Ken Dodd was such a talented man a good voice and hugely funny and he carried on till the end the last of the old time theatre entertainers God bless him
He lived in his childhood home until the end, I seen him from time to time out local shopping, he gave a lot to alder hey children's hospital around the corner from him and also gave a small fortune to build the new Shakespeare theatre in Prescot where old shaky visited. Ken Dodd was a brilliant singer, entertainer and the funniest man I've ever seen. 👌🙏
Written by folk singer Ralph McTell, he penned it to point out to a friend feeling down that there were a lot worse off than him. It quickly became a searing critique of social conditions in the big cities. Ken softens it down considerably, and putting it in a victorian setting, withdraw's the barbs. Ken was equally well known for his singing career in the 60s, having several massive hits. He could certainly deliver the goods in different entertainment fields. Getting back to comedy, there are a couple of his appearances on the BBC The Good Old Days which are well worth watching. The theatre stage was where he was at home, and he could relate to the audience.
Ken Dodd, in 1965 he spent five weeks at Number 1 in the UK charts with the song Tears. It was the biggest selling hit of 1965. Ken Dodd was truly an all-around entertainer.
Ken Dodd had 18 Top 40 hits in the UK, one of which was "Happiness" which became his signature song that he sang to close all his shows (like Morecombe & Wise with "Bring Me Sunshine"). Another was "Tears" which spent 5 weeks at number 1 selling over a million copies and which, get this, was the 3rd biggest selling single in the 1960s in the UK. Think about that for a moment. The THIRD biggest selling in the 1960s - the decade jam-packed with songs by the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones to name but a few. That's quite something!
I saw Ralph sing this in 1969/70 when he,d just brought it out on his album Spiral Staircase. He wrote so many great folk songs and is still going it was good to see it at the slower speed that Ralph sang it in originally, not the later hit version. It is Sreets of London but could be a any big city.
Great reaction Squirrel. Ken Dodd is one of England's greatest all round entertainers, comedian obviously, beautiful singer and a brilliant actor when he got the chance as when he played Malvolio in Twelfth Night to great critical acclaim. They don't make them like him anymore sad to say.
Reminds me of back in the 1970s when there was always a rack of cheap LPs in little stores. So you could by your newspapers, cigarettes and an LP at the same time. To play on your radiogram. Ken Dodd has 21 albums and 62 singles listed, starting in 1962.
Ken had 18 top 40 hits in the UK ..... ballads basically, in the 1960s, His single 'Tears' was the 3rd biggest selling single of the 1960s ...... and topped the charts for 5 weeks. He was up against The Beatles, Stones, Who, Kinks, Hollies, Cliff, Elvis etc etc ! ...... eek!
Doddy was an all round entertainer and he had quite a few hit records in the 1960's. A few months ago I had occasion to pass through Knotty Ash in Liverpool and even as old as I am I still think of those Diddy Men and Jam Butty Mines Doddy used to talk about and my parent's would tell me to look out for (to keep us quiet in the car) as we drove to visit relatives back then. Roger Whittaker (who I think you have reacted to his whistling songs) also did a version of this song. Two great gentlemen.
True: Ken Dodd was one of the patrons of the theatre I used to work at. so whenever he was due, you could hear eyeballs being rolled, watches being stared at, deep heavy sighs and plans on bringing in sleeping bags and thermos flasks filled with hot tea, and a pack of sandwiches/instant porridge oats. until his last show, his previous record was 3 hours... he did five hours. and despite having both a sense of humour and a deathwish, I'd put my name down to man the theatre that night - as we were all volunteers, we all took our job seriously - ice cream sale, sweets, tea or coffee in the cafe, taking tickets, showing people to their seats, and what to do if the fire alarm goes off (had that part nailed - thanks to a band who didn't understand 'don't use an oil based smoke machine' TWICE - and having to evacuate the theatre TWICE because of it and several fire appliances turning up because it's always classed as an emergency). I became ill just days before he was due to appear. I was waiting to go into hospital, so I called in at the theatre to let them know what the score was. you know when you can feel yourself being silently told off? that. but he went on for five solid hours. didn't like him singing, but he could rattle jokes out faster than the Diddymen could mine jam butties. that's a stamina most people wish they had at half his age! my one and only chance to be in the same space as as an absolute total legend that I'd been watching from being a baby, ruined by a dodgy gallbladder!! (and my health hasn't really been great since then 😛)
I'm sure this has been mentioned a million times already but, this was a song written by Ralph McTell. He did an update of the song over COVID. I'd love you to react to either the original or the updated version.
