Do Brits remember George Formby?

Subject: RE: Do Brits remember George Formby?
From: Sanjay Sircar
Date: 19 Jan 13 - 09:51 PM

If "Mr Woo's a Window Cleaner" was 1940 (?), and "On the Bar on the Piccola Marina" is 1954 (?), is the musical resemblance between the main line of the first and the choris of the second (Uncle Harry's not a missionary now") just in my head, or is it actually there?

Sanjay Sircar

Subject: RE: Do Brits remember George Formby?
From: Mr Red
Date: 20 Jan 13 - 10:05 AM

yes and yes - probably (above and OP)

All pop music has these similarities - it is a feature of "wot wurks, wot sells", and don't forget the song "Mr Woo's a Window Cleaner Now"
Is that cashing-in on an old success or what?

cf Neil Sedaka in his Calendar Girl day.

In the book "How to be a Succesful Songwriter" the one common bit of advice from many well-known and respected pop composers (inc Sedaka) was to: "Take a song, write new lyrics, then write a new tune to that"

I think the word is "derivative" but in the throw-away mental wallpaper that is "popular consumption", derivative is easy money all too often.

Subject: RE: Do Brits remember George Formby?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 20 Jan 13 - 05:14 PM

Ukulele Ike was one of the first to do Gershwin songs like "Fascinatin' Rhythm" where he could imitate an early jazz trumpet in his scat singing. One of his classics was the song "If I Had You".

There might be some connection between the styles of Formby and Edwards.

Subject: RE: Do Brits remember George Formby?
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 24 Jul 16 - 04:16 PM

Back in 2011 I posted a question and list of George Formby's films.
At that time FEATHER YOUR NEST was unavailable in a legitimate DVD
release.
I've just learned that the film is now available in the
series EALING STUDIOS RARITIES COLLECTION, Vol.14. released in 2014.
This DVD contains the following films:
LONELY ROAD (1936)
THE SIGN OF FOUR (1932)
THE WATER GIPSIES (1932)
FEATHER YOUR NEST (1937)

Best wishes, Thomas.

Subject: RE: Do Brits remember George Formby?
From: keberoxu
Date: 24 Jul 16 - 05:43 PM

Of all people to introduce one to George Formby:
I first learned of him by reading about a visit to a dog racetrack -- by vet James Herriot, to treat a few greyhounds.