where's Charlie Drake these days??

Subject: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Bugsy
Date: 23 May 05 - 01:49 AM

I was just wondering if anyone in UK has any news on Charlie Drake? I've searched the web but can find no recent info on him. He was one of my favourites when I was a kid and I would love to hear how he's going, and what he's up to.

Cheers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: The Shambles
Date: 23 May 05 - 02:10 AM

Sad news about Charlie Drake (1September 2004)
Until recent weeks, Charlie Drake was living with his brother in Crystal Palace, London. But a few weeks ago, he suffered a stroke, the result of which is blindness. After treatment at Kings College Hospital, he has now been admitted to Brinsworth House, Twickenham - the retirement home for show business performers.

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Little Robyn
Date: 23 May 05 - 02:33 AM

Please Mr Custer..........

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Bugsy
Date: 23 May 05 - 02:43 AM

Thanks Shambles - Sad news indeed.


Cheers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: MBSLynne
Date: 23 May 05 - 02:43 AM

Sad... my Auntie once said my little sister, who had blonde curly hair when she was small, looked like Charlie Drake! I don't think my Mum was too impressed. Does anyone remember "Mick and Montmorency"? I've mentioned it to people and no one seems to remember it but me. It was a kids TV show with CD in...probably late 50s early 60s.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: The Shambles
Date: 23 May 05 - 02:43 AM

The strange things you find-out on the internet.

'You Never Know'.

[Peter Gabriel]

Sandy sings the chorus and one line of this song which was recorded in 1975 and released on Charlie Drake's single (Charisma CB270) and later on the Sandy Denny cassette The Attic Tracks Vol. 1. It was written and produced by Peter Gabriel.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reinhard Zierke, [e-mail]
Last updated Thu Jul 15 20:54:38 MEST 1999

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: The Shambles
Date: 23 May 05 - 02:47 AM

The following site is probably the place to look.

http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/index.htm

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Dave Earl
Date: 23 May 05 - 02:47 AM

You and I are in the same age range Lynne!

I remember Mick and Montmorency (vaguely).Lots of "slapstick stuff as I recall.

I used to watch it at a friends house 'cos my family did not have TV until a year or two later.

Dave

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Bugsy
Date: 23 May 05 - 02:52 AM

I think Charlie made his TV debut in Mick and Montmorency. As I remember it was on CRACKERJACK! (Hooray!!)


CHeers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Bugsy
Date: 23 May 05 - 02:56 AM

Does anyone remeber the episode of the worker when he fell through the window and broke his arm. Everyone thought is was part of the show until the screen went blank and the "Normal Service Will Be Resumed As Soon As Possible" sign came up.

Happy Days


Cheers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 23 May 05 - 05:34 AM

"Mick and Montmorency". There was a recurring catch phrase uttered by Charlie Drake : " Mick not to touch Mont! " . Who remembers that?

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Flash Company
Date: 23 May 05 - 05:49 AM

Anyone remember the episode of 'The Worker' where he got a job as a Rain-maker in Australia? I recall him disappearing into a tent, from which came drumming and chanting, and then he came out, grinned at the camera, and said 'It's going to HISS down!'
He finished up in court,(Australia sank!), and the court scene was one of those marvellous sequences where he played everyone. Magical stuff!

FC

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Lanfranc
Date: 23 May 05 - 06:12 AM

Oh dear on several counts!

(a) I remember Mick and Montmorency
(b) Worse still, I remember "Mick not to touch Mont!"!
(c) I remember Sandy Denny relating her involvement in the Charlie Drake/Peter Gabriel session.

And it's sad to hear of the little fellow having a stroke and going blind. He wasn't the greatest comedian of his era, but he was a very good clown and a great entertainer.

But who played Mick?

