Exploring an era when LPs were often little more than cashgrabs, it's surprising that it's taken The Songs We Were Singing this long to get to a sequel, but here we are, once again back with Frank Sinatra.

A Swingin' Affair, as you probably guessed from the title, is the follow up to the hugely successful Songs for Swingin' Lovers, with Frank once again arranged by the genius Nelson Riddle. It's a bigger, bolder, more confident follow up...but is it as memorable as the first record we looked at in our series? Please join us as we find out...

And we're back! Thanks so much for joining us on The Songs We Were Singing as we begin our second series with a belter...

Firmly established as an international popstar with the globe-swallowing success of Love Me Tender, Col Tom Parker decided it was time to make him a movie star too. Loving You is Elvis' second film (it's his first starring role however), while its soundtrack is short and punchy, laying the blueprint for pop soundtracks and songs for the coming decade. The album's first half features songs from the film, including such classics as Mean Woman Blues, (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear and Hit Dog, while the second half features tracks designed to bring the album up to its half hour length.

But how does it compare to the rock n roll of Elvis' electrifying debut? Find out, with a brand new episode of The Songs We Were Singing! If you like what you hear don't forget to like and subscribe, and if you want to get in touch you can email us at [email protected].

"And now...the end is near...and so we face...the final curtain..."

Well, for a few weeks anyway.

As we arrive at the first British album to top the UK Album chart, we reach the end of our first series. But don't worry, series two will begin in just six weeks' time.

In the meantime though, here comes Tommy Steele. Often cited as Britain's first rock n roller and teen idol, The Tommy Steele Story is the soundtrack to his first film, following in the wake of Elvis Presley, with a little less of the King's  sex appeal for the buttoned-up Brits of the late 1950s. But as the first man out of the gate, how well does his music hold up more than sixty years later?

From one extraordinary voice to another, Nat King Cole is the oft-forgotten other superstar of the 1950s, with one of the warmest voices in history. Hailing from a jazz background, he was the easy listening king and, though he would eventually work with our favourite producer and arranger Nelson Riddle, here we find him in his prime with the Gordon Jenkins orchestra.

Featuring such standards as When I Fall In Love, Stardust, At Last and Ain't Misbehavin', Love is the Thing was easily Nat's biggest hit album in the UK, and with its smooth, nonthreatening strings would have fit perfectly with the 1950s chart sounds. But how well does it stand up today? Join us to find out...

This week, we come back on ourselves as we revisit an old friend for the show. This is Sinatra! is a very different album from Songs For Swingin' Lovers, however. Despite the continued guiding hand of Nelson Riddle, this album collects Sinatra's best singles from his Capitol years focusing on his more easy listening sounds than the swing of the previous album.

Some of Sinatra's biggest and most popular hits are here: Love and Marriage, I've Got The World on a String, Young at Heart, South of the Border, but how well does it hang together as a record? Join us to find out!

Bringing together the two most legendary voices of their generations for the first time, the film High Society was bound for glory upon its release in the 1950s. A musical remake of the Hepburn/Stewart/Grant classic The Philadelphia Story, High Society's cast is perhaps even more impressive: Sinatra, Crosby and Grace Kelly (in her final film role before retiring into European royalty.

But how well does the musical's soundtrack stand up today? That's exactly what we'll be asking in this week's episode. It should be an easy win- those classic vocalists, songs by the genius Cole Porter and jazzy support from Louis Armstrong and his band, High Society can be nothing short of a winner...right?

Please join Andrew and Jo as they find out...

On your sixth, extended (apologies!) episode of The Songs We Were Singing, we finally hit the big time: Mr Elvis Presley.

It was only at number one in the UK album charts for a single week, but the impact of Elvis' debut album would be seismic: the future stars of the 1960s were all listening, and ready to take forward what he started.

Different from the self-titled American classic, the British version (retitled Rock N Roll on these shores) strips away many of the country standards featured on the original, replacing it with his more commercial early Sun tracks for a new audience. On this episode, his debut single That's All Right go under the microscope, as do classic tracks like Blue Suede Shoes, Shake Rattle N Roll and One Sided Love affair. We also delve into his breakthrough hit, Heartbreak Hotel, recorded at the same time as the album.

LISTENING NOTE: The audio quality of this episode is a little unreliable, so we apologise for the occasional crackle in the background. Think of it as authentic vinyl hiss that was definitely intentional.

EPISODE NOTES:

Elvis Prelsey Classic Album documentary: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elvis-Presley-Classic-Album/dp/B07PWHHHXF/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=elvis+classic+album+prime+video&qid=1555686308&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

Full interview with Carl Perkins on Letterman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbVV0wO3Dj8&t=257s

Neil McCormick Telegraph article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/11329704/Elvis-Presley-seven-wonderful-albums.html

Allmusic review: https://www.allmusic.com/album/elvis-presley-1956-mw0000737692

BBC Music review: http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/6h25/

After a trio of old school musicals, proper rock n roll finally arrives in the British charts!

...sort of.

Please join Andrew and Jo as they look back at Bill Haley's 1956 number 1 album, Rock N Roll Stage Show. After three LPs of singles compilations, RNRSS (as no one called it) was the band's first fully conceived studio album, incorporating a number of original compositions and instrumentals, roughly organised like a live show.

With Elvis Presley just around the corner, how will this Bill Haley's bridging of eras stack today? Stick around to find out...

Please don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if you've enjoyed this episode, why not leave a review?

The Songs We Were Singing completes its trilogy of Rogers and Hammerstein musicals with the album that would go on to be the most successful LP of 1957: The King and I. Featuring a breakout performance from Yul Bryner, the film went on to pick up five Oscars (including two for sound) and features classic tracks like Getting To Know You, Something Wonderful and I Whistle A Happy Tune.

As popular as the musical remains, the film's approach to slavery, "yellow face" and imperialism makes it hugely controversial in the modern era, but how does it stack up musically? Join Jo and Andrew as they dive deep into a problematic musical classic.

Notes:

Allmusic review: https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-king-and-i-original-movie-soundtrack-recording-mw0000195558

BBC news article mentioned on the show: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-44709484

Second in our 1956 run through a trilogy of Rodgers and Hammerstein musical film soundtracks, Oklahoma (their first collaboration) is often described as one of the most influential American shows of all time, but how does it stack up today? Featuring many of the same core cast members as Carousel, join Andrew and Jo as they rate and review this classic, and explore some rather interesting cover versions from across the years...

Remember, if you enjoy what you hear, don't forget to rate, review and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts from. You can also follow us on social media: search for us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also email your thoughts to [email protected]!

 

Episode Notes:

Allmusic review: https://www.allmusic.com/album/oklahoma%21-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000218988

uDiscoverMusic article: https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/how-oklahoma-birthed-the-modern-musical/

NPR article: https://www.npr.org/2000/04/29/1073526/npr-100-oklahoma?t=1554235958183