Matt Monro - The George Martin Years CD (& appreciation thread) *

Ok thanks - might as well keep the album together then!

 

Remembering Matt Monro today, 33 years since his passing.

 

Capitol Years 1966 - 1970


Albums


This Is The Life - Issued September 1966


Capitol T 2540 (Mono)

ST 2540 (Stereo)


Side A

1. I’m Glad There Is You (Jimmy Dorsey/Paul Mertz)
2. This Is The Life (Charles Strouse/Lee Adams)
3. You’re Gonna Hear From Me (Andre Previn/Dory Previn)
4. I’ll Take Romance (Ben Oakland/Oscar Hammerstein II)
5. Strangers In The Night (Bert Kaempfert/Charles Singleton/Eddie Snyder)
6. On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever) (Burton Lane/Alan Jay Lerner)

Side B

1. Sweet Lorraine (Clifford Burwell/Mitchell Parish)
2. My Best Girl (Jerry Herman)
3. On A Wonderful Day Like Today (Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley)
4. Merci Cherie (Udo Jurgens/Thomas Hoerbiger/Baker Cavendish)
5. Honey On The Vine (Fred Burch/Jan Crutchfield)
   

Best Sources

Side A – 1, 3, 5, 6 Side B – 3 & 5 – The Singer’s Singer (2011 remaster)

Side A – 2 - The Greatest

Side A – 4 – Best of The Capitol Years

Side B – 1 – Spotlight on Great Gentlemen of Song

Side B – 2 & 4 – Complete Singles




Here’s To My Lady - Issued March 1967


Capitol T 2608 (Mono)

ST 2608 (Stereo)


Side A

1. When Joanna Loved Me (Jack Segal/Robert Wells)

2. Real Live Girl (Cy Coleman/Carolyn Leigh)

3. When Sunny Gets Blue (Marvin Fisher/Jack Segal)

4. Laura (David Raksin/Johnnie Mercer)

5. People (Jule Styne/Bob Merrill)

6. Here’s To My Lady (Rube Bloom/Johnny Mercer)


Side B

1. The Good Life (Jack Reardon/Sacha Distel)

2. You’ve Got Possibilities (Charles Strouse/Lee Adams)

3. Rain Sometime (Arthur Hamilton)

4. Sweet Talking Hannah (Hank Lentz)

5. Nina Never Knew (Louis Alter/Milton Drake)



Best sources

Side A – 1, 2, 5, Side B – 1, 2 & 4 – The Singer’s Singer (2011 remaster)

Side A – 3 – Spotlight on Great Gentlemen of Song

Side A – 4 & 6– Best of The Capitol Years

Side B - 3 & 5 only in Mono on CD Twofer or Stereo on original vinyl.




Invitation To The Movies - Issued August 1967


Capitol T 2730 (Mono)

ST 2730 (Stereo)


Side A

1. Alfie (Burt Bacharach/Hal David)
2. Georgy Girl (Tom Springfield/Jim Dale)
3. Theme From "The Sand Pebbles" (And We Were Lovers) (Jerry Goldsmith/Leslie Bricusse)
4. A Time For Love (Johnny Mandel/Paul Francis Webster)
5. I Will Wait For You (Michel Legrand/Norman Gimbel)
6. Moment To Moment (Henry Mancini/Johnny Mercer)

Side B

1. Born Free (John Barry/Don Black)
2. In The Arms Of Love (Henry Mancini/Jay Livingston/Raymond Evans)
3. Wednesday's Child (John Barry/Mack David)
4. A Man And A Woman (Francis Lai/Pierre Barouh/Jerry Keller)
5. Strangers In The Night (Bert Kaempfert/Charles Singleton/Eddie Snyder)

Best sources

Side A - 5, Side B – 5 – The Singer’s Singer (2011 remaster)

Side B – 1 & 5 – Complete Singles

Side A – 2, 3 Side B 2, 4 – Best of The Capitol Years (or Invitation to the Movies (C0llectables) - Different masters, but Both from original tapes)

Side A – 1, 4 & 6 – Invitation to the Movies (Collectables)



These Years - Issued December 1967

Capitol T 2801 (Mono)

ST 2801 (Stereo)


