"Around the World".

OK, girls and boys, back to the 50s: The theme for this epic 1956 film was written by Victor Young. Harold Adamson added lyrics later on. Only the orchestral version appears in the movie, which is based on an 1873 Jules Verne novel. Victor Young received a posthumous Oscar for Best Movie Score. The film stars David Niven, Cantinflas and Shirley MacLaine. The instrumental version peaked at #13 on Billboard in '57 but Bing Crosby's and Nat King Cole's vocal renditions became extremely popular. Part of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" soundtrack. Song? Movie? Answer: "Around the World" from "Around the World in 80 Days". I grew up listening to it on the ol' Bogen hi-fi. I find it interesting that David Niven was never knighted. ...and who can forget when a streaker ran across the stage while he was presenting at the 1974 Oscar Ceremony?! Unflappable and amused, Niven quipped: "Isn't it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?". A perfect British gent! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3llx6XK0Ew&list=RDr3llx6XK0Ew&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFkaPz9emmc&list=RDIFkaPz9emmc&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk51-vjcZ-Y&list=RDQk51-vjcZ-Y&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IIl3zSYL8k

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"All I Want Is You" ("The Little Farmer") from the Lay's 2025 Super Bowl commercial. (Posted on FB 6/24/25).

OK, girls and boys, coming at ya from farm (hint, hint!) country: Children's music singer/songwriter Barry Louis Polisar composed and first recorded this catchy, lilting 1977 tune. Featured in the opening credits of the 2007 film "Juno". It was "rediscovered" and recorded under a new title by Caroline Says, becoming the background music for a 2025 Lay's Potato Chips Super Bowl commercial that captured the hearts of the nation and placed the spotlight on agriculture. Speaks of the deep-rooted traditions and noble hard work of the American farming family. Inspired by real-life 5th generation Wisconsin potato farmer Jeremie Pavelski and his kin, especially his 7-year-old daughter. Killer acoustic guitar work on the commercial evocative of the late-great John Prine's trademark fingerstyle picking. Original song? Lay's commercial version? Answer: "All I Want Is You" by Barry Louis Polisar. "The Little Farmer" by Caroline Say...
Read more

"Goldfinger" theme - Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: The theme song for the 1964 James Bond film "Goldfinger" was Shirley Bassey's only Top 10 hit. It was produced by Sir George Martin at Abbey Road Studios, accompanied by the John Barry Orchestra. Which two future members of Led Zeppelin played in the recording? Answer: Jimmy Page (guitar) and John Paul Jones (bass). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D1nK7q2i8I
Read more

"I'll Do My Crying in the Rain" by The Everly Brothers.

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: It was 1961 and Brill Building publisher Aldon Music had two killer teams writing for them - Carole King/Gerry Goffin and Howard Greenfield/Jack Keller. On a whim, they decided to "switch partners" for one day. King wrote the music and Greenfield the lyrics for a poignant ballad about lost love. This was their one and only collaboration. First recorded by The Everly Brothers, it peaked at #6 on Billboard's Hot 100. Other memorable cover versions include Tammy Wynette ('81), Carole King ('83), Norwegian group A-ha ('90) and Art Garfunkel/James Taylor ('94). Song? Answer: "I'll Do My Crying in the Rain" by The Everly Brothers. When our dear oldest daughter Lauren Denise was a baby, the only way we could get her to go to sleep was for me to play the guitar and sing to her by the crib. This was one of my go-to tunes. The lion's share of The Everly Brothers' hits were composed by Felice and ...
Read more