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Love Me Tender

 

The stories behind the world’s favourite songs

Some of the world’s best-loved songs have had remarkable origins. In a book full of surprises and curiosities, Max Cryer reveals stories from all around the world, and from artists as diverse as Marlene Dietrich, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland and Elton John. This truly fascinating book makes enthralling reading.

SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 210 x 155 mm | Illustrations | 192 Pages |

SKU: 9781921497025 Categories: , , , ,

Max Cryer is a writer, entertainer and broadcaster. Initially a soloist at Sadlers Wells Opera in London, his music horizons broadened to encompass cabaret and music theatre. He has performed on the opera stages of Vienna and London and in cabaret in Las Vegas and Hollywood. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of popular song, with a special interest in music theatre, and is an avid collector of musical manuscripts. His career has included stints as a teacher, compere, television presenter and quizmaster, but he now devotes most of his time to writing. He currently resides in New Zealand.

Some of the world’s best-loved songs have had remarkable origins. Had Robert Burns not heard an old man sing a quavering version of an ancient Scottish country song, we would never have had ‘Auld Lang Syne’. Miss Jane Ross wrote down the tune she heard played by a piper at an Irish village fair in 1855. Had she not done so, the rest of the world would not have heard ‘Danny Boy’. Marie Antoinette heard a peasant nurse sing an obscure lullaby to her princely son. The empress’s unexpected promotion of the song resulted in its now being listed by The Guinness Book of Records as one of the three most familiar songs in the world.

Love Me Tender tells the remarkable stories behind 40 popular and traditional songs. Some evolved from folksongs, some are from musical theatre, while others hit the mark because a particular recording appeared at just the right time. In some cases, one word made all the difference: Paul McCartney composed a tune but could only think of the words ‘scrambled eggs’ to fit it, but fortunately he later came up with the perfect solution – ‘Yesterday’. In a book full of surprises and curiosities, Max Cryer reveals stories from all around the world, and from artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby and Cole Porter. This truly fascinating book makes enthralling reading.

The Songs:

Memory (Cats); Love Me TenderEdelweissFor He’s A Jolly Good FellowThe Star-Spangled Banner; Danny BoyAuld Lang SyneHello Dolly!Lili MarleneSomewhere Over the RainbowYesterdayWhite ChristmasAmazing GraceHome Sweet HomeMoon RiverTwinkle, Twinkle, Little StarBegin the BeguineGod Save the King/QueenI Don’t Know How to Love HimRudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerGalway BayI Could Have Danced All NightBlue MoonYou Made Me Love YouSilent NightBeyond the Blue HorizonAve MariaNow is the HourMad Dogs and EnglishmenFalling in Love AgainHappy BirthdayCandle in the WindWaltzing MatildaSend in the ClownsGreensleevesThe Loveliest Night of the YearBali Ha’iYou Don’t Have to say You Love MeIt’s a Long Way to Tipperary.