Comments on: ELAINE PAIGE AND BARBARA DICKSON – “I Know Him So Well”

By: Billy Smart

Billy Smart — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:18:35 +0000

Light Entertainment Watch: Many UK TV appearances for Barbara over the years;

45: with Lynsey De Paul, Viola Wills, Barbara Dickson (1974)

AND NOW THE GOOD NEWS: with Barbara Dickson (1978)

BARBARA DICKSON: with Barbara Dickson (1984)

BOBBY DAVRO: ROCK WITH LAUGHTER: with Barbara Dickson, Shane Richie, Maddi Cryer (1993)

CALL MY BLUFF: with Robert Robinson, Frank Muir, Arthur Marshall, Barbara Dickson, Godfrey Smith, Sarah Badel, Derek Jacobi (1987)

CALL MY BLUFF: with Robert Robinson, Frank Muir, Arthur Marshall, Gillian Lynne, Robert Kilroy-Silk, Barbara Dickson, Timothy West (1987)

CHILD’S PLAY: with Michael Aspel, Barbara Dickson, Jeremy Beadle (1986)

DES O’CONNOR TONIGHT: with Larry Grayson, Barbara Dickson, Rich Little (1982)

DES O’CONNOR TONIGHT: with Jim Davidson, Eric Sykes, Barbara Dickson (1985)

GRACIE–A PERSONAL TRIBUTE BY BARBARA DICKSON (1984)

IN CONCERT: with Barbara Dickson (1978)

JEREMY TAYLOR: with Barbara Dickson, Cambridge Buskers (1980)

THE KEITH HARRIS SHOW: with Duncan Norvelle, Vicious Pink, Simon Bates, Barbara Dickson, Ian MacCaskill (1985)

LADYBIRDS: with Barbara Dickson (1983)

LEO SAYER: with Leo Sayer, Barbara Dickson, Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds (1979)

MICHAEL BARRYMORE’S SATURDAY NIGHT OUT: with Barbara Dickson, Elio Pace, Jess Stevenson, Roy Walker, Tammy Wynette (1989)

MY KIND OF MUSIC: with Barbara Dickson, Colin Blunstone (1981)

PARKINSON: with Paul Daniels, Barbara Dickson, Huw Wheldon (1977)

POP QUIZ: with Rick Wakeman, Barbara Dickson, Brian Setzer, Dennis Waterman, Suggs MacPherson, Martin Fry (1982)

RHYTHM ON TWO: with Barbara Dickson and Her Band (1979)

RICHARD STILGOE: with Barbara Dickson, Aiden J. Harvey (1980)

RICHARD STILGOE: with Barbara Dickson, Jeep (1980)

RICHARD STILGOE: with Barbara Dickson, The Palatine String Quartet (1980)

THE ROD AND EMU SHOW: with Barbara Dickson, David Grant, Rondo Veneziano, Ron Looney, Gordon Blacklock, Gabrielle Traynor (1984)

ROD AND EMU’S SATURDAY SPECIAL: with Showaddywaddy, Nicholas Parsons, Barbara Dickson (1983)

THE RONNIE CORBETT SHOW: with Barbara Dickson, Philip Madoc, Kit And The Widow, Fred Wetherby (1987)

RUSSELL HARTY: with Robert Morley, Barbara Dickson, Timothy Davey and mother (1974)

RUSSELL HARTY: with Barbara Windsor, Paul Golding, Julie Goodyear, Barbara Dickson (1977)

SHOWSTOPPERS: with Tom Conti, Barbara Dickson, Michael Feinstein (1995)

THE SOUTH BANK SHOW: Barbara Dickson (1987)

SUMMERTIME SPECIAL: with David Copperfield, Barbara Dickson, Dominique, The Dooleys, Roy Hudd, The King’s Singers (1981)

SUMMERTIME SPECIAL: with Bobby Davro, Barbara Dickson, Frank Carson, Chris Tarrant (1987)

THAT’S SHOWBUSINESS: with Gloria Hunniford, Kenny Everett, Lionel Blair, Barbara Dickson, Gorden Kaye, Barbara Windsor (1990)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE: Barbara Dickson (1998)

TOM O’CONNOR: with Barbara Dickson (1977)

THE TWO RONNIES: with Barbara Dickson, Caledonian Highlanders (1976)

THE TWO RONNIES: with Barbara Dickson, Carol Hawkins, Vicki Michelle (1976)

THE TWO RONNIES: with Barbara Dickson, Jenny Hanley (1976)

THE TWO RONNIES: with Barbara Dickson, Joan Sims (1976)