Side A

1. There's A Kind Of Hush (Geoff Stephens/Les Reed)
2. Release Me (Eddie Miller/Dub Williams/Robert Yount)
3. Don't Sleep In The Subway (Tony Hatch/Jackie Trent)
4. What To Do (Riz Ortolani/Al Stillman)
5. The Happening (Brian Holland/Lamont Dozier/Eddie Holland /Frank De Vol)
6. These Years (Jack Fascinato/Arthur Hamilton)

Side B

1. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me (Pino Donaggio/Vito Pallavicini/Simon Napier-Bell/Vicki Wickham)
2. Music To Watch Girls By (Anthony Velona/Sidney Ramin)
3. Here, There and Everywhere (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
4. Spanish Eyes (Bert Kaempfert/Eddie Snyder/Charles Singleton)
5. Nobody Cares For Me (Carolyn Comer)

Best sources

Side B – 1 - The Singer’s Singer (2011 remaster)

Side A – 1, Side B – 4 - The Greatest

Side A – 2, 4 & 6 – Complete Singles

Side A - 3, 5, Side B 2, 3 & 5 – These Years Twofer



The Late Late Show- Issued April 1968

Capitol T 2919 (Mono)

ST 2919 (Stereo)


Side A

1. If She Should Come To Me (Augusto Alguero/Pierre Moreau/Alec Wilder)
2. When I Fall In Love (Victor Young/Edward Heyman)
3. Maria (Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim)
4. Hello Young Lovers (Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II)
5. September Song (Kurt Weill/Maxwell Anderson)
6. Time After Time (Jule Styne/Sammy Cahn)

Side B

1. This Is All I Ask (Gordon Jenkins)
2. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face (Frederick Loewe/Alan Jay Lerner)
3. Days Of Wine And Roses (Henry Mancini/Johnny Mercer)
4. The Shadow Of Your Smile (Johnny Mandel/Paul Francis Webster)
5. Autumn Leaves (Joseph Kosma/Jacques Prevert/Johnny Mercer/Geoffrey Parsons)
6. The Party's Over (Jule Styne/Betty Comden/Adolph Green)

Best sources

Side A – 2, 3, 5, 6 – Side B – 3, 4, 5, 6 - The Singer’s Singer (2011 remaster)

Side B – 1 - Spotlight on Great Gentlemen of Song

Side A – 1, 4 & Side B - 2 – Twofer or any other CD release (all from noise reduced version)



Invitation To Broadway - Issued November 1968


Capitol T 2683 (Mono)

ST 2683 (Stereo)


Side A

1. Look For Small Pleasures (Mark Sandrich/Sidney Michaels)?
2. Stranger In Paradise (Robert Wright/George Forrest)
3. The Impossible Dream (Mitch Leigh/Joe Darion)
4. The Apple Tree (Jerry Bock/Sheldon Harnick)
5. I'll Only Miss Her When I Think Of Her (Jimmy Van Heusen/Sammy Cahn)
6. Come Back To Me (Burton Lane/Alan Jay Lerner)

Side B

1. Hello Dolly (Jerry Herman)
2. Sunrise, Sunset (Jerry Bock/ Sheldo Harnick)
3. Walking Happy (Jimmy Van Heusen/ Sammy Cahn)
4. If She Walked Into My Life (Jerry Herman)
5. Put On A Happy Face (Charles Strouse/Lee Adams)

Best sources

Side A 3, 6 – Complete Singles

Side B – 2, 4 – Singer’s Singer (2011)

Side B - 5 - Best of the Capitol Years

Side A – 1 (stereo), 2 (mono), 4 (mono), 5 (stereo), Side B – 1 (stereo) & 3 (mono) – Hollywood and Broadway (MFP) .

