The return of Forgotten Songs
The nightmare of talking pianos.
Well Frank Sinatra was always up to it, wasn’t he? You know retiring. If he can do it so I can. We share the same birthday..well different year obviously. So we are back this Friday, 18th March at 6pm GMT with episode 79. Still playing less well known and less played music and songs but this time round vinyl will be creeping in a little more. Please forgive me you shellac devotees. Also there will be less chat. Lets allow the records to speak. Talking of which, they quite often speak through crackle, hiss and a little bit of distortion. I’m fortunate to be working for an Edinburgh reminiscence charity that has its own museum and a lot of records in Forgotten Songs are donated from family collections. Few are in pristine condition, they’ve lived a life and it shows.
Anyway in episode 79 listen out for Sparky’s talking piano. Very much part of my 1960s and 70s childhood. Quite frankly it now sounds a little creepy. I hadn’t realised it was actually recorded in 1947. Must have had a resurgence on BBC children’s radio in my day. Many folk of my generation will remember Ed (Stewpot) Stewart’s Junior Choice programme on BBC radio 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_Favourites

Inspired by recording this new episode I headed to the only shop,(charity shop naturally) that I know in Edinburgh that has a good, reasonably priced stock of 78s. So in FS 80 we will have 1907 recording of bagpipes and Edna Thomas, African American actress and singer. She played Lady Macbeth in 1935-36 in Orson Wells production of Macbeth. Amazing what cultural history can be picked up for £4
published on March 10, 2022, by Miles