THE TWO RONNIES: with Barbara Dickson, Julia McKenzie (1976)

THE TWO RONNIES: with Barbara Dickson, Norman Beaton (1976)

THE TWO RONNIES: with Barbara Dickson, Vicki Michelle (1976)

THE TWO RONNIES: with Barbara Dickson (1980)

THE VAL DOONICAN MUSIC SHOW: with Vic Damone, Barbara Dickson (1981)

THE VAL DOONICAN MUSIC SHOW: with Dennis Waterman, Barbara Dickson (1982)

THE VAL DOONICAN MUSIC SHOW: with Barbara Dickson, Alvin Stardust (1984)

THE VAL DOONICAN MUSIC SHOW: with Paul Daniels, Barbara Dickson, Robert Goulet (1985)

THE VAL DOONICAN MUSIC SHOW: with John Denver, Barbara Dickson (1986)

WEDNESDAY AT 8: with Barbara Dickson, Richard Digance, Brian Conley, Ronn Lucas (1988)

WOGAN: with Jim Davidson, Barbara Dickson, Danny La Rue, Sir Peter Parker (1983)

WOGAN: with David Gower, Belinda Charlton, Elaine Stritch, Barbara Dickson, Craig Charles (1985)

WOGAN: with Barbara Dickson, John Garnett, Laurie Lee (1987)

WOGAN: with Kathy Botham, Tom Conti, Barbara Dickson, Mark McCormack (1987)

By: Billy Smart

Billy Smart — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:13:02 +0000

Light Entertinment Watch: Quite a few British TV appearances for Elaine over the years;

CALL MY BLUFF: with Robert Robinson, Frank Muir, Arthur Marshall, Sheila Steafel, Stephen Fry, Elaine Paige, Lord Havers (1988)

DES O’CONNOR TONIGHT: with David Frost, Elaine Paige (1983)

DES O’CONNOR TONIGHT: with Roger de Courcey, Elaine Paige, The Flying Pickets, Miss World (1984)

DES O’CONNOR TONIGHT: with Freddie Starr, Elaine Paige, Ursula Andress, Mai Tai (1985)

DES O’CONNOR TONIGHT: with Bob Monkhouse, Elaine Paige, Thea Vidale, Jimmy Somerville, The Real McCoy, Chris Barrie (1995)

LADYBIRDS: with Elaine Paige (1983)

LIVE FROM HER MAJESTY’S: with Marvin Hamlisch, Bob Monkhouse, Elaine Paige, Max Bygraves (1983)

LIVE FROM THE PALLADIUM: with James Galway, Elaine Paige, Chieftains, Richard Digance (1987)

THE MAIN ATTRACTION: with Larry Grayson, Roy Jay, Modern Romance, Elaine Paige, Shakin’ Stevens, Shields and Yarnell, Charlie Drake, John Junkin, Anna Dawson (1983)

MARTI CAINE: with The Drifters, Elaine Paige (1980)

MICHAEL BALL: with Cliff Richard, Elaine Paige (1993)

MICHAEL BARRYMORE’S SATURDAY NIGHT OUT: with Frank Bruno, Gary Lavini, Lulu, Frank Oliver, Elaine Paige, Adrian Walsh (1989)

NIGHT MUSIC: with Elaine Paige, David Essex (1982)

ONE MORE TIME: with Paul Curtis, Kim Davis, Jane Marlow, Elaine Paige, Mike Redway, Carolyn Smith, Danny Street, Maynard Williams, The Fine Tooth Combs, Quicksilver (1978)

THE RONNIE CORBETT SHOW: with Bruce Forsyth, Elaine Paige, Frank Thornton, Punt & Dennis (1987)

THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE: with Adam and the Ants, Robert Hardy, Acker Bilk, Patti Boulaye, Lonnie Donegan, Anita Harris, Lenny Henry, John Inman, Lulu, Elaine Paige (1981)

THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE: with Des O’Connor, Cliff Richard, Brian Conley and the cast of Jolson, Elaine Paige, Joe Pasquale, Bob Downe, Allan Stewart, Alistair McGowan, Marvin Hamlisch, Pendragons (1992)

A SONG FOR CHRISTMAS: with Elaine Paige, Peter Skellern (1986)

THE SOUTH BANK SHOW: Elaine Paige (1996)

STARBURST: with The Nolans, Elaine Paige, Joe Longthorne (1982)

SUNDAY, SUNDAY: with James Galway, Elaine Paige, Jeremy Beadle, Rex Harrison, Henry Kelly, Matthew Kelly, Eric Morecambe (1982)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE: Elaine Paige (1979)