Stereo versions of A2, A4 & B3 on Vinyl Only

Note: Stereo versions of A1, A5 & B1 come from compilation tapes sent by Capitol to EMI for other projects in 1986 (By Request) and 1990 (Capitol Years). None of these tracks were subsequently used on the comps they had been requested for (Look for Small Pleasures was on “By Request” but the Mono mix was used according to the tape library listings)

Alguien Canto

Capitol 346001 (Argentina)

Issued – 1969


Side A

1. Todo Pasara

2. Vete Por Favor

3. No Puedo Quitar Mis Ojos De Ti

4. Alguien Canto

5. Lo Que Quedo

6. La Montana

Side B

1. No Me Abandones

2. Amandote Otra Vez

3. Si Tu Te Vas

4. El Rubi Y La Perla

5. Una Leona De Dos Mundos

6. Aquellos Fueron Los Dias

Best source

En Español - EMI ‎– 7 46939 2 Except Side A- 1, 3 & 4 – Complete Singles
(NOT Recommended - Grandes Existos/En Espana Twofer. Not from masters despite me mastering it - I now dislike it intensely!)


En Espana

Capitol J 06280450 (Spain)

Issued - 1970



Side A

1. Sueno Imposible

2. No Me Pesa, Es Mi Hermano

3. Te Esperare

4. Jean

5. Si Yo Fuera Carpintero

6. La Sombra De Tu Sonrisa

Side B

1. Donde Hallare

2. En Dias Como Estos

3. Los Dos

4. Puedo Ser Feliz

5. Que Tonto Fui

6. La Estrella Del Sur

Best sources

En Espana/Grandes Existos Twofer


We’re Gonna Change The World - Issued November 1970

Capitol ST 22546


Side A

1. We're Gonna Change The World (David Matthew/Tim Harris)

2. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (Bobby Scott/Sidney Russell)

3. For Once In My Life (Orlando Murden/Ronald Miller)

4. Leaving On A Jet Plane (John Denver)

5. If There Ever Is A Next Time (Ron Grainer/Don Black)

6. You Made Me So Very Happy (Brenda Holloway/Frank Wilson/Berry Gordy Jr /Patrice Holloway)

Side B

1. Close To You (Bacharach Burt/Hal David)

2. Jean (Rod Mckuen)

3. If I Were A Carpenter (Tim Hardin)

4. My Way (Jacques Revaux/Claude Francois/Gilles Thibaut/Paul Anka)

5. Everybody's Talkin' (Fred Neil)

6. Hava Nagila (Hasidic Traditional/Nathanson/Idelsohn)

Best sources

Side A – 1 & 5 - Complete Singles

Side A – 2, 3, 6, Side B 4, 5 & 6 – Singers Singer (2011)

Side A – 4 – Matt Monro The Collection (EMI Gold)

Side B – 2 – Matt at the Movies

Side B – 1 – Matt Monro Collection (Tesco Exclusive) or multiple Bacharach/David compilations!

Side B – 3 – Ultimate Matt Monro


Close To You Issued November 1970

Capitol ST 546

4. Why Can't I Touch You (Peter Link /C C Courtney)

Best Source – Vinyl Only

NOTES:

Only Singer’s Singer (2011), Complete Singles & The Greatest were remastered by me.

In some case where the same remaster has been released on multiple sets, only the most recent is listed. Those that weren’t remastered by me have been issued on many different sets and often (especially Twofers of Late Late Show, These Years and the Great Gentlemen of Song Compilation) have been subjected to unnecessary noise reduction

 

Thanks very much again Richard.

 

Invitation to the Movies - Don't seem to have a source for 'Wednesday's Child'. Would that be Complete Singles?

also

These Years - small problem, B1 is not on The Singer's Singer but B2 is.

 

Is The Best of The Capitol Years the same mastering as The Capitol Years which is also included in The EMI Years / The Capitol Years / Through the Years?

 

Yes

Yes, excuse typo

 

Same disc, these were three separate releases put in a slipcase and re-marketed.

 

The few radio/live tracks issued from the Capitol era


Saturday Club – Saturday 29th January 1966 - BBC Light Programme

(Recorded 25th January 1966)

With Orchestra Conducted by Johnnie Spence

Produced by Jimmy Grant And Brian Willey

How Do You Do

As Long As I’m Singing Matt At The BBC – EMI Gold 698 9122



Sunday 2nd January 1966 – Soundboard recording

Araneta Coliseum, Manila

Musical Director – Russ Shepherd

Orchestra Conducted by Rusty O’Malley


Yesterday

Walk Away

Can This Be Love

Before You Go

Around The World

I Love The Little Things

One Day

Somewhere

From Russia With Love

I'll Dream Of You

For Mama

Exodus Yesterday - The Legendary Manila Concerts



1966 – Pretoria, South Africa


Once In A lifetime The Singer’s Singer (Special Edition) – Titan Publishing


Friday 14th July 1967

BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, London

Conducted by Nelson Riddle

Produced by Yvonne Littlewood

‘Matt Monro Meets Nelson Riddle’