Alan

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: GUEST
Date: 23 May 05 - 06:27 AM

low chanting)
In the bad bad lands of Australia many years ago
The Aborigine tribes were meeting, having a big pow-wow
(chanting)
(low voice): We've got a lot of trouble, Chief, on account of your son Mac!
(midrange voice): My boy Mac, what's wrong with him?
(high-pitched voice, young prince): My boomerang won't come back!
(low voices): Your boomerang won't come back
(prince): My boomerang won't come back
My boomerang won't come back
I've waved the thing all over the place
Practiced till I was black in the face
I'm a big disgrace t' the Aborigine race
My boomerang won't back
I want a kangaroo (yeah yeah)
Make kangatoo stew (yea yeah)
But I'm a big disgrace t' the Aborigine race
My boomerang won't back

They banished him from the tribes' lair & sent him on his way
He had a hapless boomerang, so here he could not stay
(shrieks of animals)
(prince): This is nice, isn't it? Getting banished at my time in life. What a way to
spend an evening. Sittin' on a rock in the middle of the desert with me boomerang in me
hand. I should very likely get bushwhacked. (animal shriek) (prince): Get out of here,
nasty bushwhackin' animal! Think I'll make a nice cup of tea. (boing boing boing)
(prince): Good gracious! There goes a kangaroo! I must have practice with me boomerang.
Hey, right behind the left elbow, then slowly back... (kangaroo): If you throw that thing
at me, I'll jump right on your head! (laughs) (prince): Ain't it marvelous! In a land
full of kangaroos I might not get that one!

For 3 long months he sat there, or maybe it was 4
Then an old old man in a kangaroo skin came a-knockin' at his door
(old man): I'm the local with doctor, son. They call me Joe Joseph Black.
Now tell me, what's your trouble, boy?
(prince): My boomerang won't come back!
(old man): Your boomerang won't come back
(prince): My boomerang won't come back
My boomerang won't come back
I've waved the thing all over the place
Practiced till I was black in the face
I'm a big disgrace t' the Aborigine race
My boomerang won't back
(old man): Don't worry, boy, I know the trick & to you I'm gonna show it
If you want your boomerang to come back, well, first you've got to throw it!
(prince): Oh yes, never thought of that. Daddy will be pleased. Must have a girl...
(old man): Excuse me. Now then, slowly back...& throw! (sound of boomerang flying)

(old man): Oh my God! Avit the flying doctah! He-he-he-he!
(prince): Can you do farther eat?
(old man): Don't talk to me about first taste boy; you owe me 14 chickens for teaching
you to throw the boomerang; first things first. (prince): Yes, I know that, but I mean, I
think, on this occasion, you know ...& fade

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: JennyO
Date: 23 May 05 - 06:27 AM

I remember him for "My boomerang won't come back". It was one of the crazy songs I loved from a period in my early teenage years, along with Lonnie Donegan's "Does your chewing gum lose its flavour" and "My old man's a dustman". I could repeat the whole thing word for word then, and I pretty much can now. I can hear it in my head.

I went hunting the internet for lyrics and a lot of them had the same mistakes all through them. I finally found a version which wasn't too bad - almost right - right here on Mudcat, in this thread.

Sad that he's had this happen to him.

Jenny

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 23 May 05 - 06:29 AM

'an arrah come flyin right fru th' air
an' I fowt I'd copped me lot - a-hah!'
(The 'ahah' being a liitle yelp as he feigned being hurt)

To this child of the baby boom years, him singing 'Custer' on the London Palladium - sheer genius! - still indelibly stamped in my brain.
I wish him well.
Bless him - HFA

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: pavane
Date: 23 May 05 - 07:38 AM

'Does your chewing gum...' apparently dates back to the 1920's (Though not Lonnies version!)

Didn't Charlie Drake get blacklisted by Equity for employing a non-union person (girl) in his show? Or was that just a myth

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: GUEST
Date: 23 May 05 - 07:48 AM

'Hello my darlings.'

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: GUEST
Date: 23 May 05 - 08:21 AM

last time I searched..
there was still no CD complilation of his songs..


quite impressed by a real life war story
where it was claimed charly
was taking a shit and suddenly surprised by an encroaching enemy soldier..

charly then killed the bad guy with his bare hands..

[hope he washed them first]

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: GUEST
Date: 23 May 05 - 08:24 AM

UPDATE: horray !!!! there is one now


DRAKE, CHARLIE - HELLO MY DARLINGS: BEST OF [EMIGOLD]
1. Hello My Darlings

2. Splish Splash

3. My Boomerang Won't Come Back

4. Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)

5. I Bent My Assagai

6. Mr Custer

7. Glow Worm

8. I've Lost The End Of My Yodel

9. Itchy Twitchy Feeling

10. My Girl

11. Old Mr Shadow

12. Tanglefoot

13. Wonder Man

14. Naughty

15. Starkle Starkle

16. Charles Drake 007

17. Don't Trim My Wick

18. Drake's Progress

19. Have You Heared About Love

20. I'm Too Heavy For The Light Brigade

21. So This Is The Moon

22. That's Kissing

23. Working Man

24. You Can Do It

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: GUEST,anonanon
Date: 23 May 05 - 11:17 AM

Ex Royal Navy, I believe....

