Juke Box Jury 27.12.67

[stevej]

Although listed as missing on Lostshows, I was able to return a domestic audio recording of this final edition of the 60s run of 'Juke Box Jury' to the BBC way back in 2004. I received a letter of thanks and a CD copy for my trouble, but I wonder if the existence of this recording is perhaps not so widely known.

From what I can tell it was taped by someone who was keen on Lulu (and who isn't?). He recorded various other tv appearances of hers from around this time, but by great good fortune JBJ was captured complete. The technical quality is good for 3 3/4 ips and it may have been done with a lead from the TV set as there is no hum or vision 'buzz' which usually betrays microphone-against-the-speaker set-ups.

As to the show itself, joining David Jacobs were: Pete Murray and Susan Stranks (both of whom were on the very first edition), Lulu and Eric Sykes (famously deaf!)

The discs featured in order:

Honey Child - Martha & The Vandellas
Lantern Light - Peter & The Wolves
Beyond The Shadow Of A Doubt - Billy Fury
I Can Take Or Leave Your Loving - Herman's Hermits
Mr Second Class - Spencer Davis Group
Information - The Cedars
Don't Change It - Fearn's Brass Foundry

Spencer Davis himself is the mystery guest. He plugs his group's new album (possibly 'With Their New Face On'?) which he says is mostly their own compositions apart from one track by 'Reggie Dwight and Bernie Taupin' (that must be a very early collaboration!) He also mentions the group's role in the forthcoming film 'Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush'.

As to the records, the tracks by Peter & The Wolves and The Cedars have both turned up on psych compilations over the years, whilst the Northern soul stomper by Leicester band Fearn's Brass Foundry has also made it to CD.

During the show there's not much reference made to it being 'the last'. Out of all the editions though this is an interesting one to have survived, albeit in sound only!


Steve J

[John Green]

Thanks,Steve,and well done for returning this.

A very minor point,but I'm not sure,despite reading most of his autobiography,how much hearing Eric Sykes had at this stage.Didn't it get very bad later in life?

[stevej]

I've also read Eric's book, John and I'm not sure either. I know that in 1972's 'Last Goon Show Of All' you get an exchange between Milligan and Sellers along the lines of:

'Speak Up!'
'Why?'
'Eric Sykes is in!!'

I'm a long-time fan but his Juke Box Jury appearance makes for a slightly uncomfortable listen. Most of his responses are along the lines of 'What? Is it me again? Oh well, I mean to say.... Yes.... Well. Now what can I say about that?'

I think he'd been on the show before but does seem to be a fish out of water.


Steve

[John Green]

Good points,Steve,though part of his thing was to feign ineptness and gaucherie.Of course,I haven't heard the audio,and he might just be too deaf to follow what's going on!

From Eric and Hattie's LP: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P_I7j7SdWQ&list=PLUSRfoOcUe4aqHT5phA5SzlyoZ5C2ISUp&index=3

(Sets the controls back to 'On Topic').

[williammcgregor]

Jun 28, 2015 21:11:54 GMT stevej said:

I've also read Eric's book, John and I'm not sure either. I know that in 1972's 'Last Goon Show Of All' you get an exchange between Milligan and Sellers along the lines of:

'Speak Up!'
'Why?'
'Eric Sykes is in!!'

I'm a long-time fan but his Juke Box Jury appearance makes for a slightly uncomfortable listen. Most of his responses are along the lines of 'What? Is it me again? Oh well, I mean to say.... Yes.... Well. Now what can I say about that?'

I think he'd been on the show before but does seem to be a fish out of water.


Steve

He had been on the show an amazing 12 times before before Steve...

22/06/59 06/07/59 13/07/59 27/07/59 05/12/59 19/12/59 10/08/59 27/02/60 02/04/60 23/04/60 and 16/07/60 06/02/62 27/12/67

[stevej]

Crikey I didn't realise he'd been on as often as that, although there's a hell of a gap between his penultimate appearance and his last!

Funnily enough I noticed on Lostshows that Hattie Jacques was on the show on 13/12/67, along with Radio 1 DJ Emporer Rosko - now that I would have loved to have seen...

Excellent link to Eric & Hattie's LP by the way (thanks John). Some inspired stuff there!

Steve

[Simon Mclean]

Out of interest, how accurate were the panel in guessing what would be a hit or a miss? I have to admit the Herman's Hermits song is the only one there I've heard of, and know was a hit (and I thought I knew music of that era quite well!)

[williammcgregor]

It would be interesting to find out Simon; I wonder if a forum member can find out which records were played on which Juke Box Jury show? then we'd start to know.

[John Green]

Of course there was no formal follow-up; the panel were making predictions-or value judgement-so being wrong repeatedly would be no bar to being invited back!

[williammcgregor]

Jul 2, 2015 16:01:02 GMT Simon Mclean said:

Out of interest, how accurate were the panel in guessing what would be a hit or a miss? I have to admit the Herman's Hermits song is the only one there I've heard of, and know was a hit (and I thought I knew music of that era quite well!)

Details below from the NME...

1962 series

Voted a MISS! (David Jacobs presses Hooter)

Gene Chandlers' "Duke of Earl (voted a MISS by Paul Anka and Tony Orlando)


All 4 records below were voted a MISS on the same show...
Petula Clark's "Jumble Sale
Dion's "Diane"
Fat's Domino's "Dance with Mr Domino"
The Kaye Sister's "Goodbye"

Billy Fury and Louise Cordet records voted a MISS on the same October '62 show

Voted a HIT! (David Jacobs Rings Bell)

In consecutive weeks (both) sides of the Anthony Newly record "D-Darling" were voted a HIT!

Alma Colgan's "She's Got You"

The NME said that Jimmy Young had voted Carol Deenes' "Norman" a big HIT! (but he later denied saying that?)

[williammcgregor]

In the 12/06/62 NME it mentions Eric Sykes as saying "I saw Helen Shapiro on the Adam Faith TV show - with the sound turned off!"

so maybe he said that remark about a Helen Shapiro record when he was on the 6/2/62 show?

[Kev Hunter]

I'm reminded of a Juke Box Jury episode possibly a couple of months prior to this one, where an earlier Peter And The Wolves single, "Little Girl Lost And Found" was played, and a panellist (old school showbiz / comedian type wag, if memory serves) saying something like "The title made me think of Twiggy walking behind some railings.. now you see her, now you don't!".

[williammcgregor]

From Fabulous 208 magazine March 1964