[78-L] London [was Near You by Francis Craig]

[David Lennick]

Most of their strength in the fifties was as a classical label. Mantovani and Vera Lynn were steady sellers, as was (how could you ever forget this revolting singer, the poor man's Mario Lanza) David Whitfield, whose "Cara Mia" I smash every time I find a copy. Ken Griffin records, Cara Mia, and accordions..almost as bad as vuvuzelas.

 

dl
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> 
> It all make me wonder how London in the 50s ever stayed afloat. To my 
> mind they really had a few real hit makers in their stable: Vera 
> Lynn, Lonnie Donnegan, Mantovani, and the Bulawayo Sweet Rhythms 
> Band. I'd guess that Mantovani was bigger in the lp area than in 
> single 78s (you might through Edmondo Ros in there too), Vera Lynn 
> might be a big singles artist, Donnegan a novelty for a while, and 
> the Sweet Rhythms boys being the biggest singles chart hit maker of 
> all. Maybe. Surely by the time the Stones came along they'd have been 
> dead had it not been for Telstar by the Tornados.
> 
> I might add that my observations where based on a look through my 
> stuff and eBay. Just noted at Dot showed up on RGE in Brazil and a 
> L/A in the Euro/ UK world.
> 
> T
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