THE TWO RONNIES: with Elaine Paige (1982)

THE VAL DOONICAN MUSIC SHOW: with Elaine Paige (1983)

THE VIDEO ENTERTAINERS: with Elaine Paige, Greengage, Tammy Cline (1981)

THE VIDEO ENTERTAINERS: with Elaine Paige, Stan Boardman, Gilbert O’Sullivan (1981)

WOGAN: with Janet Brown, Derek Nimmo, Elaine Paige, Norman Parkinson (1986)

WOGAN: with Glenys Kinnock, Doctor Tim Lobstein, Elaine Paige, Miriam Stoppard (1988)

WOGAN: with Ronnie Corbett, Elaine Paige, Jean Rook, Tania Tolstaya (1989)

Sadly these three shows are lost to posterity;

FRIDAY NIGHT… SATURDAY MORNING: with Elaine Paige, Tim Rice, Tom Stoppard, Bob Willis, George Martin, The Searchers (1979)

SHARI’S SHOW: with Buddy Greco, Roz Early, Dee Eldridge, Elaine Paige, Mark Brown, Ray Davis, Bernard Sharpe (1971)

SHARI’S SHOW: with Dickie Henderson, Mark Brown, Ray Davis, Roz Early,
Elaine Paige, Dee Eldridge, Bernard Sharpe (1971)

By: AndyPandy

AndyPandy — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:52:09 +0000

Surely another addition to the very small category of post-1980 Number Ones (Barbara Streisand ‘Woman In Love’ etc)that owed almost all their success to Radio 2 plays.

By: MikeMCSG

MikeMCSG — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:07:23 +0000

#47 The list of no 1′s would certainly give the impression 1985 was dire but the year that produced “The Boys Of Summer” , “The Whole Of The Moon” and the release that became the first new no 1 of 1986 wasn’t all bad. In year the closest one of my favourites got to the top spot was Red Box’s “Lean On Me” which peaked at 3.

By: intothefireuk

intothefireuk — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:22:34 +0000

Show tunes – not exactly my favourite – usually bland instrumentation, usually over-sung and full of over-wrought emotions playing to the cheap seats. IKHSW does not disappoint it is all of these and more.

By: Matthew H

Matthew H — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:12:52 +0000

Grossly unfashionable, even at the time, but for me there were (and I suspect still are) a couple of serious spine-tingle moments in El and Babs’s delivery. I kept quiet about it – I was 12 and a half, for goodness’ sake – but rather liked hearing the record.

Missed all the chat about pop-post-Band-Aid, the fallout, the peak of pop’s hierarchy – 1985 struck me as a mess, which chimes with those thoughts.

By: katstevens

katstevens — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:36:40 +0000

Can confirm that Elaine can still belt this out good and proper! Full review here: http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/pop/2009/09/mumpop-iii-folk-you-for-the-music/

By: Pete Baran

Pete Baran — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:33:37 +0000

Is it me or does the “exploded chess board” background of the single cover, coupled with Babs and EP both wearing black make them look like some terrifying Musical Theatre Behemoth, a conjoined twin of camp, the Siamese of Showtunes?

(Just thinking of the battle between this double headed beast vs Mechastreisand).

By: Billy Smart

Billy Smart — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:04:36 +0000

Cover Version Watch: Steps’ 2001 interpretation got to number 5. It doesn’t really add anything to the song, and takes away some of the sense worldly-wise lived experience that two middle-aged actresses can bring to such a tale. Not a patch on Steps’ uptempo cover versions.

By: Number Ones – ABBA « Number Ones – ABBA

Number Ones – ABBA « Number Ones – ABBA — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 09:02:35 +0000

[...] ELAINE PAIGE AND BARBARA DICKSON – “I Know Him So Well Like the previous number one, “I Know Him So Well” is an absolute belter to sing along with: at weddings, karaoke, anywhere. There’s one moment – only one, really – of ABBA-level brilliance, the “Didn’t I know how it would go? All the UK number ones since 1952, reviewed in order and rated by whim. As featured on Radio 2, The Times, Metro, Paul Cornell’s LiveJournal, etc etc. If you enjoy Popular please link to it or tell your friends about it. [...]

By: abaffledrepublic

abaffledrepublic — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:35:26 +0000

#37: Paul Young’s backing band were called the Royal Family, and included Pino Palladino, name later spoofed by Mark and Lard as Penis Palladinis. His backing singers were called the Fabulous Wealthy Tarts.

