Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 1 day 9 hours 55 minutes
Tim tells the story of the creation of the unofficial Bible of the British charts in their glory years - the series of books he founded with brother Jo, Paul Gambaccini and Mike Read. Tommy Steele, Kate Bush and Billy Fury illustrate his tale.
Tim is inspired by a 1944 theatre poster of a play which is totally forgotten today; however it has a great emotional impact for him, reminding him of the great times and success he and Andrew Lloyd Webber enjoyed with their manager the late David Land. It’s possible to succeed without taking yourself too seriously. In fact David Land proved it’s almost essential.
Tim reveals all about the last complete musical he wrote with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cricket (Hearts and Wickets), just 30 minutes long, commissioned by HRH Prince Edward for HM The Queen’s 60th birthday in 1986. No official recording exists but Tim tells the tale with selections of the lyrics and a couple of the actual songs. Surely the theatre world would appreciate a new, complete recording? Well he would anyway.
Tim wrestles with the eternal songwriter’s dilemma - which comes first, the words of the music? Andrew Lloyd Webber generally liked music first, Elton John always the words first. Dipping into songs from his first ever musical with Andrew and into the Lion King score he wrote with Elton, Tim attempts to see which way round works best.
Tim recalls the ups and mainly downs of Chess on the great White Way in 1988. He was abandoned in a remote lay-by, Inspiring a film starring Bob Geldof, and lost a packet when the show closed after eight weeks. But a couple of great new songs were added to the already very popular score.
For a while Tim thought that the best follow-up to JC Superstar would be a musical based on Jeeves and Bertie Wooster. Turned out not to be a good idea.
Tim looks back at the 1973 Norman Jewison film of Jesus Christ Superstar, and in particular at the great contributions from Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson. He has just about got over the rejection of his screenplay and André Previn’s contributions.
The planned revivals of Aida and From Here To Eternity are still stymied but Tim has written a new song inspired by the G7 summit in Cornwall in June. Imaginatively entitled Gee Seven it pays tribute to that magic number rather than to the soon-to-be-assembled throng of world leaders, but does contain advice which they will surely appreciate.
Tim talks about his first proper job in the entertainment business - a management trainee at EMI Records in the Swinging 60s. He produced his first singles (flops) but learned the recording studio ropes, and met an artist with whom he was to have a long and successful musical relationship (and friendship) in later years - Murray Head. He plays some of those early efforts which were great training for the JC Superstar album a few years down the line.
Tim’s 50th podcast, like his first, draws inspiration from the strange collection of objects and paraphernalia on one of his mantelpieces. He recalls the wonderful Broadway star Laurie Beechman, anticipates the forthcoming 51st anniversary re-issue of Jesus Christ Superstar, celebrates the 50th anniversary of a Welltron 8-track tape player/radio and premieres a brand new song written with Gary Barlow. And thus ends the first series of Get Onto My Cloud.