Paddy Roberts
b. 1910, South Africa, d. September 1975, England. A songwriter, pianist and singer, Roberts’ early education took place in England. He subsequently attended university in South Africa before joining a law practice. Intent on becoming a songwriter, he returned to the UK where he had some success in the late 30s with songs such as ‘Angel Of The Great White Way’ (written with Elton Box, Desmond Cox and Don Pelosi), and ‘Horsey, Horsey’ (with Box, Cox and Ralph Butler) which became popular for Jack Jackson, Billy Cotton and Henry Hall. During World War II Roberts flew with the RAF, and when peace came he became an airline captain on BOAC Constellations. Subsequently, he returned to songwriting, and during the 50s, had several UK chart hits, including ‘The Book’ (David Whitfield), ‘Heart Of A Man’ (Frankie Vaughan), ‘Lay Down Your Arms’ (Anne Shelton), ‘Meet Me On The Corner’ (Max Bygraves), ‘Pickin’ A Chicken’ (Eve Boswell); and ‘Evermore’, ‘Softly, Softly’ (number 1) and ‘You Are My First Love’ (the last three sung by Ruby Murray). The latter song was featured in the British musical film It’s Great To Be Young, and Roberts wrote several other movie songs, including ‘In Love For The Very First Time’ (for An Alligator Named Daisy, starring Diana Dors) and the title number to The Good Companions. His other 50s compositions included ‘Johnny Is The Boy For Me’, ‘It’s A Boy’, ‘That Dear Old Gentleman’, ‘Send For Me’ and ‘The Three Galleons (Las Tres Carabelas)’.
Most of the aforementioned songs were written in collaboration with others, such as Hans Gottwald, C.A. Rossi, Geoffrey Parsons, Peggy Cochran, Jack Woodman, Gerry Levine, Ake Gerhard, Leon Land, Peter Hart, Garfield De Mortimer, Derek Bernfield, Augusto Alguego, G. Moreu, and Lester Powell (pseudonym of Ray Martin). However, towards the end of the decade, he was beginning to write unaided more and more frequently, and during the 60s he included several of his own, often wry, witty and sophisticated, numbers in an accomplished cabaret act. Probably the best-known of these is ‘The Ballad Of Bethnal Green’, which enjoyed a good deal of airplay, but there were many others too, including ‘The Belle Of Barking Creek’, ‘The Big Dee-Jay’, ‘Follow Me’, ‘Country Girl’, ‘I Love Mary’, ‘The Tattooed Lady’, ‘What’s All This Fuss About Love?’, ‘The Lavender Cowboy’ and ‘Don’t Upset The Little Kiddywinks’. Roberts won several Ivor Novello Awards, and held high office in the Performing Right Society and the Song Writers Guild.
© TiVo
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Anthology: The Deluxe Collection (Remastered)
Lounge - Released by Master Tape Records on 20 Aug 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Ballad of Bethnal Green
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Music Manager on 15 Jul 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Big Dee-Jay and Other Songs for Grown-Ups!
Humour - Released by Mach60 Music on 1 Mar 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Strictly for All Ages: The Complete Recordings 1959-1962
Pop - Released by Jasmine Records on 19 Feb 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Sooner or Later
William Helmore, Paddy Roberts, John Franz
Jazz - Released by FDH Mood Music on 1 Jan 1960
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Strictly For Grown-Ups
Pop - Released by CGH Ventures Inc. on 5 Apr 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Follow Me, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Supreme Media on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Follow Me, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by Supreme Media on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Essential Paddy Roberts, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by Top Tracks on 30 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
What's All The Fuss About Love, Vol. 2
Humour/Spoken Word - Released by Diamond Days on 18 Jul 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Essential Paddy Roberts, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Paddy Roberts Tries Again
Pop - Released by Lumi OMP on 8 Sep 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
We've Got to Thank Columbus
Paddy Roberts, Dennis Wilson Octet
Humour - Released by Phorminx on 24 May 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Let Me Introduce The Boys
Folk - Released by Celtic Cross on 1 Jun 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Never Had It so Good, Vol. 1
Humour/Spoken Word - Released by Supreme Media on 9 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Essential Paddy Roberts, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Top Tracks on 30 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo