Sing something simple

PaulTansley · 10-07-2006, 17:06

If your my age or above you would remember the radio 2 show Sing Something Simple.
It was as I remember though older brains may put me right it was the Mike Sammes singers that sang the tunes continuously for 30 minutes every Sunday evening.

My plans are to bring this programme back when Sheffield Live gets on FM this year, ( If exepted) though I'll not go on about that.
It will be geared for older listeners and I know the younger generation will not be attracted to this but it will bring in dedicated listeners week after week.

What is your views about the programme, do you think it could work today and would any of the more mature out there like it back.
I believe there is no other programme on radio like it today.
Your views please, it would be 30 minutes like it used to be with no DJ.

JoeP · 10-07-2006, 17:20

Hi Paul,

My parents listened to this program - I remember it well. I think it was the Cliff Adams Singers, though - I could be wrong there. They were the close harmony vocalists, no instruments, weren't they?

The SSS slot seems to be occupied these days by 'Melodies For You', which I remember as being on on Sunday Mornings back in my childhood.

Good Luck with the project!

artisan · 10-07-2006, 17:28

There were also 'Forces Favorites' for soldiers overseas, and 'Family Favorites' for people at home. 'Workers Playtime' was another one where they went to different factories every day and get all the people singing along.
They were all morale boosting programmes in the dark days after the War
also 'Chidrens Favorites' for us kids as well!

bluebird62 · 10-07-2006, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulTansley

If your my age or above you would remember the radio 2 show Sing Something Simple.
It was as I remember though older brains may put me right it was the Mike Sammes singers that sang the tunes continuously for 30 minutes every Sunday evening.
My plans are to bring this programme back when Sheffield Live gets on FM this year, ( If exepted) though I'll not go on about that.
It will be geared for older listeners and I know the younger generation will not be attracted to this but it will bring in dedicated listeners week after week.
What is your views about the programme, do you think it could work today and would any of the more mature out there like it back.
I believe there is no other programme on radio like it today.
Your views please, it would be 30 minutes like it used to be with no DJ.

hi paul.
no, it was NOT Mike Sammes singers, it was the CLIFF ADAMS SINGERS.
Good luck in your quest paul, i think a show like this would go down very well. not only for the older generation but also for the younger as well.I remember listening to the show when travelling in the car with my grandparents. pitty you could not bring the Black & White Minstrals back as well. another great show of its day.

bluebird62 · 10-07-2006, 17:34

[repeated]

PaulTansley · 10-07-2006, 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by juliediane

hi paul.
no, it was NOT Mike Sammes singers, it was the CLIFF ADAMS SINGERS.
Good luck in your quest paul, i think a show like this would go down very well. not only for the older generation but also for the younger as well.I remember listening to the show when travelling in the car with my grandparents. pitty you could not bring the Black & White Minstrals back as well. another great show of its day.

hi Juliediane

Yes, thanks for you and Joe it was the Cliff Adams singers.
I hope to pilot it by chopping off 30 minutes of my Friday slot from 90 to 60 and linking it with that.
The Minstrals I'm affraid would not be an option today as they are part of the PC brigade.but your right they were great to listen to.

Grahame · 10-07-2006, 18:29

I always used to listen to it. I thought it was great. I would love to hear them again. Good luck with the prog.

Sweetcheeks · 10-07-2006, 18:55

Memories, I remember this programme. I`m sure it followed Pick of the Pops usually 7.00 on Sundays. I was only young but before Television took over it was our only entertainment. Wow, where did the years go?

Till Man · 10-07-2006, 19:25

Memories for me of the back of the car on the way home from my Gran's house. After the top 20 on Radio 2 and Radio 1. I seem to remember they used to join together for some of the time (Top 20 and Junior Choice I remember, though there may have been more).
Reception always used to be better on Radio 2 (1500) than Radio 1 (247) especially after dark.

coyleys · 10-07-2006, 22:17

Why not go the whole hog and bring back Mrs. Mills, Winifred Atwell and the monologues of Al Read.