By: Caledonianne

Caledonianne — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:02:56 +0000

Oh, Mike – what a great story. I was also at a place in my life where the song had resonance, despite the staginess. And I share Conrad’s delight about Barbara Dickson having a number one. She played Paisley Town Hall! What more could I ask! And Punctum’s observation about that final hesitant sigh is the key to the whole thing. It’s a bit of a girly song and shamelessly melodramatic, but because of the personal history, an 8 or 9 for me.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:19:43 +0000

#38 yes sung as a duet between Mary Magdalene AND GOD

By: anto

anto — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:56:04 +0000

EastEnders fans might have already noted that this suitably melodramatic showtune was sitting at the top of the charts when the residents of Albert Square first barged onto our screens.
Perhaps Bianca and Sam could resolve their dispute over Rick-Kayeee by singing a duet together. It would make a change from chucking pints over one another at the Vic.

By: Al Ewing

Al Ewing — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:30:58 +0000

My main memory of this song is, for years, thinking that it was part of Jesus Christ Superstar, and sung by Mary Magdalene about Jesus Christ. Not sure what put me onto that, but I suspect, transplanted, it might have improved both IKHSW and JCS considerably.

EDIT: Reading the comments, it becomes obvious that I just confused this with ‘I Don’t Know How To Love Him’. That only strengthens my theory that swapping the two would have vastly improved JCS.

By: pink champale

pink champale — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:56:35 +0000

#36, you’re not quite alone. iirc the ‘now 6′ (or possibly ‘hits 3′) track commentary for ‘taste of your tears’ describes it as a classic that would have been a hit at any point in the preceding 30 years.

#8 and paul young’s backing singers were called ‘the royal family’ i think

By: Billy Smart

Billy Smart — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:25:55 +0000

Top Paul King facts from Smash Hits, IIRC;

1) He used to be a policeman!

2) He claimed to have lost his virginity at 12!

3) He had the biggest feet in pop!?

In a hideous sixties pastiche way, I always find myself really enjoying their sophisticated ballad ‘The Taste of Your Tears’, although I suspect that I may be alone in this view…

By: Billy Smart

Billy Smart — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:22:47 +0000

#31 – Well, on ‘More ABBA Gold’ you can hear ‘I Am The City’, which – I think – is a demo from an abandoned comeback session in about 1983. Its really good, but perhaps the joy and tenderness couldn’t ever return.

An album of songs like ‘Under Attack’ and ‘The Day Before You Came’ would have been astonishing, but perhaps something that would make me very unhappy to hear.

By: Erithian

Erithian — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:06:36 +0000

Barbara Dickson did a very pleasant version of an early David Whitfield/Frankie Laine number one, “Answer Me” (as indeed we were discussing a couple of years ago on the Frankie Laine thread).

By: MikeMCSG

MikeMCSG — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:47:52 +0000

Tom – yep you’re right.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:43:41 +0000

Wasn’t it “Spiky FRIDGE”? (even worse!)

By: Conrad

Conrad — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:40:18 +0000

“Check out if you dare “Kiss The Spiky Fringe” which trumps even Kajagoogoo’s “Ooh To Be Aah” as the ultimate example of 80s vacuity in pop.”

“Ooh to be aah” is vacuus but in a strangely sublime way.

the title of that King track alone makes me think of an 80s version of Nathan Barley, only without the humour obv.

I think everyone’s missing Abba on this thread and wondering what sort of sound a 1985 version of Abba might have produced

By: misschillydisco

misschillydisco — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:38:31 +0000

EP is widely hated by the west end musical stage crew/electrics community – my old boss used to call her the poison dwarf. i have always quite liked babs dickson though.

as for the song – it reminds me of gloomy days, in one of the most miserable periods of my life (new at secondary school and HATING IT).

By: Rory

Rory — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:32:16 +0000

MikeMCSG #25: Time to tackle Kristina från Duvemåla? (I’d like to myself, but haven’t yet.) YouTube has some samples – try Du Måste Finnas.

The Benny Andersson Band has a new UK release out which looks intriguing.

By: TomLane

TomLane — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:22:11 +0000

Yep, no chart action anywhere for this song in America, but I do remember the song. But not this version. Whitney Houston covered it on her 2nd album in 1987. That’s how I remembered it! Also Barbra Streisand did it on her Broadway Album. But in the U.S. no chart action even on our Adult Contemporary chart. Looking at allmusicguide.com’s list of singers who have done this, I was surprised that more big voice woman didn’t do it. Not even Celine Dion. A modest score of 4: For Whitney’s version only.