BBC Television - Broadcast August 5th 1967


Come Back To Me
What To Do?
In The Arms Of Love
Walk Away
Born Free
When You Become A Man
Softly As I Leave You Matt Sings Nelson Swings

Strike Up The Band Rarities Collection


Saturday 30th December 1967

BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, London

Produced by John Ammonds

‘The Val Doonican Show’

BBC Television Broadcast 31st December 1967



What Do You Say We Laze The Day Away (Duet with Val Doonican)

The Singer’s Singer (Special Edition) – Titan Publishing

 

This - I think - is your lot! Let me know if I've missed anything.

The Columbia/EMI Years - 1970 - 1985



Singles


Isn’t It A Pity / Mama Packed A Picnic Tea Columbia DB 8788

Sarah’s Coming Home* / Only Friends Columbia DB 8900

This Way Mary / Wish Now Was Then Columbia DB 8860

I Am / I Am In Life* Columbia DB 8988

Amour Habla Me Dulcemente (Theme From The Godfather) EMI/Odeon 20924

And You Smiled / There Ya Go EMI 2091

How Could I Ever Leave You / Darling Come Home Soon EMI 2186

You And Me Against The World / So Little Time EMI 2273

The Little Things / By Her Side EMI 2446

If I Never Sing Another Song / Mama Packed A Picnic Tea EMI 2609

Precious Moments / May Each Day EMI 5087

Diana / Beyond The Hill EMI 5194

You Bring Out The Best In Me / I Don’t Want To Run Your Life Columbia DB 9097


Titles in Bold also on album – Best sources All – Complete Singles or * George Martin Years


Other Tracks

A Place in Paris The Singers Singer (2011)

Time To Go Matt Uncovered / Rarities Collection

Oh My Child Matt Uncovered / Rarities Collection

Love Story Matt At The Movies

Historia De Amor (Love Story) From Matt With Love

Didn’t We (Alt Version) Matt Uncovered / Rarities Collection

How Can I Live Without Your Love Matt Uncovered / Rarities Collection

It’s That Time Again Rarities Collection

Yesterday When I Was Young Matt Monro The Collection

I’ve So Much To Be Thankful For Rarities Collection

Did It Happen (Alt Version) Alternate Monro

One Last Try Matt Uncovered / Rarities Collection

For The Touch Of Your Love Rarities Collection

Alone Am I Rarities Collection

Be My Lady The Singers Singer (2011)

Memory The Singers Singer (2011)

Tal Vez Tal Vez (My Friend My Friend) Retrato De Matt Monro

Una Vez (Only Once) Retrato De Matt Monro




For The Present - Issued May 1973


Columbia SCX 6525


Side A

1. Singin' In The Rain (Herb Brown/Arthur Freed)
2. First Of May (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb/Maurice Gibb)
3. Michelle (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
4. Didn't We (Jimmy Webb)
5. Speak Softly Love (Nino Rota/Larry Kusik)
6. Bridge Over Troubled Water (Paul Simon)

Side B

1. I Am (Roger Cook/Roger Greenaway)
2. Curiouser And Curiouser (John Barry/Don Black)
3. Ethel Baby (Jerry Bock/Larry Holofcener/George Weiss)
4. Till Then My Love (Jack Canning/James Hodges)
5. The Me I Never Knew (John Barry/Don Black)
6. Sarah's Coming Home (Brian Bennett/Mike Hawker)

Best Sources

A1, 4, 6 – Singer’s Singer (2011)

A 2, 3, B 3 & 6 – George Martin Years

B 1, 2, 4 & 5 – Complete Singles

A5 – Twofer or pretty much any CD it’s on.



