Interlude Songwriter Obituary

R

Ruffian

Guest
Just posted this to mainsite.. Attention to last paragraph.

Hal Shaper, songwriter, was born on July 18, 1931. He died on January 8, 2004, aged 72.

IN A career of almost half a century, Hal Shaper wrote songs that were covered by most of the biggest names in the business. He wrote more than 650, and those who recorded them included Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Barbra Streisand and Dusty Springfield.

His first major recognition came with an Ivor Novello Award in 1959. But it was when Matt Monroe recorded his Softly As I Leave You — an Italian melody to which Shaper added English lyrics — that his career took off internationally. The song was recorded by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, Shirley Bassey and several hundred others.

Shaper used the early royalty cheques from this to start his own publishing company, Sparta Music, to which he signed other songwriters. They included a number of Jamaican artists and he played an important part in the early success of reggae music, co-writing The Israelites with Desmond Dekker, who took the song to No 1 in the British charts in 1969. He later helped to write UB40’s 1990 hit Kingston Town.

Returning in later life to South Africa, Shaper continued to write songs for the international market, including Interlude, a duet between Siouxsie Sioux and Morrissey, and the lyrics for Elaine Paige’s Piaf album. He also wrote and staged La Bohème Noir, a version of Puccini’s opera set in Soweto during the 1976 uprising.

Timi Yuro did the original 'Interlude'.. didn't he Grim?

Ruffian
 
> Just posted this to mainsite.. Attention to last paragraph.

> Hal Shaper, songwriter, was born on July 18, 1931. He died on January 8,
> 2004, aged 72.

> IN A career of almost half a century, Hal Shaper wrote songs that were
> covered by most of the biggest names in the business. He wrote more than
> 650, and those who recorded them included Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra,
> Elton John, Barbra Streisand and Dusty Springfield.

> His first major recognition came with an Ivor Novello Award in 1959. But
> it was when Matt Monroe recorded his Softly As I Leave You — an Italian
> melody to which Shaper added English lyrics — that his career took off
> internationally. The song was recorded by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley,
> Bobby Darin, Shirley Bassey and several hundred others.

> Shaper used the early royalty cheques from this to start his own
> publishing company, Sparta Music, to which he signed other songwriters.
> They included a number of Jamaican artists and he played an important part
> in the early success of reggae music, co-writing The Israelites with
> Desmond Dekker, who took the song to No 1 in the British charts in 1969.
> He later helped to write UB40’s 1990 hit Kingston Town.

> Returning in later life to South Africa, Shaper continued to write songs
> for the international market, including Interlude, a duet between Siouxsie
> Sioux and Morrissey, and the lyrics for Elaine Paige’s Piaf album. He also
> wrote and staged La Bohème Noir, a version of Puccini’s opera set in
> Soweto during the 1976 uprising.

> Timi Yuro did the original 'Interlude'.. didn't he Grim?

> Ruffian

Thanks for that Ruff. Timi Yuro is a woman though. You do know that don't you
 
> Thanks for that Ruff. Timi Yuro is a woman though. You do know that don't
> you

I'm not 100% sure that Timi did the 1st Interlude but I reckon so & as Johnny sez, Timi is a member of the female species!

Grim
 
British & Irish Appreciation Thread (No American Content)

> Returning in later life to South Africa, Shaper continued to write songs
> for the international market, including Interlude, a duet between Siouxsie
> Sioux and Morrissey.

Thank You for that post. The extreme detail to which you Brits. & those of Eire, delve in actors, singers, songwriters, movies, tv, is nothing less than astounding. You seem to know your history better in all its forms, from the first kings & queens to Pop Culture, and everything in-between. I see names mentioned of people & eras long gone that I have never, and most probably will never, hear of again.

So thanks...for remembering those that have come & gone, and in so doing, honoring them.
 
Re: I wonder if this is the answer to Flopper's poser?

Indeed it was, Bluenose. As far as I know, only two people have written lyrics that have appeared on the A-sides of Moz/Smiths singles, and he was one of them.
 
> I'm not 100% sure that Timi did the 1st Interlude but I reckon so & as
> Johnny sez, Timi is a member of the female species!

