After the war, he worked with Chester and on BBC Radio as an arranger and conductor. He also worked as musical director for both Henry Hall and Geraldo, and began recording under his own name in 1951 as "Frank Chacksfield's Tunesmiths". In early 1953 he had his first top ten hit, "Little Red Monkey", on the Parlophone label. This was a novelty recording featuring Jack Jordan on the clavioline, and reportedly the first record featuring an electronic instrument to feature on the UK pop chart.[citation needed] He signed a recording contract with Decca Records in 1953, and formed a 40-piece orchestra with a large string section, the "Singing Strings". His first record release for Decca, Charlie Chaplin's theme for his film Limelight, won him a gold disc in the US, and in the UK, where it reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart, and won him the NME award as 'Record of the Year'. It spent eight weeks at #2 (an all-time UK chart record), and in all thirteen weeks in the top five chart positions, without dislodging Frankie Laine's, "I Believe".[3] His next 78 single, "Ebb Tide", became the first British instrumental recording to reach #1 in some American charts,[which?] providing a second gold disc, and he was voted the most promising new orchestra of the year in the US.[1]
He became one of Britain's most well known orchestra leaders internationally, and is estimated to have sold more than 20 million albums worldwide.[2] His material was "mood music", similar to that of Mantovani, including ballads, waltzes, and film themes.[4] In 1954 he began presenting a series on BBC TV, which continued occasionally until the early 1960s. Chacksfield was responsible for the musical arrangement of the first UK entry into the Eurovision Song Contest 1957; "All" by Patricia Bredin.[citation needed] He continued to write music, release singles and albums through the 1950s and 1960s, and appeared regularly on BBC radio.[2]
He continued to record occasionally until the 1990s, from the 1970s primarily on the Phase 4 label.[1] He also developed business interests in publishing and recorded for Starborne Productions, a company supplying "canned music" for use by easy listening radio stations and others. Many of these recordings were made commercially available in 2007. His last album was Thanks for the Memories (Academy Award Winners 1934-55), released in 1991.[1] Chacksfield died in Kent in 1995, after having suffered for several years from Parkinson's Disease.[2]
The main theme from his Latin-American style track "Cuban Boy" was used as the theme music for some broadcast versions of the BBC Scotland sitcom Still Game.[5]
His song, "Après Ski", was featured in the 2006 video game, Saint's Row, for the Xbox 360.[6]
Temptation
Frank Chacksfield and His Orchestra Lyrics
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I should have known you were temptation
You smiled, luring me on
My heart was gone, you were temptation
It would be thrilling
If you were willing
If it can never be
Pity me for you are temptation and I am yours
Here is my heart, take it and say
We'll never part
I'm just a slave
Only a slave to you, temptation
You were born to be kissed
I can't resist.
You are temptation and I am yours
Here is my heart, take it and say
We'll never part
I'm just a slave
Only a slave to you, temptation
The lyrics to Frank Chacksfield and His Orchestra's song "Temptation" tells the story of a person who is enticed and drawn to someone they know they shouldn't be involved with. The singer confesses that they were alone when this person came into their life, and despite the warning signs, they were unable to resist the temptation. This person was alluring and captivating, causing the singer's heart to surrender to them. The singer acknowledges that it would be thrilling if this person wanted to be with them, but the sad reality is that it can never come true. The singer is left with no choice but to accept their fate and admit that they are simply a slave to the temptation of this person.
The lyrics represent the age-old struggle between desire and morality. The singer knows that they should stay away from this person, but they are blindly drawn to them by a force they cannot resist. The song is an exploration of human weakness and how it can lead us down paths that we know will ultimately cause us harm. It is a cautionary tale, warning listeners to be mindful of the things that tempt them because they could be the very things that destroy them.
Line by Line Meaning
You came, I was alone
From out of nowhere you arrived when I was alone
I should have known you were temptation
I should have been aware that you were here to lure me into something
You smiled, luring me on
My heartstrings were immediately pulled when you smiled at me, leading me on
My heart was gone, you were temptation
You had me at hello, you were too tempting to resist
It would be thrilling
It would be exciting and invigorating
If you were willing
If only you were open to the idea
If it can never be
If it is not possible for it to happen
Pity me for you are temptation and I am yours
You have me completely under your spell, and it's a sad realization
Here is my heart, take it and say
I'm giving myself to you, please don't hurt me
We'll never part
Promise me that you're here to stay
I'm just a slave
I am powerless over you
Only a slave to you, temptation
I am completely at your mercy, I cannot resist you
You were born to be kissed
You were created to be seductive and alluring
I can't resist.
I am unable to turn away or ignore you
You are temptation and I am yours
I have fallen for your enticing ways, and now you have me
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, ANTHEM ENTERTAINMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: LARRY JOHNSON, LARRY CURTIS JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind