RHODcast: Feb 18, 2025

Dream World – The Life and Death of Al Bowlly

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Tony Staveacre has been back into his archives and once again he has pulled out a plum. Tapes and tapes of interviews from the mid-1970s with musicians who played with one of the greatest stars of them all. As we face uncertain times, it’s cheering to discover that in the middle of the Depression, people partied like there was no tomorrow. Out in front was an inveterate party animal, a crooner who went from singing for theatre queues to outselling Bing Crosby. At the height of his fame in Britain, Al Bowlly set sail for America where he promptly headlined the brand new Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center. It seemed he was going up and up, until he wasn’t. And then the bomb fell. Here, with seven of his original hits, TS presents Dream World – The Life and Death of Al Bowlly.

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