Frank Chacksfield, born Francis Charles Chacksfield (May 9, 1914 - June 9, … Read Full Bio ↴Frank Chacksfield, born Francis Charles Chacksfield (May 9, 1914 - June 9, 1995) was a popular conductor in the "easy listening" style.
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.
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.
Little Red Monkeys
Frank Chacksfield Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Frank Chacksfield:
A hard day It's been a hard day's night, and I been working…
Blue Again Blue again Blue again And you know darn well It's you again …
Caravan Night and stars above that shine so bright The mystery of…
Come Back to Sorrento You went away I let you We broke the ties that bind I…
Cuban Love Song I love you that's what my heart is saying While every…
Dinner At Eight In your appointment book you'll see you and I have a…
Don Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Don't Worry 'Bout Me Don't worry 'bout me I'll get along Forget about me Just be …
Exactly Like You I used to have a perfect sweetheart Not a real one,…
I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me Yesterday you came my way, And when you smiled at me, In…
I Can't Give You Anything But Love Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid. It's not a…
I Feel Fine Baby's good to me, you know, She's happy as can be,…
I'm In The Mood For Love I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
In the Still of the Night {from Rosalie} In the still of the night As I gaze out of…
Isle of Capri 't was on the Isle of Capri that I found…
Laura You know the feeling of something half remembered Of somethi…
Love In Madrid I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
Love Is a Many Splendored Thing Love is a many splendored thing It's the April rose that…
Mademoiselle de Paris SUR LE PAVE DE PARIS Valse du Film « la…
Mona Lisa Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa men have named you You're so like…
Night And Day It's been a hard day's night, and I been working…
On The Sunny Side Of The Street Walked with no one and talked with no one And I…
One Fine Day Baby's good to me, you know, She's happy as can be,…
Pagan Love Song I love you that's what my heart is saying While every…
Rose Rose I Love You Rose, Rose, so stunning! Rose, Rose, so ravishing! You open …
Scarlet Ribbons You know I peeked in to say goodnight, When I heard…
Skylark Skylark Have you anything to say to me? Won't you tell me…
Some Enchanted Evening Some enchanted evening, you may see a stranger, You may see…
Stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Sur Le Pave de Paris SUR LE PAVE DE PARIS Valse du Film « la…
The Man I Love I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
Theme from Picnic/Moonglow Introduction On a picnic morning without a warning I looked at you…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@bloominlovelylady
I remember this so well, it frightened the life out of me. I was 8 at the time and somehow associated it with the Quatermass Xperiment. My dad was ill in bed at the time. I have never forgotten this tune, it doesnt seem so bad now that I am 67 haha.
@tonysuffolk
I watched the TV series when I was your age. I requested and had played this tune on "Children's Choice" on the Beeb.
Quatermas theme was "Mars Bringer of War". Have a listen
Both themes still make me shiver! Hope you are well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXOanvv4plU
@Golo1949
I too was frightened by this song.
@mavisll
I was about 9 years old when I saw this series on TV in England, can't remember the story only being very frightened but still looking forward to it on Saturday nights. Never forgot the tune though.
@TheCoOrdinator
The first ever Top Ten single in the UK to feature an electronic keyboard, played here by the composer Jack Jordan. The tune was originally penned as the theme tune to a BBC drama series about a Russian spy known as the Little Red Monkey. Jack had previously written the theme tune to the enormously popular post-war radio show "Have a Go", presented by Wilfred Pickles. Lyrics, written by Stephen Gale, were later added and the song was recorded by the likes of Rosemary Clooney & Jimmy Edwards.
@suzenmillodot
I had the same experience as Jane Hall, the series frightened me silly and I was afraid to go upstairs to my bedroom on the top floor of our old Victorian house. The music still gives me the shivers!!
@pamdobbs7321
I had a little hurdy girdy that played this song & I loved it. Hadn't thought about trying to find it on here until today (doh!) Thank you xxxx
@cactusmonster1441
One of the first pop songs ever to feature a clavioline.
@prehistory42
Amazed to find this, takes me back to childhood. Thank you.
@janehall9052
Thanks so much for posting this. The TV series scared me witless as a little girl & I vividly remember hiding behind the settee, despite my mum having sent me to bed because the programme was 'unsuitable.' I was terrified to go upstairs on my own & was scared of the dark for years!