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Post by williammcgregor on Jul 2, 2015 11:15:05 GMT
Mr Doonican sadly died today aged 88
I know some people may have knocked his easy going style, but I've just listened to Jeremy Vine playing his song "The Special Years" and he sang it beautifully. I also remember his BBC Shows with great affection.
some might say he was the original "rocker"
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Post by John Green on Jul 2, 2015 12:55:16 GMT
Mr Doonican sadly died today aged 88 I know some people may have knocked his easy going style, but I've just listened to Jeremy Vine playing his song "The Special Years" and he sang it beautifully. I also remember his BBC Shows with great affection. some might say he was the original "rocker" Even I had to think about that last line for a sec,William! One memory is of his attempting the G&S tongue-twister 'I am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General' one week and flubbing the lines.The following week.he apologised and said he'd have another go.This time,he did it perfectly.I'd love to know if those shows survive.
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Post by stevej on Jul 2, 2015 17:08:04 GMT
Ah, sad news indeed. A wonderfully warm and engaging performer with a relaxed presenting style that made watching his shows a real pleasure. Lovely sense of humour too.
Every time I see a clip from one of his old shows, I'm always left wanting to see much more! The 1986 Christmas show repeated by BBC4 was a delight.
Steve
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Post by Alan Turrell on Jul 2, 2015 20:36:43 GMT
Mr Doonican sadly died today aged 88 I know some people may have knocked his easy going style, but I've just listened to Jeremy Vine playing his song "The Special Years" and he sang it beautifully. I also remember his BBC Shows with great affection. some might say he was the original "rocker" Yes William i agree "The Special Years" is a lovely song that Val sings beautifully i also liked "What would i be" and "If the whole world stopped loving" i watched his shows quite a lot and remember that old rocking chair he used to sit in R.I.P Val.
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Post by John Green on Jul 2, 2015 22:48:48 GMT
It was actually quite a surprise to see him on telly a few years ago,still touring,I believe?
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Post by Patrick Coles on Jul 4, 2015 14:07:47 GMT
Let's not forget dear old Val knocked The Beatles 'Sgt Pepper' off top spot (after umpteen weeks) back in 1967 with his album 'Val Rocks But Gently' !
he had 14 UK chart singles, six consecutive chart albums, his BBC show from 1965 to 1986 drew at it's peak some 19 million viewers !
not a bad achievement eh ? - something he could tell his grandchildren...
Val was high in the pop charts alongside the classic bands & British and American singers in the swinging sixties enjoying chart hits from 1964 up to 1973
While I also love Bob Lind's own version for me Val's superb cover of Lind's 'Elusive Butterfly' with a great arrangement by Kenny Woodman,was his finest moment on record - Val's lovely Irish voice gave a special magic to the song, giving Val the bigger hit reaching no.5 (tho' Bob Lind got the songwriting royalties thus very fair)
also 'What Would I Be ?' (a UK no.2 hit) his biggest hit single was a great record and Val sang the theme song to the film 'Ring of Bright Water' in 1968 (having a minor chart hit with it too at no.48) while 'Walk Tall' (no.3), If The Whole World Stopped Loving' (no.3) 'The Special Years' (no. 7) , 'Memories Are Made of This' (no.11), and in 1971 'Morning' (no.12) stood out among his hits
Val appealed essentially to an older audience tho' he crossed over into mainstream pop well plus (like Perry Como) cut some memorable fun 'novelty' songs too - 'Paddy McGinty's Goat', 'Delaney's Donkey', 'O'Rafferty's Motor Car' & 'The Jarvey Was A Leprachaun' - old comedic Irish songs duly all 'dusted off' and given light hearted performances by Val introducing them to a younger generation
in addition to pop songs and romantic ballads Val also sang Irish, English, and American folk songs plus was equally at home with Country songs too...
he also recorded an album of Songs of the American Civil War - 'The Blue and The Gray' in 1970
both 'Val Rocks But Gently'(on PYE Records) and Decca's 'The World of Val Doonican' topped the UK album charts & he recorded in turn for Decca, PYE Records, Phillips & RCA (cutting two latter albums for them)
and it WAS Val himself saying 'Hello There !' on The Bonzos classic; 'The Intro and The Outro' too !
poignant to see BOTH the now sadly Late Val Doonican & John Denver enjoying a country duet on their guitars on the news the other day...
Val Doonican was a fine distinctive singer, a showbiz natural, a top professional and a great Ambassador for both his home country Ireland and his later country of residence England.
another much loved true 'star' has left us...
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Post by robchapman on Jul 4, 2015 16:23:35 GMT
Let's not forget dear old Val knocked The Beatles 'Sgt Pepper' off top spot (after umpteen weeks) back in 1967 with his album 'Val Rocks But Gently' !. glad someone has finally mentioned this! Epochal moment. (Bonus points for anyone who can remember what knocked Abbey Road off number one.)
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Post by williammcgregor on Jul 4, 2015 20:15:05 GMT
Let's not forget dear old Val knocked The Beatles 'Sgt Pepper' off top spot (after umpteen weeks) back in 1967 with his album 'Val Rocks But Gently' !. glad someone has finally mentioned this! Epochal moment. (Bonus points for anyone who can remember what knocked Abbey Road off number one.) Was it Led Zeppelin II ? a worthy successor (they were some band as well)
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Post by robchapman on Jul 5, 2015 8:44:19 GMT
Nope. Come on the Forum. There's a Crackerjack pencil riding on this.
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Post by williammcgregor on Jul 5, 2015 12:30:01 GMT
was it LET IT BLEED by The Rolling Stones for 1 week in late December 1969 ?
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Post by Patrick Coles on Jul 5, 2015 12:58:08 GMT
was it 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' by Simon & Garfunkel ?
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Post by robchapman on Jul 5, 2015 13:33:49 GMT
Nope. Getting colder. Think groundbreaking debut albums.
EDIT. Actually according to the chart files you are correct. It was indeed Let It Bleed. I've seen it quoted elsewhere that it was IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING. The same sources reveal that Sgt Pepper and The Sound of Music interchanged the number one spot three times before Val Doonican Rocks But Gently came along.
us experts eh?
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