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So, who remembers this

(126 Posts)
PRINTMISS Sat 20-Aug-16 08:47:46

Sparky and his Magic Piano - we are clearing out our collection or lps, cds, tapes, and everything else, and came across this on CD. Probably bought it for the grand-children, but I know we had it as a record when my daughter was young, and she was entranced by it - but that was quit a few years ago now.

Clickgran Sun 21-Aug-16 13:54:01

Oh great memories, Beep Beep song by the playmates was one of my favourites along with Nelly the Elephant. You could sing along to all of them knowing all the words. I seem to remember it as Two Way Family Favourites too. Is that right or my imagination? Sunday afternoon radio too, like Round the Horn and the Navy Lark and HHHancocks Half Hour, Brilliant!

bigbird1 Sun 21-Aug-16 13:19:32

I thougjt I was the only person on the planet who remembered 'Pet's ' little blue man. We had it on a 78. Loved it

GrannyGalactica Sun 21-Aug-16 13:17:35

Back in the 1950s we had a wind-up gramophone and a collection of 78rpm records. This included Sparky and his Magic Piano and I think Tubby the Tuba was on the other side. We also had Danny Kaye singing The Ugly Duckling, the Little White Duck and, my favourite, The Thing. We also had Rock Around the Clock and Rip It Up and a few more that I can't remember. We used to give the gramophone a good wind-up and try to play two records before winding again. We never succeeded. There was a pocket in the lid to store records but I don't think you were supposed to keep them there while playing. Foolishly, we did and one day the lid fell down and broke most of our precious records.

Humbertbear Sun 21-Aug-16 13:07:06

My grand children love Sparky. We bought the CD 'Helli Children Everywhere' and we sing the songs in the car - Nelly the Elephant, she'll be coming round the mountain etc

Greyduster Sun 21-Aug-16 11:40:17

The Devil's Gallop, Tricia. DH, GS and I did a little play at Christmas for his mum and dad. There was to be a struggle as I (a burglar) was apprehended by Corner of the Yard (GS), and I cued that tune on the CD player (from Radio Classics) as background music! It all got a bit out of hand, but that's another story!!

henetha Sun 21-Aug-16 11:30:23

I used to sing Nymphs and Shepherds in the school choir, and Linden Lea, and Come into the garden Maud, and All in the April Evening....
What memories!
And, yes, I remember Sparky and his magic piano.

TriciaF Sun 21-Aug-16 10:57:13

I remember that programme too, Greyduster. And Forces Favourites.
Also Dick Barton Special Agent with that catchy theme tune.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2eqX93umXo

JackyB Sun 21-Aug-16 10:56:11

We had a cassette tape when my kids were small, in the early 80s, with all the old favourites from Children's Choice (It was called "All Aboard"). My kids loved it and the eldest has converted it to mp3s, for his children to learn to love, too. Nelly the Elephant, Sparky the Piano, the Mouse that lived in a windmill, The laughing policeman, They're Changing the Guards at Buckingham Palace. And lots more.

Greyduster Sun 21-Aug-16 10:46:23

I remember as a child listening to the wireless in the afternoons with my mother, and there was a programme with Sandy McPherson, an organist. I used to love hearing him reading out requests from people in the far flung places of the then empire, and wondering where places like Matabeleland and Nyasaland were, and places in Australia and Malaya. How long did these requests take in the fifties to get to Mr McPherson I wonder - no email then!

oldgoat Sun 21-Aug-16 10:07:40

We had a large brown Marconi wireless with a screen displaying all the exotic channels like Hilversum. My sister and I used to sit and stare at this screen and pretend we were watching television.On Sunday evenings we were allowed to listen to 'Journey into SPACE!' which was on Radio Luxembourg and very exciting.
When we finally got a television there were several puppet shows for children like 'Andy Pandy' and 'Muffin the Mule' the name of which makes my children snigger..

Lisalou Sun 21-Aug-16 08:04:30

Tubby the Tuba was my favourite!

whitewave Sun 21-Aug-16 03:24:44

"Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin"
"Here's some music you can dance to"

Galen Sat 20-Aug-16 22:26:22

Jennifer and the flower fairies.

Greyduster Sat 20-Aug-16 22:04:19

I can't hear "Nymphs and Shepherds" without thinking of the version the two Ronnies did in their Plumstead Ladies Male Voice Choir send up!

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 20-Aug-16 22:01:05

Sigh!

That is so nice. smile

Jane10 Sat 20-Aug-16 21:51:32

Oo I do love to pass a day in jollity!

Elegran Sat 20-Aug-16 21:47:45

They were to go on holiday with Flora and a have good time drinking and making love (so nothing new, then). Flora is the Roman goddess of spring and flowers and associated with dancing and drinking. Probably why you only heard the piano version when you were young.

Nymphs and shepherds, come away,
In this grove let's sport and play;
For this is Flora's holiday,
Sacred to ease and happy love,
To music, to dancing and to poetry.
Your flocks may now securely rest
While you express your jollity!

Nymphs and shepherds, pipe and play,
Tune a song, a festal lay;
For this is Flora's holiday,
Sacred to ease and happy love,
To music, to dancing and to poetry.
Then trip we round with merry sound,
And pass the day in jollity!

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 20-Aug-16 21:37:53

What actually did the Nymphs and Shepherds get up to? confused I only ever heard it played on the piano by my friend's dad.

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 20-Aug-16 21:36:24

Thank you pollengran! I've been wondering about that song for years! I made up my own version in the interim, which actually, I now like better! shock grin

Jane10 Sat 20-Aug-16 21:32:52

Thanks tanith! Mystery solved.

Pollengran Sat 20-Aug-16 21:29:35

Yes Stanley Kirkby, you can find it on Youtube. "Someone tried to drown him, with a brick tied round him" Meoww. No wonder I was scared of Childrens Hour.

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 20-Aug-16 21:13:42

Does anyone remember a song something like, Felix keeps on walking?

I'm sure there was one. confused

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 20-Aug-16 21:12:21

Oh, I liked Nymphs and Shepherds! And Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.

Not sure it got played too often on Children's Choice though.

Pollengran Sat 20-Aug-16 21:07:06

I was always terrified of tubby the tuba and sparky. I hated it when it came on the radio. I remember holding my Mums red bucket bag when Uncle Mac was on. He scared me.

I was scared of David Nixon, Guy the Gorilla and every statue ever carved. I liked the laughing policeman though.

Greyduster Sat 20-Aug-16 20:48:20

I loved Life with the Lyons. Barbara's dramatic catchphrase - "i'll die, I'll just die"! I also liked "Take it from Here", with Jimmy Edwards and June Whitfield.