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 23 May 05 - 12:20 PM

I think Charlie's version of "Splish Splash" out sold Bobby Darin's original version , in the UK. Charlie also had a hit with Frankie Ford's "Sea Cruise". Indeed, at the time, I thought Charlie really got a great " over the top" handle on rock'n'roll. Don't know what I'd make of it 40 odd years on!

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 May 05 - 01:48 PM

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: GUEST,moreofafrankiehowerdfan,really
Date: 24 May 05 - 03:39 AM

Was never a fan, but sad to hear of his problems. As my Aunt Vera use to say:Old age never comes alone.

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Tracey Dragonsfriend
Date: 24 May 05 - 08:27 AM

Oh, I'm sad to hear that - I always liked him...

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: SqueezeMe
Date: 24 May 05 - 09:12 AM

Not sure about that war story!
I read somewhere he was on RN minesweepers during WWll.

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: GUEST,thanks
Date: 24 May 05 - 10:41 AM

Born Charles Springall in London on June 19, 1925, singer-turned-comedian Charlie Drake had a long and successful career as a stage and television performer in Britain. He also had a few hit records, of which the best-known is the 1961 novelty hit My Boomerang Won't Come Back, which reached #14 in the UK and #21 in the US.

In 1975, Drake recorded a very unusual single for Charisma, unusual in that it is a novelty record with connections to the world of progressive rock. Written by Peter Gabriel and Martin Hall (who also co-wrote the light-hearted Excuse Me from Gabriel's first solo album), the record has long been rumored to feature Genesis members and has been a source of great confusion for Genesis & Peter Gabriel collectors. Recently, in response to a post in the forum at www.philcollins.co.uk, Phil Collins offered the following recollection of the sessions for this single.

CHARLIE DRAKE....the post about Charlie Drake and his recording session brought back many memories. It did indeed feature Robert Fripp, Percy Jones, Keith Tippett, me and Peter G. A friend of Pete's, Martin Hall wrote the song, or possibly co-wrote it with Peter, called You Never Know. Apparently Charlie Drake who was a huge comedy star of the 50's and 60's wanted to make a record. How he ended up with this line up I have no idea !!! It seems the most obscure set of people to make a comedy record. On the day Charlie, who was quite small, turned up with a brand new denim outfit for his rock debut....it was quite touching to see him at it. Percy Jones and I were already in Brand X by then. The whole session was one of life's interesting snapshots !!!!

So there you have it! The above post is reproduced with permission from www.philcollins.co.uk. Please do not repost Phil's comments without crediting the original source.

Here are some interesting Charlie Drake links:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/talent/d/drake_charlie.shtml

http://www.45-rpm.org.uk/dirc/charlied.htm

http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/tv/comedy/charliedrake.htm

©Mark J. Moerman. This information may not be reposted without permission and proper acknowledgement.

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: GUEST,that was written by ©Mark J. Moerman
Date: 24 May 05 - 10:43 AM

thank you very very very very much Mr Moerman

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Rasener
Date: 24 May 05 - 11:09 AM

HFA
Maybe you could introduce Mr Custer in your Electric Band Act. :-)

Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: GUEST,mick
Date: 24 May 05 - 11:24 AM

Hello there my darlings.
I seem to remember Charlie getting kicked out of equity for breaking a BBC strike . He was the only member of the union to appear on the weekly vatiety show "Sunday Night at the London Palladium" during a dispute in the sixties The show lasted for an hour and Charlie did everything on it:he was the compere ,did a bit of magic ,sang and danced ,slapsticking his way to the end of the show, at which point, he fell off the stage and into the musicianless orchestra pit to great applause . But it wasn't part of the act ;he had indeed broken his leg .He was blacklisted by Equity after that and didn't get work on the TV until the seventies.
My memory is a bit hazy on this so don't take what I say for definite .It's interesting that this thread was started the day after the BBc went on strike though. Something subconcious in Bugsy's memory stirring ?
I never was a fan myself ;the only thing of his I ever liked was "Please Mr Custer , I don't wanna go" Does anyone remember the words by any chance?