The Other Side Of The Stars - Issued April 1975


Columbia SCX 6578


Side A

1. Let There Be Love (Ian Grant/Lionel Rand)
2. What A Wonderful World (George Weiss/Robert Thiele)
3. When You Wish Upon A Star (Leigh Harline/Ned Washington)
4. Over The Rainbow (Harold Arlen/E. Yip Harburg)
5. For All We Know (Fred Coots/Samuel Lewis)
6. Let Me Sing And I'm Happy (Irving Berlin)

Side B

1. Be My Love (Nikolaus Brodszky/Sammy Cahn)
2. Chattanooga Choo Choo (Harry Warren/Mack Gordon)
3. I Love You Because (Leon Payne)
4. No Regrets (Charles Dumont/Michel Vaucaire/Hal David)
5. You're Sensational (Cole Porter)
6. I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore (Frederick Loewe/Alan Jay Lerner)

Best sources

A1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, B,5 – Singer’s Singer (2011)

B 1, 2, 4, 6 – For The Present/Other Side Of The Stars (Twofer) – Note some tracks from vinyl!

B 3 – The Greatest



The Long And Winding Road - Issued November 1975


EMI - EMC 3096


Side A

1. Happy (Michel Legrand/Smokey Robinson)
2. You And Me Against The World (Paul Williams /Kenneth Ascher)
3. Only Once (Clive Westlake)
4. Did It Happen (Ed Welch/Spike Milligan)
5. Sunday Kind Of Woman (Margaret Rich)
6. I Can't Stop Loving You (Anthony Waddington/Wayne Bickerton)

Side B

1. I Close My Eyes And Count To Ten (Clive Westlake)
2. All The Wishing In The World (Stanley Myers/Don Black)
3. The Auction (Tony Hatch/Jackie Trent)
4. Ready Steady Go (Denis King/Don Black)
5. Friend, Lover, Woman, Wife (Mac Davis)
6. The Long And Winding Road (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)

Best sources

A 1 – Matt at the Movies

A 2, B 3, 6 – Singer’s Singer (2011)

A 3 – The Man Behind The Voice (Bookazine)

A 4 – Through The Years

A 6 – Ultimate

B 1 – George Martin Years

B 2 – Complete Singles

B 5 – His Finest (M&S exclusive)

A 5, B 4 – Vinyl Only





If I Never Sing Another Song - Issued March 1979


Columbia SCX 6605


Side A

1. With These Hands (Abner Silver/Benny Davis)
2. You Light Up My Life (Joe Brooks)
3. Answer Me (Gerhard Winkler/Fred Rauch/Carl Sigman)
4. I Think I'm Getting Over You (Roger Cook/Roger Greenaway)
5. When A Child Is Born (Zacar/Fred Jay)
6. If I Never Sing Another Song (Udo Juergens/Alexandra/Don Black)

Side B

1. The Long And Winding Road (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
2. May Each Day (George Wylie/Mort Green)
3. Morning Has Broken (Cat Stevens/Eleanor Farjeon)
4. By Her Side (Idris Jones)
5. Mary's Boy Child (Jester Hairston)
6. The Last Farewell (Roger Whittaker/Ronald Webster)

Best Sources

A 1, 2, 3 – A Time For Love

A 5, B, 5 – Loads of different Christmas Comps!

A 6, B 2, 4 – Complete Singles

B 1 – Singer’s Singer (2011)

B 6 - The Man Behind The Voice (Bookazine)

A 4, B 3 – Vinyl Only



Un Toque De Distincion - Issued – 1982


RCA PL 35396 (USA)



Side A

1. Volvere Alguna Vez

2. Si Te Amo

3. La Mama

4. Menos Mal

5. Con Mi Cancion



Side B

1. Cambiaria Todo Por Tu Amor

2. Un Cuadro De Mi Amor

3. Amiga, Amada, Mujer, Esposa

4. Que Sea El Amor

5. Los Tiempos De Felicidad

Digital Download or Vinyl. No CD release

Live/Broadcast recordings

Early – Mid 1980’s Unknown Broadcasts/Soundboard recordings

Birth Of The Blues Rarities Collection

New York, New York Rarities Collection


Live in Australia 1981 – Soundboard recording

Blacktown Workers Club, New South Wales, Australia

Yesterday

We’re Gonna Change The World Live In Australia: Twin Towns 1984 – Mint Audio



Saturday April 30th 1983 – Soundboard recording

Araneta Coliseum, Manila

Musical Director – Dave Mellor



Beautiful Noise

On A Clear Day You Can See Forever

Todo Pasara

Born Free Yesterday - The Legendary Manila Concerts


One Voice
I Write the Songs (Medley)
Birth of the Blues
New York New York
For Mama
My Way Born Free – Performance/Delta Music 38307





