Daily Constitutional Editor and Rock'n'Roll London Guide Adam takes a listen to some Christmas music and looks for London connections…Little Donkey
On a visit to Chappell Music Publishers in Denmark Street in 1959, songwriter Eric Boswell had a chance meeting with wartime chanteuse Gracie Fields.
Fields' career was in the doldrums and she was
looking for a hit song to put her back on top. Boswell offered her Little
Donkey.
The song was also recorded by Bethnal Green's very own Beverley Sisters and the popularity of both versions ensured that the song reached No.1 on the sheet music sales chart at the end of 1959. The sheet music sales chart carried more prestige than the record sales chart back then.
Northern lass Fields' Columbia recording made number 20 in the hit parade, outdone by our pride of the East End – the Beverley Sisters scored a number 14 hit for Decca.
In 1960 Dutch singing duo Nina and Frederick took it to No.3 in the UK chart The Beverleys, Gracie Fields and three other versions of Eric Boswell's Little Donkey for you to enjoy…
Tomorrow… God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen in Cornhill
Last week I asked London Walkers & London Walks Guides to pick their favorite seasonal music. here's the finished playlist…
Christmas 2017 With London Walks…
On Christmas Day there are TWO London Walks: Walk up an appetite with The Christmas Morning 1660 Walk – meet at 11:00a.m by the big tree in Trafalgar Square
Walk off the pudding with The Christmas Day Charles Dickens Walk – meet by the big tree in Trafalgar Square at 2:00pm
A London Walk costs £10 – £8 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.
