Paddy Roberts (songwriter)
Encyclopedia
John Godfrey Owen Roberts (Paddy Roberts) (b. 1910 Durban
, South Africa
; d. 24 August 1975, Dartmouth, Devon
, England
) was a popular songwriter
and singer, having previously been a lawyer
and a pilot
(serving with the RAF
in World War II
).
Roberts enjoyed success with a number of song
s in the 1950s and 1960s and wrote songs for several film
s. He released several LPs
and EPs
of his own material, often featuring what were, for the time, slightly risqué lyrics
. Roberts was five times the winner of an Ivor Novello Award
, four for songwriting and one for services to the British Music Industry. He co-wrote the UK
chart-topper, "Softly, Softly
", as sung by Ruby Murray
.
Singles
EP
Although most the albums were only issued in Mono it appears that the studio albums at least were recorded in Stereo. The tracks from "Strictly For Grown Ups" that are included on "The World Of Paddy Roberts" SPA 37 are in Stereo leading to the assumption that the whole album was recorded that way (but never issued that way). "Songs for Gay Dogs" was issued in Stereo for the first time in 2006 when released on CD which indicates that "...But Not In front Of The Children" was also recorded that way
Musical Director on most recordings was Dennis Wilson. The exceptions being "Songs For Gay Dogs" (Peter Knight), "Funny World" (Ronnie Aldrich), "Live at the Blue Angel" (Barry Morgan) and "Doctor Dolittle" (Cyril Stapleton). The MD for "Love Is A Wonderful Thing/Send For Me" single was Johnny Pearson. There is no MD listed for his MFP album.
All Decca Material with the exception of "...But Not In front Of The Children" and "Funny World" was produced by Hugh Mendl
Songs For Gay Dogs/Funny World Must Close Saturday Records MCSR 3034
Strictly For Grown Ups has also been released without Tries Again, but with various other Paddy Roberts Compositions sung by others on MCSR 3046
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
; d. 24 August 1975, Dartmouth, Devon
Dartmouth, Devon
Dartmouth is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) was a popular songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and singer, having previously been a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and a pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
(serving with the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
).
Roberts enjoyed success with a number of song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s in the 1950s and 1960s and wrote songs for several film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s. He released several LPs
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
and EPs
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
of his own material, often featuring what were, for the time, slightly risqué lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
. Roberts was five times the winner of an Ivor Novello Award
Ivor Novello Awards
The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Cardiff born entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and composing. They are presented annually in London by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and were first introduced in 1955.Nicknamed The Ivors, the awards take place...
, four for songwriting and one for services to the British Music Industry. He co-wrote the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
chart-topper, "Softly, Softly
Softly, Softly (song)
"Softly, Softly" is a popular song written in 1955 by Mark Paul and Pierre Dudan, with English lyrics by Paddy Roberts.The most popular version of the song was recorded by Ruby Murray in 1955. Produced by Norrie Paramor, it reached number one in the UK Singles Chart....
", as sung by Ruby Murray
Ruby Murray
Ruby Murray was one of the most popular singers in the United Kingdom and Ireland in the 1950s. In 1955 alone, she secured seven Top 10 UK hit singles.-Child star:...
.
Songs
- "L'Anglais Avec Son Sang-froid"
- "Follow Me"
- "Love Isn't What it Used To Be"
- "The Book" (David WhitfieldDavid WhitfieldDavid Whitfield was a popular British male tenor vocalist. This operatic-style tenor had a formidable and predominantly female fan base in the 1950s.-Life and career:...
) - "Lay Down Your ArmsLay Down Your Arms"Lay Down Your Arms" is a 1956 popular song with music by Ake Gerhard and Leon Landgren and lyrics by Gerhard and Paddy Roberts ....
" (Anne Shelton) (1956) - "Meet Me on the Corner" (Max BygravesMax BygravesMax Bygraves OBE is an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, sometimes performing comedy sketches between songs...
) - "Pickin' a Chicken" (Eve BoswellEve BoswellEve Boswell was a successful pop singer in Britain in the 1950s.-Career:...
) - "Evermore" (Ruby MurrayRuby MurrayRuby Murray was one of the most popular singers in the United Kingdom and Ireland in the 1950s. In 1955 alone, she secured seven Top 10 UK hit singles.-Child star:...
) - "Softly, SoftlySoftly, Softly (song)"Softly, Softly" is a popular song written in 1955 by Mark Paul and Pierre Dudan, with English lyrics by Paddy Roberts.The most popular version of the song was recorded by Ruby Murray in 1955. Produced by Norrie Paramor, it reached number one in the UK Singles Chart....
" (Ruby Murray) (1955) - "Johnny is the Boy for Me"
- "It's a Boy" (Lita RozaLita RozaLita Roza was a British singer. Her 1953 number one hit record " That Doggie in the Window?" afforded Roza the privilege of being the first British female singer to top the UK Singles Chart, and the first Liverpudlian to do so.-Biography:Born Lilian Patricia Lita Roza in Liverpool, Lancashire,...
