Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Anthony Newley, the RCA years.
Anthony Newley Apprecation Society.
Wiki.

Mr Newley, with his then-wife, Ms. Joan Collins.
A movie star aged thirteen, via David Lean's 'Oliver Twist', Anthony Newley's first hit record came courtesy of pop industry satire 'Idle On Parade' in 1959.
Newley's subsequent early recording success came with his concentration on sentimental ballads, comedy and novelty songs; most notably his re-workings of folk songs 'Strawberry Fair' and 'Pop Goes The Weasel'.

Leslie Bricusse.
Songwriter Leslie Bricusse's attempt to interest Newley in recording his material led instead to a long and fruitful hit-making collaboration that rivaled any Tin Pan Alley team from either side of the Atlantic.
Taking their cue from film director Ingmar Bergman,
Bricusse and Newley re-dubbed themselves 'Newburg & Brickman'; the pseudonymous semitic quality this nom-de-guerre provided appealing to the gentile Newley.

Early fruits from this partnership included the West End & Broadway hit show "Stop The World...I Want To Get Off!", from where Newley derived his ipso facto theme song 'What Kind Of Fool Am I?', and the Bond theme 'Goldfinger'.
What Kind Of Fool Am I? MP3 (Bricusse/Newley).*

Bond composer John Barry was less than pleased, after playing the first few bars of his composition, to be met with Messrs Newburg & Brickman's rousing chorus of 'Moon River'.
Goldfinger (demo) MP3 (Barry/Bricusse/Newley)**

When a regional touring version of brand new Bricusse/Newley musical 'The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd' (starring Norman Wisdom, of all people) failed to capture the British public's imagination; U.S. producer David Merrick agreed to transfer the show to Broadway, on the proviso that Newley would star.

A studio album of songs from 'Roar Of The Greasepaint...' recorded by Newley, entitled 'Who Can I turn To', was released and several of these songs were offered to other artists in anticipation of the New York premiere; providing a trio of hits for Tony Bennett, Nina Simone and Shirley Bassey.
From 'Who Can I turn To?':
Who Can I Turn To MP3 (Bricusse/Newley).***
Feeling Good MP3 (Bricusse/Newley).***
The Joker MP3 (Bricusse/Newley).***

With Newley fully occupied on Broadway, Bricusse flew solo on his next project; the Rex Harrison-starring musical 'Doctor Doolittle'. Although the movie was a spectacular flop, Newley's studio album of the film's songs, minus Newley's curious and individual interpretation of an Irish accent, was at least an artistic success.
From 'Anthony Newley Sings The Songs From Doctor Dolittle':
If I Could Talk To The Animals MP3 (Bricusse).***

Exchanging his U.K. Decca recording contract for a deal with RCA saw a shift away from the Music Hall leanings of his early output towards the Rat Pack performers Newley now socialised and identified with.
'Newley Recorded' saw him working with soul & jazz string arrangers H.B. Barnum, Ernie Freeman & Gordon Jenkins who between them numbered Nat King Cole, Sinatra, Count Basie and Gladys Knight & the Pips among their former clients.
From 'Newley Recorded':
No More MP3 (Adams/Strouse).***
Old Devil Moon MP3 (Harburg/Lane).***

*Taken from The Very Best of Anthony Newley.
**Thanks be to Bobby.
***Taken from 'The Best of Anthony Newley'.

Labels: ,

5 Comments:

Blogger ally. said...

i've been meaning to investigate newley for a while but being ridiculously easily distracted i've not quite got round to it so thanks awfully my dear
x

1:41 AM  
Blogger Y-fighter said...

Ah, Moogies Bloogies...

1:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Early eighties radio listeners in a certain midwestern college town were frequently treated to Mr. Newley's rendition of "Who Can I Turn To." Unfortunately for them, people near the control room during these broadcasts were frequently treated to a Newley-meets-"Newley" living stereo version of same. "My heart wants to know and so I must go where destiny leads me..." I know my sister had the original cast albums from both "World" and "Greasepaint" that must have been the origin of my Newley obsession. That, and the original version of Sweet November; Keanu Reeves eat your heart out.

12:10 PM  
Blogger modmom said...

i loved anthony newly!
thanks for all the info.
happy holidays!
check out these 1967 house of the future videos i just posted.
you will love them mr.kane
http://modmom.blogspot.com/2007/12/1999-ad-educational-video-predicts_13.html

11:17 PM  
Blogger modmom said...

happy new year :)

11:16 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

Links to this post:

Create a Link

<< Home