What a Mouth (What a North and South)
| "What a Mouth (What a North and South)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Tommy Steele | ||||
| from the album Get Happy with Tommy | ||||
| B-side | "Kookaburra" | |||
| Released | June 1960 | |||
| Recorded | 1960 | |||
| Studio | Decca Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:45 | |||
| Label | Decca | |||
| Songwriter(s) | R. P. Weston | |||
| Tommy Steele singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"What a Mouth (What a North and South)" is a music hall song written by R. P. Weston in 1906 and first sung by Harry Champion.[1] It is better known for the version recorded by Tommy Steele in 1960, which peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart.
Early versions[edit]
The song was often performed by Harry Champion, and was published as sheet music by Francis, Day & Hunter in 1906 as one of Francis & Day's Album of Cockney Songs.[2] The first commercially released recording was by The Two Bills from Bermondsey — Bill Burnham and Bill French — who were recorded by Peter Kennedy at "The Cock & Monkey" in Bermondsey on 13 February 1954. The 78 rpm record, Parlophone R 3953, was released in January 1955.[3][4]
Tommy Steele version[edit]
Background[edit]
Steele recorded a cover of "What a Mouth" as it was one of his father's favourite songs.[5] Steele's father told him that he knew he would be successful if he "became as successful as the Two Bills".[6][5] As with the rest of the album Get Happy with Tommy, "What a Mouth" was recorded live at Decca Studios.[5]
Track listing[edit]
7": Decca / F 11245
- "What a Mouth (What a North and South) – 2:45
- "Kookaburra" – 1:58
Charts[edit]
| Chart (1960) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] | 3 |
| New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[8] | 7 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[9] | 5 |
| UK Disc Top 20[10] | 5 |
| UK New Musical Express Top 20[11] | 4 |
| UK Record Mirror Top 20[12] | 5 |
References[edit]
- ^ "What A Mouth!". www.goldenhindmusic.com. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ "Francis & Day's Album of Cockney Songs ", Sheet Music Warehouse. Retrieved 14 February 2022
- ^ The Two Bills From Bermondsey: What A Mouth, What A Mouth (What A North And South), 45worlds.com. Retrieved 14 February 2022
- ^ "The Londoners", Folktrax Archive. Retrieved 14 February 2022
- ^ a b c Lassandro, Sebastian (11 July 2021). Tommy Steele: A Life in the Spotlight. Fonthill Media. p. 86.
- ^ "BBC radio actuality recordings: Bermondsey pub songs 1954 | The London Sound Survey". www.soundsurvey.org.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
- ^ "Lever Hit Parade". flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ "Tommy Steele: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Top Twenty" (PDF). Disc. 16 July 1960. p. 3. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ "NME Music Charts". New Musical Express. 8 July 1960.
- ^ "The Second Ten". Record Mirror. 9 July 1960.