JoeP · 10-07-2006, 23:02

Sing Something Simple must have still been airing in the 1970s when I ws in my early teens, because I remember that my dad would listen to it on the radio whilst he took a Sunday evening nap.

Till Man - yup, Radio 2 on 1500 metres was better than Radio 1 on 247 metres after dark because the higher frequency signals of Radio 1 started suffering interference from the Continent and also fading as the ionosphere changed from day to night state. Loxembourg on 208 metres would start coming in as Radio 1 got worse.

Bloomdido · 10-07-2006, 23:09

I remember it. I hated it with a vengance. I can still hear the theme tune even now. Who can I sue?

goldenfleece · 11-07-2006, 08:24

SING SOMETHING SIMPLE... hated it.....embarassingly I have many of those shows on tape as they followed the Radio 1 top 40 show from about 1976 to the mid 80's and my tapes often over ran, so have lots of them!!!!!!!

She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes, bom bom bom.....
She'ss be coming round the mountains when she comes, da da da....

PaulTansley · 11-07-2006, 09:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldenfleece

SING SOMETHING SIMPLE... hated it.....embarassingly I have many of those shows on tape as they followed the Radio 1 top 40 show from about 1976 to the mid 80's and my tapes often over ran, so have lots of them!!!!!!!

She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes, bom bom bom.....
She'ss be coming round the mountains when she comes, da da da....

Hey come fleece, you were a young spring chicken into disco and now your, better not go there

well your no spring chicken now, like wise

.
Maybe you may actually sing a long.
It brings back memories of that Sunday evening dreading school the next day on those dark cold evenings.
It was always dark when that came on the radio always reminds me of winter.

Wattsy · 11-07-2006, 12:03

I remember this radio show it was on after the Pick of the Pops with Alan Fluff Freeman.

Marky Baby · 11-07-2006, 15:25

Well nobody's mentioned Jack Emblow on the accordian!

You can't talk about Sing Something Simple without mentioning him!

You should all be ashamed!

Marky Baby · 11-07-2006, 15:31

Cliff Adams was born in 1923 and was a former singer with the Stargazers, a popular vocal group on BBC radio throughout the 1950s with six top 20 hits. The Cliff Adams singers were formed in 1954 and this series was heard on Sunday evenings on Radio 2 until 2001 after a mammoth run of 42 years. The group re sang well-known melodies from decades gone by. Cliff's also composed for TV commercials including Fry’s Turkish Delight, Cadbury’s Milk Tray and Cadbury’s Smash. Cliff arranged and performed on Sing Something Simple until his death in 2001.

(From www.radiorewind.co.uk)

Nigel Womersle · 11-07-2006, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by coyleys

Why not go the whole hog and bring back Mrs. Mills, Winifred Atwell and the monologues of Al Read.

Sorry, all are dead. It would be a miracle if they could be brought back. I once met Mrs Mills. She was a very down to earth lady. Very interesting to talk to.

Nigel Womersle · 11-07-2006, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bloomdido

I remember it. I hated it with a vengance. I can still hear the theme tune even now. Who can I sue?

It was on as early as 1962. You could buy an LP of the Cliffe Adams singers. It was exactly like the radio show.

shoeshine · 11-07-2006, 17:33

My very first transistor radio was purchase by my parents for me in around 1956 or so.....an Alba. I remember thinking it was gold dust to me then.

As a youngster the Carol Levis Discoveries programme from Radio Luxembourg (I think it was on Sunday evenings 208 Medium Wave) was a must in my early-teenage years of the 50's. As Joe says the signal was often blown out by interference.

I remember hearing SSS on occasions but by then it would only be when driving in the car and not intentional listening, probably the '70s. I liked the music though, but TV intruded of course.

I love harmony singing, and remain a great fan of Barbershop Quartets. I am afraid is is virtually a lost art these days, and is certainly not "hip" enough for modern media transmission.

Best of luck Paul...let us know here when it starts. I will be listening.