Thursday, September 08, 2005
Allen Smethurst
"As the Singing Postman, Allan Smethurst benefited from the British public’s endearing sympathy for the underdog. His most popular hit, Hev Yew Gotta Loight, Boy?, momentarily outsold the Beatles — in East Anglia, at least — and for a few weeks became a national catchphrase. But like many novelty stars before and since, his 15 minutes of fame was little more than that, and after four albums he faded from the public consciousness ending his days as an alcoholic in the care of the Salvation Army.
Smethurst, a postman from Norfolk who hummed his tunes on his daily round, bought his guitar from Woolworths in 1949 and started writing and playing his own dialect songs, initially confining his activities to his bedroom. “It was ten years afore I dare let people hear them,” he once admitted. Plucking up the courage to send a tape to the BBC in Norwich, he was given a spot on a local radio show compered by a sales promotion man, Ralph Tuck, who promptly founded a record label called The Smallest Recording Organisation in the World to promote the Singing Postman. The 100 discs which Tuck had cut in the early weeks of 1966 promptly sold out and Smethurst became an overnight star, ousting the Beatles from the top of the East Anglian hit parade."
It was sadly downhill from then on. He took up drink to try and cure his crippling stage fright but obviously he was destined to be a "one hit wonder" and the music biz moved on to the next novelty act.
The Singing Postman - Tha's A Lot Of Squit
The Singing Postman - Stoon Pickin' Toime
These You Send It files are available for seven days or until exhausted.
"Molly McKindley, she smokes like chimney but she's my little nicotine gal"
ReplyDeletePS. New Richard Thompson album OUT NOW! Meant to be excellent (?)
ReplyDeleteI look forward to the Richard Thompson. I saw him play live once and the Pogues were the support band! What a shambles that was!
ReplyDeletehe is an incredible individual though isn't he and that album that he and his then wife made (can't remeber the name of it) was exceptional.
ReplyDeletei like the pogues but shane mcgowan is a bit of wreck.
priceless recordings
ReplyDeleteI think the album you are thinking of CJ is called "I Wanna SeeThe Bright Lights Tonight"? with his then wife Linda.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jan. Glad you are enjoying these. I don't suppose The Singing Postman means much in Holland?!
thats the one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip ccatz. I will certainly upload them again for you if I can find them!
ReplyDeleteO.K. It didnt take that long. Here they are again for another week.
ReplyDeleteHi there... Any chance you could upload these files again please??
ReplyDelete