) - "That Dear Old Gentleman"
- "Send For Me"
- "The Three Galleons"
- "Merry Christmas You Suckers" (released in the U.S.United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as "And A Happy New Year") - "The Belle of Barking Creek"
- "The Big Deejay"
- "The Lavender Cowboy"
- "The Ballad of Bethnal Green" - Ivor Novello AwardsIvor Novello AwardsThe Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Cardiff born entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and composing. They are presented annually in London by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and were first introduced in 1955.Nicknamed The Ivors, the awards take place...
winner (1959) - "Tattooed Lady"
- "What's All This Fuss About Love"
- "I Remember Tilly"
- "Our Little Village"
- "Auntie Bridget"
- "I Love Mary"
- "Country Girl"
Soundtrack songs
- "Magic Carpet" (from No Time for TearsNo Time For Tears"No Time for Tears" is a song by The Enemy from their second album Music For The People.The song debuted on Radio 1 at 7pm on the 16/2/09. Following the premier of the song, the band were interviewed to discuss their "New Punk Sound". The song entered the UK Singles Chart at #16 on 19 April 2009,...
) - "You Are My First Love" (from It's Great to Be YoungIt's Great To Be YoungIt's Great to Be Young is a 1956 musical comedy film about a school music teacher, starring Cecil Parker and John Mills.-Cast:* John Mills as Mr. Dingle* Cecil Parker as Frome* John Salew as Routledge* Elizabeth Kentish as Mrs...
) - "I'm in Love for the Very First Time" (from An Alligator Named DaisyAn Alligator Named DaisyAn Alligator Named Daisy is a 1955 British comedy film directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Donald Sinden, Jeannie Carson, James Robertson Justice, Diana Dors, Roland Culver and Stanley Holloway.-Plot:...
) - Ivor Novello Award winner (1955) - "The Heart of a Man" (from The Heart of a ManThe Heart of a ManThe Heart of a Man is a 1959 British drama film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Frankie Vaughan, Anne Heywood and Tony Britton. A millionaire in disguise gives a young man money to help him pursue his singing career.-Cast:...
) (Frankie VaughanFrankie VaughanFrankie Vaughan, CBE, DL was an English singer of traditional pop music, who issued more than 80 recordings in his lifetime. He was known as "Mr. Moonlight" after one of his early hits.-Life and career:...
) - "Play Rough" (from Violent PlaygroundViolent PlaygroundViolent Playground is a 1958 British film directed by Basil Dearden starring Stanley Baker, Peter Cushing and David McCallum.-Plot:A British take on the popular genre of J.D. films, Violent Playground centres on a Liverpool street gang led by Johnny Murphy...
) - Several songs (from The Good CompanionsThe Good CompanionsThe Good Companions is a novel by the English author J. B. Priestley.Written in 1929 , it focuses on the trials and tribulations of a concert party in England between World War I and World War II. It is arguably Priestley's most famous novel, and the work which established him as a national figure...
) (1957) - "Give Me a Man" (from To Dorothy a SonTo Dorothy a SonTo Dorothy a Son is a 1954 British comedy film directed by Muriel Box and starring Shelley Winters, John Gregson and Peggy Cummins. It is also known as Cash on Delivery. It is based on a play by Roger MacDougall...
)
Albums
- Strictly for Grown Ups (1959) - #8 UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
Decca LF 1322 - Paddy Roberts Tries Again (1960) - #16 UK Decca LK 4358/SKL 4104
- Paddy Roberts at the Blue Angel (1961) Decca LK 4410
- Songs for Gay Dogs (1963) Decca LK 4560
- ...But Not In Front Of The Children (1966) Decca LK 4774
- Funny World (1967) Decca LK4964/SKL 4964
- Doctor Dolittle - With Marty Wilde and others (1967) Marble Arch MAL 738
- The Best of Paddy Roberts (1968) - Re-recordings MFP 1276
- The World Of Paddy Roberts (1969) - Compilation Decca PA 37/SPA 37
EPs & Singles
Featuring recordings not issued on albumsSingles
- Love Is A Wonderful Thing/Send For Me Decca F11446
- Merry Christmas You Suckers/Got An Idea Decca F11552
EP
- Paddy Decca DFE 6701
Discography Notes
Many of Paddy Robert's recordings were made available in the USA. "Merry Christmas You Suckers" was issued with an alternate title of "And A Happy New Year"Although most the albums were only issued in Mono it appears that the studio albums at least were recorded in Stereo. The tracks from "Strictly For Grown Ups" that are included on "The World Of Paddy Roberts" SPA 37 are in Stereo leading to the assumption that the whole album was recorded that way (but never issued that way). "Songs for Gay Dogs" was issued in Stereo for the first time in 2006 when released on CD which indicates that "...But Not In front Of The Children" was also recorded that way
Musical Director on most recordings was Dennis Wilson. The exceptions being "Songs For Gay Dogs" (Peter Knight), "Funny World" (Ronnie Aldrich), "Live at the Blue Angel" (Barry Morgan) and "Doctor Dolittle" (Cyril Stapleton). The MD for "Love Is A Wonderful Thing/Send For Me" single was Johnny Pearson. There is no MD listed for his MFP album.
All Decca Material with the exception of "...But Not In front Of The Children" and "Funny World" was produced by Hugh Mendl
Hugh Mendl
Hugh Rees Christopher Mendl was a British record producer, A&R representative, and manager who worked for Decca Records for over 40 years....
CD Releases
Strictly For Grown Ups/Paddy Roberts Tries Again Must Close Saturday Records MCSR 3022Songs For Gay Dogs/Funny World Must Close Saturday Records MCSR 3034
Strictly For Grown Ups has also been released without Tries Again, but with various other Paddy Roberts Compositions sung by others on MCSR 3046
External links
- Paddy Roberts discography at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Paddy Roberts biography and discography at Sterlingtimes
- Ivor Novello Awards winners list at Bucksmusicgroup