Sunday 9th September 1984– Soundboard recording

Twin Towns, Australia

Musical Director – Peter Warrhah



One Voice

The Second Time Around

I Write The Songs

Georgia On My Mind

Gonna Build A Mountain

From Russia With Love

The Impossible Dream

Hava Nagila

New York New York

Birth Of The Blues

Born Free

Where Or When

Softly As I Leave you Live In Australia: Twin Towns 1984 – Mint Audio

 

Super work Richard, much appreciated.

 

I experienced a bit it of confusion over those Spanish song titles on Alguien Canto but as far as I can make out...

(Side 1 is not a problem)

Side B


1. No Me Abandones = No Me Dejes (If You go Away)


4. El Rubi Y La Perla = La Perla y el Rubi (The Ruby And The Pearl)


5. Una Leona De Dos Mundos = Nacida Libra (Born Free)


6. Aquellos Fueron Los Dias = Qué Tiempo Tan Feliz (Those Were The Days)


It doesn't help that the track order keeps changing almost every time the album is issued.

En Espana/Grandes Existos

I know you are not happy about your work on this twofer but is the En España bit ok or does it suffer from the same redundant noise reduction and compression and/or ill chosen masters that the other twofers suffer from? Basically I am wondering whether to go for lossless.

 

A great accomplishment! It will take me ages to sift through all that...

 

This thread made me curious about hearing George Martin's work during same the time frame he was working with the Beatles. Was already interested in Matt (I remembered My Kind of Girl on the radio on my youth) but had never really explored his work. So I picked up The George Martin Years around Christmas and am digging it all the way around...vocals, arrangements, production. Thanks! There's more Matt in my future for sure...

 

Richard, I don't know if you meant to include Outtakes & Oddities? Anyway so far I have noticed the following that haven't been included.

- 'Pretty Polly (From the Film Pretty Polly)' from Matt Uncovered? I think you only included the single version.

- Through The Years version of 'Maria'

- 'Nothing To Lose' from Rare Monro

+ No Puedo Quitar Mis Ojos De Ti (Can't Take my Eyes Off You) (Alternative Edit) from Rare Monro.

 

Knew i'd miss a few things! - As it happens you have also mentioned the best (and often only) sources anyway

 

2. Amandote Otra Vez - Lovin' You Again

3. Si Tu Te Vas - If You Go

I don't know why there are so many different translations!


En Espana - not remastered by me - on the twofer is fine. Quite a few drop outs but not dreadful.

 

Ok - with the live stuff.

The Saturday Club 29/1/1966 is a duplication from TV/Film earlier

I chose 'I Love the Little Things' from the The Singer's Singer Special Reserve - was I correct?

I don't see a mention of '(Won't You Come Home) Bill Bailey' from the Winifred Atwell Show on 15/12/1962 (Matt Uncovered)

 

Thank you Richard - this is hugely appreciated.

Best Wishes,David

 

Just checking - when you write "Best sources All – Complete Singles or * George Martin Years" does that mean that The George Martin Years is the best option or that they are exactly the same mastering? I assumed the latter but I thought I'd make sure.

 

Yes, that's just an overlap.

I Love The Little Things from Manila, is the same mastering on both.

Bill Bailey is the same on both Uncovered and Rarities.

 

Same masters

 

No doubt. My point is that you haven't listed it (I think).

 

Richard, I think you might have missed out the Australian concert of 5th November 1966? The 'Evening with Matt Monro' one. I suspect the best source would be Sings unless you can suggest a better source?

 

On purpose! This i don't count as its the soundtrack to a surviving film clip which is easy to obtain. The best version of which is the Digitally Remastered version of the DVD which is also on the DVD Ultimate Performer and Man And His Music DVDs.