I found this double cassette yesterday at a rummage sale held by the Salvation Army in town. I think it was 50p. A lot of comic songs that I'd not heard before including the two uploaded here. They were very much a part of my television viewing as a child and teenager- something the whole family could laugh along with. The songs only hint at what they were like to see on TV. Eric's looks to camera alone were worth a thousand catch phrases.
"The theatrical/TV impresario Bernard Delfont gave Morecambe and Wise their own ITV show after the pair appeared frequently on the small-screen in 1960, notching up 12 spots on Val Parnell's Sunday Night At The London Palladium. Now the same network pitched them into a show of their own, teaming the comedians with another double-act, the writers Sid Green and Dick Hills. Sid and Dick, as they soon became known to the nation, also ventured out from behind-the-scenes to feature in front of the cameras with the comics.
The first ATV series - broadcast live each week from the Wood Green Empire in north London - was so successful that a second run was commissioned and given a Saturday primetime slot; from here on, after seven years of irregular TV appearances, Morecambe and Wise were firmly established as stars of the medium and Britain's best comedy double-act. Catchphrases soon developed, with Eric as the wag and Ernie the butt of all jokes: Morecambe would grab Wise by the throat and remark 'Get out of that!'; Morecambe would claim that Wise possessed 'short fat hairy legs'; the two comics, with their scriptwriters, sang a catchy comedy song that attained national fame, 'Boom Oo Yatta Ta Ta'; and every programme ended with the first line - but never more - of the age-old dirty joke 'There were these two old men sitting in deckchairs...'.
As a result of these marvellous ITV shows, Morecambe and Wise branched out into the cinema with three starring feature films, The Intelligence Men, That Riviera Touch and The Magnificent Two, released in 1964, 1966 and 1967 respectively."
Go HERE to find out more about Eric and Ernie.
Morecambe & Wise - Me, and My Shadow
Morecambe & Wise - The "B" Side
These Rapid Share files are accessible by scrolling down the page and clicking on the FREE button. Wait at the bottom of the page for your file to appear ( about 20 seconds ).
True comic genius. The Riveria Touch still has me laughing until my sides are sore as does (I think) the Intelligence Men (007 spoof right?)
ReplyDeleteHard to believe that both of these two cornerstones of comedy are now dead
That's right. But I dont remember their films being all that funny. Maybe I should watch them again. These songs are'nt all that great either and doesnt really capture the magic of their stand up act and routines they did on the telly.
ReplyDeleteIt is probably nostalgia on my part. Whenever the films are now shown they do seem dated and certainly not as funny as their TV performances but they still make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteThe trouble with all comedians that make music, the spontaneity is lost somewhere in the studio. The only producer who seemed able to capture things with that 'ad lib'feel was George Martin. I think he produced that Peter Sellers album that your site sometimes shows?
It's nice out today isn't it?
ReplyDeleteIs that one of their catch phrases Al or just a comment abou the weather in Llanbradach?
ReplyDelete