle with drugs and alcohol.

Almost everybody knows a Lionel Bart song, but is unlikely that they know about the man behind the music. He could never read or write music but was credited with helping to revive the English musical and was instrumental in the development of 'rock and roll' and pop music in the UK, penning songs like 'Livin' Doll' for Cliff Richard and 'Rock With The Cavemen' for Tommy Steele.

Worth listening to I think

[Marky B]

In my opinion,Oliver was the greatest of all British musicals - yes,and I do mean Andrew Lloyd Webber - as it is timeless and nearly every song is memorable. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]
Ta Ta
Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[samkydd]

Originally posted by Marky B@Aug 12 2005, 11:48 AM In my opinion,Oliver was the greatest of all British musicals - yes,and I do mean Andrew Lloyd Webber - as it is timeless and nearly every song is memorable. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img] Ta Ta Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img] <div align="right">Quoted post</div>

As opposed to ALW musicals where most of the songs are memorable only because you've probably heard them years before by someone else!

[Freddy]

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img] Samkydd, looking forward to the other two parts

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif[/img]

Freddy

[samkydd]

Originally posted by Freddy@Aug 12 2005, 07:00 PM [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img] Samkydd, looking forward to the other two parts [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif[/img] Freddy <div align="right">Quoted post</div>

It was amazing that Lional Bart could knock out a few chart hits when he felt like with apparent ease, at the same time as working on the musicals! Even more amazing was him signing his rights away to Oliver!

[Freddy]

Nice to hear Mike Pratt mentioned as well as James Booth.

This weeks will be interesting, why did he sign away the rights to Oliver, also I don't know whether you saw the Oliver reunion over Christmas but it mentioned that Mark Lesters voice on "Where is Love" is really being sung by a woman.

Anybody who missed the first part can hear it on BBC Listen Again c/o the web.

regards
Freddy

[Freddy]

Fine three part series now come to an end. Nice to know that some years after Lionel Bart had sold the rights to OLIVER to pay for the unsuccessful musical Twang in1965. ( He said that this had cost him between 30 and 100 million pounds). Cameron Mackintosh bought them back to do the stage production in 1994 and gave a share of the production royalties to LB.

Freddy

[harryfielder]

There is a link on my web page to Mike Pratt and it lists the songs of Mike and Lionel and I was amazed of the number of them. I worked for Mike for many years and after his untimely early death I got a nice letter from Lionel.
Mike was one of the nicest people I ever met and on the same link is a website for Mike's son Guy who is a top base player to top bands...
Long live the music of Lionel and Mike.



Aitch,

[Marky B]

Originally posted by samkydd@Aug 12 2005, 10:21 AM Starting on August 12th on Radio 2 This three-part documentary is jointly presented by Barbara Windsor (who was in many of Lionel Bart's early musicals) and Matt Lucas - a huge Lionel Bart fan! It tells the story of Lionel's life, his rise to fame, Oliver, making and losing millions and then fighting his twenty year battle with drugs and alcohol. Almost everybody knows a Lionel Bart song, but is unlikely that they know about the man behind the music. He could never read or write music but was credited with helping to revive the English musical and was instrumental in the development of 'rock and roll' and pop music in the UK, penning songs like 'Livin' Doll' for Cliff Richard and 'Rock With The Cavemen' for Tommy Steele. Worth listening to I think <div align="right">Quoted post</div>

In 1999,I taped the entire Radio 2 series Songs Of The Century and I often play the tapes in my car if I am in a long journey. Of course,no editing was done so whenever the news comes on,it is announced that Lionel bart has died - prox Easter time,1999.
Ta Ta
Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[Steve Crook]

Originally posted by Marky B@Aug 29 2005, 05:08 PM In 1999,I taped the entire Radio 2 series Songs Of The Century and I often play the tapes in my car if I am in a long journey. Of course,no editing was done so whenever the news comes on,it is announced that Lionel bart has died - prox Easter time,1999. Ta Ta Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img] <div align="right">Quoted post</div>

In my car I either listen to Radio 4 or to audio tapes of the commentary tracks to the Powell & Pressburger films. These came from the Criterion laserdisks and are great commentaries. When you know the films well enough you don't need the pictures to follow what they're talking about.

Steve

[samkydd]

Originally posted by Steve Crook@Aug 30 2005, 02:19 AM In my car I either listen to Radio 4 or to audio tapes of the commentary tracks to the Powell & Pressburger films. These came from the Criterion laserdisks and are great commentaries. When you know the films well enough you don't need the pictures to follow what they're talking about. Steve <div align="right">Quoted post</div>

I used to spend a fortune on talking books for the car and beach, but now I record films, comedy shows or TV dramas on to mini-disc so I can listen to them whilst sunning myself on a beach somewhere. If you've seen it once you don't need the visual if its something like Frost, Morse or The Sopranos, and to while away the afternoon on a red hot beach in between cooling off in the sea there's nothing better.

I also record some of the Listen Again documentaries and drama from the BBC website that I don't usually have time to listen to. I know MP3 players are the things to have but I wouldn't want to risk ruining an expensive one on the beach, and my trusty rechargeable and recordable mini disc walkman has been going strong now for a few years!

[Steve Crook]

Originally posted by Steve Crook@Aug 30 2005, 03:19 AM In my car I either listen to Radio 4 or to audio tapes of the commentary tracks to the Powell & Pressburger films. These came from the Criterion laserdisks and are great commentaries. When you know the films well enough you don't need the pictures to follow what they're talking about. Steve <div align="right">Quoted post</div>

The other advantage is that when I'm out in the wilds, where even a radio 4 signal can't be picked up very clearly in the car, I just plug in a tape of one of my favourite films. When I'm that far out of town I'm usually on my way to a film related event anyway.

Steve

[samkydd]

Originally posted by Freddy@Aug 27 2005, 08:54 PM Fine three part series now come to an end. Nice to know that some years after Lionel Bart had sold the rights to OLIVER to pay for the unsuccessful musical Twang in1965. ( He said that this had cost him between 30 and 100 million pounds). Cameron Mackintosh bought them back to do the stage production in 1994 and gave a share of the production royalties to LB. Freddy <div align="right">Quoted post</div>

I've just listened tp Part 3 and now feel rather sad that Lionel Bart is no longer with us. You can blame the excesses of alcohol and drugs on his parting but when you heard his voice on the programme he sounded just like a little lost boy trying to come to terms with life with the grown ups!

What he achieved was marvellous and although penniless he did die a contented and happy man, which is all any of us really want!