I remember this being played on Childrens Favourites on Saturday mornings on the radio. This would have been on the Light programme. (Now called Radio Two).
Bart's biggest gaff was selling the rights to Oliver, in 1970, he sold the rights to his published music for the next six years, and the stage and film rights to Oliver! to a production company. He got just £300,000 for them. (A few years later they were worth £2 million, a good writer and musician he may have been, a businessman? Not so much. Thanks for finding and throwing on the song, childhood memories of the 60s, halcyon days, not a care in the world.
According to a Lionel Bart biography I have, and backed up by Wikipedia, Bart disposed of "his past and future rights to his work, including 'Oliver!' which he sold to the entertainer Max Bygraves for £350 (Bygraves later sold them on for £250,000)." Indeed, Bart was no business man, he was profligate in his private life, and failed to write another musical anywhere near as good as "Oliver!" I note he was the youngest in his large family, perhaps he was over-indulged as a child, certainly he never seemed to take life seriously, and clearly had no-one to rely on to properly advise him and stop any irresponsible foolishness like selling his copyrights for a pittance. I was never a fan of Max Bygraves, but the man was no fool.
I remember this being played on Childrens Favourites on Saturday mornings on the radio. This would have been on the Light programme. (Now called Radio Two).
I distinctly remember this song getting frequently played on the radio. 😄
If you were listening to the BBC Light Programme 60 years ago, this recording would have popped up on shows playing gramophone records ! ! ! !
Had this playing in my head, remembered it from being a child. Never knew it was Lionel Bart. Wow. Thank you for sharing. Such lovely times. 😊.
My pleasure, I also remember it being played on the radio. ☺️ ☺️ ☺️
Thanks for sharing.
☺️ ☺️ ☺️
Bart's biggest gaff was selling the rights to Oliver, in 1970, he sold the rights to his published music for the next six years, and the stage and film rights to Oliver! to a production company. He got just £300,000 for them. (A few years later they were worth £2 million, a good writer and musician he may have been, a businessman? Not so much. Thanks for finding and throwing on the song, childhood memories of the 60s, halcyon days, not a care in the world.
According to a Lionel Bart biography I have, and backed up by Wikipedia, Bart disposed of "his past and future rights to his work, including 'Oliver!' which he sold to the entertainer Max Bygraves for £350 (Bygraves later sold them on for £250,000)." Indeed, Bart was no business man, he was profligate in his private life, and failed to write another musical anywhere near as good as "Oliver!" I note he was the youngest in his large family, perhaps he was over-indulged as a child, certainly he never seemed to take life seriously, and clearly had no-one to rely on to properly advise him and stop any irresponsible foolishness like selling his copyrights for a pittance. I was never a fan of Max Bygraves, but the man was no fool.