Commemorating 30 years since the world lost the fabulous Matt Monro we present in collaboration with Michele Monro a completely unreleased concert performance. In December 1962 Matt was invited to sing at a special charity concert in Hong Kong where he had previously been stationed in the Army. This was part of the annual ‘Operation Santa Claus’ fund raising event organised by Radio Hong Kong He was involved in many events across 5 days culminating in the concert at City Hall which was broadcast live on Radio Hong Kong but not archived by them. Thankfully Matt was given a recording as a souvenir which was rediscovered a few years ago and this is presented here for the first time anywhere since its original broadcast. Also included is an interview recorded with Ted Thomas from the same trip. Two bonus tracks are included from previously lost radio broadcasts.
It comes with a 12 page booklet containing notes by Matt’s daughter and biographer Michele Monro along with rare or previously unpublished photographs from the Monro estate archives.
The initial 500 copies of the set come with an extra 4 page booklet celebrating the work of Mickie & Michele Monro in the years since Matt’s passing.
Full restoration notes are available on the Mint Audio Restoration website here
Tracklist
1. All of You (Cole Porter)
2. Without A Song (Vincent Youmans/Billy Rose/Edward Eliscu)
3. Portrait of My Love (Cyril Ornadel/Norman Newell)
4. My Kind of Girl (Leslie Bricusse)
5. What Kind Of Fool Am I? (Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley)
6. My Love and Devotion (Milton Carson)
7. (Won't You Come Home) Bill Bailey (Hughie Cannon)
8. I Guess It Was You All the Time (Johnny Mercer/Hoagy Carmichael)
9. What Now My Love? (Gilbert Becaud/Carl Sigman)
10. When the Saints Go Marching In (Trad.)
Recorded at Hong Kong City Hall
with Giancarlo and his Band
Track 10 With Mona Fong and Pete O'Neill's Dixieland Jazz band
11-22. Matt Speaks to Ted Thomas
Featuring: Cheek to Cheek (Irving Berlin)
Let's Face the Music and Dance(Irving Berlin)
My Love and Devotion (Milton Carson)
Georgia on My Mind (Stuart Gorrell/Hoagy Carmichael)
One Morning in May (Mitchell Parish/Hoagy Carmichael)
The Nearness of You (Ned Washington/Hoagy Carmichael)
Recorded at Foreign Correspondent's Club, Hong Kong 18th December 1962
Bonus Tracks
23. Look For A Star.(Tony Hatch)
BBC Light Programme Circa 1960/1
24. Christmas Magic (Mark Lawrence)
Pop-Pourri '61 – Saturday 2nd December 1961 - BBC Light Programme