With everyone talking about the latest Oscars, and in light of the recent passing of the composer John Barry, it might be worth while looking back a few decades to recall a particularly good year in the Best Song category. 1966 and all that: what a choice for the judges.
There were five nominees for Best Song at the Oscars that year, with the three favourites being the big hits 'Born Free', 'Georgy Girl' and 'Alfie' from the films of the same name. The films were as different from each other as it is likely to imagine, but the quality of the songs' compositions and the individual performances of the recording artists had one thing in common: sheer brilliance.
John Barry scored 'Born Free', with Don Black providing the lyrics. Matt Monro, the singer's singer, gave it the power and the subtlety that only a master craftsman could deliver. Black was Monro's manager, and Barry was the seasoned composer of international film music: it was a mighty powerful triumvirate with a mighty powerful lobby in its corner.
But Don Black for one knew that the prize was anything but in the bag. In a radio interview some years ago he acknowledged that the competition had been fierce, and that 'Georgy Girl' was a glistening gem. He knew a great song when he heard one . . . and great it was and will always be so.
The film 'Georgy Girl' was a madcap romp of trendy Britain in the Sixties; a lighthearted comedy with a touch of pathos propping up the walls. The star of the film was Lynn Redgrave, but the ace in the pack was the magnificent theme song performed by the Seekers. At the peak of their considerable powers, they gave their all in a rollicking, carefree, defiant and joyous interpretation of a song that typified its era. It had arguably the finest melody, the cleverest lyrics and most importantly the best marriage of melody and lyrics of all the contenders. It should have won . . . but it didn't.
'Georgy Girl' was written by Tom Springfield and Jim Dale. Springfield, brother to Dusty, was the mastermind behind most of the Seekers' greatest hits. Where he pulled this melody from, God only knows; perhaps God gave it to him. But many may be interested to learn that the man who put the words to the tune was none other than a future Carry On star. Yes, the Jim Dale on the song credits is the same Jim Dale as the wacky guy who was about to feature in many of the Carry On classics.
Dale's lyrics on 'Georgy Girl' are uncannily perceptive, acerbic and touchingly sympathetic. I can't be sure, but I'd like to bet that Don Black (one of the world's greatest lyricists) wished he'd penned them himself.
'Alfie' was a haunting song that perfectly reflected the sadness and pointlessness of the main character's life as played out in most of the film. Hal David wrote the words, Burt Bacharach the music. It was a difficult commission for them both: neither were keen on writing a song about a guy named Alfie, but top pros that they were, they of course delivered the goods. It was a song so strong that it was covered by countless top artists, including Cilla Black and Dionne Warwick. But it was Cher who sang the track on the film. It's all about opinions as to which of the above three did the best job . . . but 'Alfie' went the same way as 'Georgy Girl' and had to give way to 'Born Free' on the big night.
Any one of the three songs would have been worthy winners. The main thing is the world was treated to a feast of music of the highest possible calibre in that one incredible year, back in the mid nineteen-sixties.
There were five nominees for Best Song at the Oscars that year, with the three favourites being the big hits 'Born Free', 'Georgy Girl' and 'Alfie' from the films of the same name. The films were as different from each other as it is likely to imagine, but the quality of the songs' compositions and the individual performances of the recording artists had one thing in common: sheer brilliance.
John Barry scored 'Born Free', with Don Black providing the lyrics. Matt Monro, the singer's singer, gave it the power and the subtlety that only a master craftsman could deliver. Black was Monro's manager, and Barry was the seasoned composer of international film music: it was a mighty powerful triumvirate with a mighty powerful lobby in its corner.
But Don Black for one knew that the prize was anything but in the bag. In a radio interview some years ago he acknowledged that the competition had been fierce, and that 'Georgy Girl' was a glistening gem. He knew a great song when he heard one . . . and great it was and will always be so.
The film 'Georgy Girl' was a madcap romp of trendy Britain in the Sixties; a lighthearted comedy with a touch of pathos propping up the walls. The star of the film was Lynn Redgrave, but the ace in the pack was the magnificent theme song performed by the Seekers. At the peak of their considerable powers, they gave their all in a rollicking, carefree, defiant and joyous interpretation of a song that typified its era. It had arguably the finest melody, the cleverest lyrics and most importantly the best marriage of melody and lyrics of all the contenders. It should have won . . . but it didn't.
'Georgy Girl' was written by Tom Springfield and Jim Dale. Springfield, brother to Dusty, was the mastermind behind most of the Seekers' greatest hits. Where he pulled this melody from, God only knows; perhaps God gave it to him. But many may be interested to learn that the man who put the words to the tune was none other than a future Carry On star. Yes, the Jim Dale on the song credits is the same Jim Dale as the wacky guy who was about to feature in many of the Carry On classics.
Dale's lyrics on 'Georgy Girl' are uncannily perceptive, acerbic and touchingly sympathetic. I can't be sure, but I'd like to bet that Don Black (one of the world's greatest lyricists) wished he'd penned them himself.
'Alfie' was a haunting song that perfectly reflected the sadness and pointlessness of the main character's life as played out in most of the film. Hal David wrote the words, Burt Bacharach the music. It was a difficult commission for them both: neither were keen on writing a song about a guy named Alfie, but top pros that they were, they of course delivered the goods. It was a song so strong that it was covered by countless top artists, including Cilla Black and Dionne Warwick. But it was Cher who sang the track on the film. It's all about opinions as to which of the above three did the best job . . . but 'Alfie' went the same way as 'Georgy Girl' and had to give way to 'Born Free' on the big night.
Any one of the three songs would have been worthy winners. The main thing is the world was treated to a feast of music of the highest possible calibre in that one incredible year, back in the mid nineteen-sixties.
(Picture: James Mason and Lynn Redgrave in Georgy Girl)
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