Ken was fantastic - he could do anything from kids comedy to Shakespeare - he did the lot - he even had a number one 45 in the 1960’s and there’s footage on RU-vid of him and the Beatles larking about. Totally unique and he left a hole in British entertainment that will never ever be filled.
Happiness is one of his hit songs and came to be his theme tune when he appeared on stage. Doddy used to say; “Laughter is like a rainbow. At the top is white laughter - little kids playing and laughing their heads off at the sheer joy of being alive. Beautiful. Then there’s yellow, the laughter of clowns. Red is the laughter of romance… right at the bottom is the dark laughter of satire and cynicism. That’s cruel.” He also used to tell us we should keep our chuckle muscles exercised daily.
One of those songs that has stayed with me since childhood. I can still remember my music teacher playing the guitar and singing this when I was at primary school in London, back in the early 70s.
This man was a brilliant entertainer, the sad part is, when we lost him a few years back, there was nobody to replace him. Tony, if you don't know it, check out the original version by Ralph McTell, he wrote the song.👍
Hi Tony , See if you can find the show 'The good old days, It was aired when I wore a younger mans clothes, You will be surprised by the old fashion sing along and the dress code :). Take care buddy . my favourite channel :). All the best from Wales U K.
I think this would have been from his one short ITV series verging on 1980 thereabouts. Ken was really BBC for television. A melancholic song well suited for his manner and voice. A clown's melancholy which he could assume when needed. Another that is talented in the same way is Sylvester McCoy - although I don't know if he has Ken's singing voice. The facial features of both help in the tragi-comedic. Sylv would do all sorts of insanity as part of Ken Campbell's Roadshow, some stunts wincingly so! Some that Doddy would certainly think twice about!
Very Good choice Squirrel. Ken's version was lovely, and new to me. 👏 It was written and performed by Ralph McTell. There are many versions, I liked this because the audience sang along _Ralph McTell Streets Of London Live_ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Whv7MgepUQQ.html I saw him perform this, and sang along, in a small theatre about 1977. 😭 Beautiful. It takes my breath away, still. My brother had McTell's album. It's about more than homelessness. It's about losing life. However, Ralph's right, I'm very fortunate, and there are many, people worse off who need and deserve help.. Take Good Care of Yourself, and Your Family. Best Wishes. ☮
Nuts Pantry calling! Squirrel ol' mate! There's a nice little five minute Goon reunion called 'The Goons Re-united at the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Steam Railway' - The titles longer than the film!! - which reunites Harry, Spike and one of the original Goons whom you've not yet seen, Michael Bentine. Michael played Professor Osric Pureheart in the earlier Goon Shows and was in the original Goons film, 'Down Among The Z-Men'. Michael also did an act with a broken chair which is an interesting look - which he also performed in the aforementioned film. Here's hoping you've had the all clear with the Lurgi mate. TLC!
This was a big song for me, I am no singer, but as a kid this is the one I would be rolled out to sing for relatives. Ken is a great singer, I don't think the staging was right for this, its a contemporary song. Here is the original artist Ralph McTell doing it in 1974 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sSn9McLtx30.htmlsi=y8Nhv66ypH4n9wyo
There's a message here for the victimhood crazed idiots of today. People had hard lives but remained positive and it was entertainers like Ken who brought laughter and some relief to their lives. Wealth is nothing compared to the human spirit. Many people have lived wonderful lives through incredible hardships. God bless you Ken, a true man of the people.
He actually wrote some kids books as well Ken Dodd. I think you should be on the stage that's where your passion lies it's never too late. You didn't get your book published?
Hmm ken dodd,as a kid growing up i never really bothered with him.i didnt dislike him but never rushed to watch him.its actually nice to see and watch him as an adult and understand how talented he really was.
I know I am a minority but I got so angry that not only Ken Dodd but a lot of the older British comedians had great voices but chose comedy instead of music. In 1965 Ken Dodd was Number One in the British Hit Parade for weeks with Tears for Souvenirs.
Hi Squirrel 🤗 I'm not criticising your view on this but i think that you have missed the point,🧐 its not about people watching...its about the plight of the homelessness in London. This was written and recorded by Ralph McTell over 45yrs ago😮 now move forward to 2023 and how have we progressed...... we haven't, homelessness in the 21st century in London, LA, and other major Cities is higher than ever, i myself was once homeless, for nearly 2yrs but i was able to get back up on my feet but alot of people can't.. As one of the richest Nation's we have some of the highest rates of homelessness. "Food for Thought".,,, I don't know how it was in America but during the Pandemic that we all wen through The UK government was able to provide the homeless with accommodation but now we are over the pandemic all these people are back on the streets😮💥😵💫 Sorry to be harp on...Love and best wishes to you and your squirrel family 🇬🇧💚😀