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 24 May 05 - 12:16 PM

Well okay I admit to being old enough to remember Mick and Montmorency. But am I alone in thinking that Mick went on to introduce that Box 13 show whatever that was called.I believe he was Michael Miles.....
Sad about Charlie, many fond memories of falling off my seat laughing when I was oh so young!! (tee Hee)

Andy

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: The Shambles
Date: 24 May 05 - 12:26 PM

http://www.eabf.org.uk/

Brinsworth House 72 Staines Road Twickenham TW2 5AL
Administration: 0208 898 8164 * Fax Number: 0208 894 0093

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Terry K
Date: 24 May 05 - 01:07 PM

Mick was Jack Edwardes. Or the other way round if you prefer.

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 24 May 05 - 03:30 PM

Phew that's a relief, I spent most of my life wondering how the two such different personalities could be the same person. Hmm, thinking about it .............

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 25 May 05 - 07:12 AM

I saw Charlie in a play sometime in the 1980's at Chesterfield.

It was a play by that guy that wrote Noises Off - something to do with a newspaper office. I remember he looked very bemused - not sure he was enjoying it.

Mick an Montmorency were great favourites of mine. Unfortunately they came on just before The Children of the New Forest, and being of a timid nature I was frightened I was going to see Charles I head cut off on screen.

I seem to remeber he was an artist.

Perhaps it would be nice if we sent him a card.

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Torctgyd
Date: 25 May 05 - 07:41 AM

My fondest memory of him is the orchestra where he played all the instruments and the kettle drums were filled with liquid and splashed every one. I think they used to show it on Crackerjack a lot.

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 25 May 05 - 07:46 AM

'Noises Off' was written my Michael Green about 'Coarse Acting' and the things that go wrong - on and off stage - when ill-talented amateur would be actors take themselves too seriously - reminds me of some parts of Folk Music.

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 25 May 05 - 08:30 AM

"Noises Off" was written by Michael FRAYN! Saw it a couple of times, best was with Dinsdale Landen.

RtS

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 25 May 05 - 08:32 AM

...and his play about a newspaper library was "Alphabetical Order".

RtS

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 25 May 05 - 08:42 AM

Sorry - but it was in the same line as Michael Green's work - he is now responsible for the 'Coarse Acting Festival'. I have several books of the scripts .... fall down funny, ESPECIALLY if yo have been involved in Live Theatre...

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 06:56 AM

Ive just seen that Charlie Drake died yesterday at the age of 81, after a long illness following two strokes.

Kitty

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Fiolar
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 08:00 AM

It'll be a very sad Christmas. He was one of the greatest comedians of his time. I met him once when one of his sons was in hospital and I was one of the nurses on the children's ward. God bless his memory and he is now with the other giants including Laurel and Hardy, Chaplin, Keaton and so many others.

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: jacqui.c
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 08:18 AM

Sad to hear. He was one of my favourites when I was a kid.

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Alan Day
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 08:19 AM

Many thanks to you all for some nice memories.
I saw Mick and Montmorency at Clapham Junction getting on a train .Charlie was a tiny little man with bright ginger hair.I think one of his funniest sketches was the plates coming down the conveyor belt.
A sad loss and a strange coincedence that this discussion was started so near to his death.
Al

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 08:33 AM

Sad indeed. Now it's a case of "Hello my darling angels"
And I hope Mick still remembers not to touch Mont.

Happy memories,

Andy

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Bugsy
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 09:27 PM

That's very sad news.

We were talking about him just the other day.

I can just imagine him at heaven's gate.

"Hello My Darlin's!"

Vale Charlie

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: Effsee
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 09:53 PM

Sad news indeed. RIP.
Alan Day..."a strange coincedence that this discussion was started so near to his death"...this thread is 18 months old!
Gone, but not forgotten.

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 09:54 PM

He's gone to get that bloody boomerang. RIP.

Subject: RE: where's Charlie Drake these days??
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 12:32 AM

why is it vintage comedians always die at xmas..

me and mrs always joke & bet about which one will pop off this time of year...

but this one makes me eyes tear..

fuckin sobbin now.. nothin on mainstream tv news..


charlie was a punk folk legend..


what a little battling bruiser..

[stories about his war experience underpinning his comedic persona..]


for any 1960's kid.. charlie is a legend..