In this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine take to the skies with The Spitfire Song - a rare 1940s number penned by the remarkable Horace Maybray-King.
They explore King’s fascinating life, from English teacher and wartime concert-party organiser to tireless fundraiser for the famous Spitfire Funds - public appeals that saw communities “buy” parts of the iconic fighter aircraft to help Britain prepare for the Battle of Britain.
Along the way, they uncover the story behind the song’s only known recording by Joe Loss and His Orchestra with vocalist Sam Browne, whose own wartime adventures included surviving being shot in the jaw while travelling to a concert. The conversation takes in the history of the Spitfire itself, the ingenuity of wartime fundraising and the enduring appeal of dance bands and morale-boosting music.
It’s a celebration of song, aircraft and the extraordinary ways a nation came together in its hour of need.
SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
You can listen to ALL of the songs that Tom and Lili talk about in the episode on their Spotify playlister here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1FQDrBphYqYLAuN6Jm01PN?si=b777dc33a703408a
REFERENCES
International Bomber Command Centre
https://internationalbcc.co.uk/
Ramsey 1940s Weekend
https://ramsey1940s.co.uk/
The Spitfire Song
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/snapshotsofthepast/2214997.sure-fire-hit/
Joe Loss Cigarette Card
https://www.londoncigcard.co.uk/product/dance-band-leaders-1936-reprint-1992/1400
Astoria Ballroom
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/AstoriaTheatreCharingCrossRoad.htm
Kit Kit Club
https://www.jazzageclub.com/the-kit-cat-club/1564/
Holborn Empire
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/westons.htm
Joe Loss - In the Mood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94rDnLR6u2Y
Melody Maker - Digital Scans
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/
The Spitfire Prototype
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire_prototype_K5054
The Spitfire Funds
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35697546
The Kennel Club Spitfire
https://www.facebook.com/TheKennelClubUK/posts/today-we-mark-the-80th-anniversary-of-ve-day-to-commemorate-the-occasion-were-lo/1244698633680029/
Boaty Mac Boatface
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boaty_McBoatface
Gritter Names
https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/roads-and-highways/highways-maintenance/winter-maintenance/our-gritter-names/
“Fun of the Fair” Spitfire
http://www.midlandshowmensguild.com/Community.html
Marks and Spencer Spitfire
https://www.forcesnews.com/heritage/wwii/how-marks-spencer-bought-spitfire-war
Vickers Armstrong Spitfire Factory Southampton
https://spitfiremakers.org.uk/dispersal-sites/original-supermarine-sites/
The Spitfire Song
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/snapshotsofthepast/2214997.sure-fire-hit/
109 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth - Horace King’s House
https://www.facebook.com/bournemouthlocalhistory/posts/here-is-sherry-and-haycocks-timber-yard-in-the-1950s-they-had-all-the-plot-here-/1924861327628864/
The Sound of a Spitfire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5rGyP6SSYM
Sam Brown
https://fromthevaults-boppinbob.blogspot.com/2014/03/sam-browne-born-26-march-1898.html
I’m Gonna Get Lit Up - Richard Suart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyMwe0YHSfQ
Lew Stone’s Arrangements
https://blogs.bl.uk/music/2017/01/lew-stone.html
My Girl’s Pussy - Harry Roy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x359GgVRWaE
Harry and his Band at the Cafe Anglais
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttI1kwhbHRA&t=137s&pp=2AGJAZACAQ%3D%3D
Siren - Lili Redman @ Edinburgh Fringe
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/lili-redman-siren
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
02:34 S = The Spitfire Song
02:58 Horace King
06:23 Joe Loss
12:33 The Spitfire
14:51 Spitfire Funds
21:44 Discussing the Sheet Music Cover
24:36 Discussing the Lyrics
28:45 Discussing the Music
30:44 Discussing Recordings: Joe Loss and Sam Browne
34:58 If You Liked That You'll Like This
40:20 Mentioned in Dispatches
42:09 Clue for Next Week
42:59 Outro
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
You can follow the podcast on social media:
http://instagram.com/warsongspod
https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod
Find more information about Lili Redman here:
https://liliredman.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/
https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil
Or Tom Carradine here:
https://www.tomcarradine.com/
https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine
https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine
CONTACT THE PODCAST
If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at warsongspod@gmail.com to be "Mentioned in Dispatches".
LISTENING LINKS
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318
If you’ve enjoyed this episode Lili and Tom would be grateful if you’d leave a review and make sure you’ve subscribed and turned on notifications so you’ll never miss an episode.
