Sir John Betjeman

Posted by CarlP on 21 February 2008 - 10:00pm.

Vulpes Vulpes mentions Sir John in another thread. Is anyone else here a fan of Betjeman's Banana Blush album or any of his other albums of poems set to Jim Parker's music? i love it. Indoor Games At Newbury and The Arrest Of Oscar Wilde At The Cadogan Hotel being a couple of particular favourites from that album.

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Sock it to 'em JB

I don't know the albums, but I can't recommend Metroland enough, JB's seventies documentary about the history of the Metropolitan line, it may sound deathly - but it's a diamond. You can hire it from Amazon (or perhaps a library).Borrow it, borrow it and borrow it again. Brilliant.

Dave C | 21 February 2008 - 10:55pm

God, I hope...

....there are no fans of the Betjeman "musical" written(/) by erstwhile breakfast show Mike Read. Even one by the cockernee "comedian" off Eastenders would have been better.

Retropath2 | 22 February 2008 - 9:49am

Oh God

I'd forgotten about that. You know what I have to do now, don't you? Believe me, this will hurt me more than it hurts you.

Gatz | 22 February 2008 - 1:21pm

Rampant egomania

I recall reading about some launch event for the show. Apparently Mike Read was signing books of Betjeman's poetry. It that is true... Well it just beggars belief.

CarlP | 22 February 2008 - 1:42pm

Seem to remember Suggs

Seem to remember Suggs choosing a track off one of those JB albums when he was on Desert Island Discs. Can't remember which one though. And Metroland is indeed wonderful.

Richard Lowe | 22 February 2008 - 10:00am

Many years ago

living in a student hall of residence, the bloke in the next room had extremely eclectic musical taste, a huge stereo system, and a propensity for throwing his windows wide open.

Needless to say I got to hear his record collection on a regular basis. He introduced me - and anyone else within earshot - to lots of bands on the periphery of the mainstream. In amongst the contemporary stuff he had the "Banana Blush" and "Late Flowering Love" albums, on the famous Charisma label.

Lovely stuff, and they're all out on CD at last.

Thanks for that, Nick Iles from Gloucester, wherever you are!

Vulpes Vulpes | 22 February 2008 - 11:47am