> Grim

The orginial Interlude is a beautiful song (as is the Moz/Siouxsie collab, where I think Moz outperforms siouxsie). Anyway, this song should be on every lovers tribute compilation as you sit cross legged makeing a tape for that someone special. A labour of love if ever there was.

Ruffian

PS, Timi should get her name feminised!! It was merely a typo.. (errrmm)
 
Has anyone seen the film?

An instrumental of the title song was used in the closing credits of the film and starred Oskar Werner, Barbara Ferris and Virginia Maskell (who committed suicide around the time of the film's release)

Bluenose - your film anorak
 
> The orginial Interlude is a beautiful song (as is the Moz/Siouxsie collab,
> where I think Moz outperforms siouxsie). Anyway, this song should be on
> every lovers tribute compilation as you sit cross legged makeing a tape
> for that someone special. A labour of love if ever there was.

> Ruffian

> PS, Timi should get her name feminised!! It was merely a typo.. (errrmm)

Moz's favourite Timi song is apparently "It'll Never Be Over For Me".If ever a song sounded like a Morrissey title this is it

It is traditionally used as the closing song to Northern Soul nights.

I'm usually tucked up in bed by then though.....
 
Re: I wonder if this is the answer to Flopper's poser?

You've a head full of cryptic clues, haven't ya?
I'll out-fox you one day...

> Indeed it was, Bluenose. As far as I know, only two people have written
> lyrics that have appeared on the A-sides of Moz/Smiths singles, and he was
> one of them.
 
> Moz's favourite Timi song is apparently "It'll Never Be Over For
> Me".If ever a song sounded like a Morrissey title this is it

> It is traditionally used as the closing song to Northern Soul nights.

> I'm usually tucked up in bed by then though.....

Do you still go to that Northern Soul night in Edinburgh, J? The one down that back alley?
 
> Do you still go to that Northern Soul night in Edinburgh, J? The one down
> that back alley?

EVERYTHING in Edinburgh is down a back alley. Jack The Ripper would have had a field day !

I was at one 2 weeks ago in a different venue.

There is a place called The Spiders Web which alternates between Northern Sould nights and Rockabilly nights on different Saturdays. Pretty cool stuff.

You wouldn't get in though because you can't dance and they operate a strict " No Brummies" policy at the door.
 
Re: Has anyone seen the film?

> An instrumental of the title song was used in the closing credits of the
> film and starred Oskar Werner, Barbara Ferris and Virginia Maskell (who
> committed suicide around the time of the film's release)

> Bluenose - your film anorak

I've seen it, my brothers a big Oskar Werner fan, it also features the brilliant Donald Sutherland, and an appearance from John Cleese, got to be one of his first roles.
 
> The orginial Interlude is a beautiful song (as is the Moz/Siouxsie collab,
> where I think Moz outperforms siouxsie). Anyway, this song should be on
> every lovers tribute compilation as you sit cross legged makeing a tape
> for that someone special. A labour of love if ever there was.

> Ruffian

> PS, Timi should get her name feminised!! It was merely a typo.. (errrmm)

I'm really not a big fan of this song, and definately don't really rate the Moz/Siouxsie collab, not a fan of Siouxsie anyway so that doesn't help.
 
> You wouldn't get in though because you can't dance and they operate a
> strict " No Brummies" policy at the door.

:oP

I can be as cosmopolitan as you, you know....oh hang on....

Anyway, the waitresses of Glasgow were impressed with my diction, so why not bouncers of Edinburgh?
 
Re: Interlude Songwriter Obituary.. a PS

> Hal Shaper, songwriter, was born on July 18, 1931. He died on January 8,
> 2004, aged 72.
> Returning in later life to South Africa, Shaper continued to write songs
> for the international market, including Interlude, a duet between Siouxsie
> Sioux and Morrissey, and the lyrics for Elaine Paige’s Piaf album.

I tell you, sometimes occurrences like this validate why this type of forum is important.. I see Hal Shaper's daughter actually posted on the main page... acknowledging and appreciating our appreciation of her fathers contribution to the Morrissey legend.

In death, we shouldn't forget to those that were left behind.

Ruffian

PS, Wish my Dad was a songwriter!
 
Back
Top Bottom