He was born in Battle, East Sussex, England and is remembered by many music lovers and record collectors for his numerous albums and appearances on radio and television during the era following the second world war.
From the 1950s onwards, Chacksfield was one of Britain's most famous orchestra leaders, and his fame spread around the world. Early in his career he was fortunate to have several big sellers in the USA, which firmly established his reputation world-wide.
During his recording career with Decca alone, it is estimated that he sold 20 million copies.
Chacksfield learned to play the piano as a boy and became the deputy organist for the local church. Though his parents discouraged his pursuit of music as a career, he persevered. In the late '30s, when he was in his mid-20s, he was leading small musical bands in Britain. During World War II, he was assigned to the British Army entertainment unit, and after the war he became a regular performer on the BBC.
In 1953, he formed an orchestra he called "The Tunesmiths" and won a contract with Parlophone Records. Within two years, he expanded the group from a traditional big band into an orchestra with strings and released a series of "mood music" albums. His sound was similar to Mantovani and Melachrino. His biggest hits, in both the UK and the US, were "Ebb Tide" and "Limelight."
Chacksfield was also responsible for the musical arrangement of the first ever British entry into the Eurovision Song Contest, "All" by Patricia Bredin in 1957. Only because BBC musical director Eric Robinson insisted on accompanying Bredin to the contest in Frankfurt, Chacksfield did not get the chance to perform as a conductor on this international stage.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s Chacksfield recorded a large number of instrumental recordings for Starborne Productions. The recordings were licensed for use by "Easy Listening" radio stations and functional music companies. The vast majority of these recordings were not made commercially available to the general public until 2007 by Starborne Productions.
Dinner At Eight
Frank Chacksfield Lyrics
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you'll see you and I have a date
Let me refresh your memory;
darling you can't be late.
Don't forget, dinner at eight,
Two gardenias at your plate !
Under the table our hands will meet!
We should be able to be discreet
Lights are dim, moonlight above,
That's how people fall in love!
Just tell your mother you might be late
Don't forget, dinner at eight.
In these lyrics, Frank Chacksfield is setting the scene for a romantic and intimate dinner date. The first two lines imply that the singer has made a prior arrangement with someone and emphasizes the importance of the date by mentioning it is noted in their appointment book. The line "Let me refresh your memory; darling you can't be late" suggests that the singer is reminding their partner of the significance and urgency of this engagement, implying that it is a special occasion that they cannot afford to miss.
The next line, "Don't forget, dinner at eight," serves as a recurring reminder of the specific time of the dinner date. It hints at the formal nature of the event by mentioning the dinner hour. The following line paints a vivid picture of a beautifully set table with the mention of "Two gardenias at your plate!" Gardenias are often associated with love and romance, symbolizing purity and sweetness. This imagery indicates that the ambiance and details of the dinner have been carefully arranged to create a romantic atmosphere.
The lyrics then take a more sensual turn as it states, "Under the table our hands will meet! We should be able to be discreet." This suggests a desire for physical and intimate connection during the dinner, emphasizing the secrecy and hidden nature of their desires. The dim lights and moonlight mentioned in the following line help to set a romantic mood, creating an environment conducive for falling in love. The line "That's how people fall in love!" implies that this type of intimate connection and shared moments are often catalysts for romantic relationships to blossom.
The final lines of the lyrics address the practicalities of the date, suggesting that the singer's partner may need to inform their mother about potentially being late. This implies that the date may take longer than expected or that the partner may want to extend the evening, further emphasizing the significance and anticipation surrounding this dinner at eight. Overall, these lyrics paint a picture of a carefully planned, romantic evening with hidden desires and the potential for love to blossom.
Line by Line Meaning
In your appointment book
Within your schedule
you'll see you and I have a date
You will notice that you and I have an arrangement
Let me refresh your memory;
Allow me to remind you
darling you can't be late.
My dear, punctuality is crucial
Don't forget, dinner at eight,
Please remember, our meal is scheduled for eight o'clock
Two gardenias at your plate !
There will be two gardenias awaiting you by your dish
Under the table our hands will meet!
Beneath the table, our hands shall connect
We should be able to be discreet
We ought to be able to act in a subtle manner
Lights are dim, moonlight above,
The illumination is soft, with moonlight shining from overhead
That's how people fall in love!
That is the method by which individuals become enamored
Just tell your mother you might be late
Simply inform your mother that you may arrive behind schedule
Don't forget, dinner at eight.
Please remember, our meal is scheduled for eight o'clock
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JIMMY MC HUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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"I won't forget Dinner at 8. Blue gardenias at your plate."