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Summer Wine Writer Gerald Hayne dips into the Last of the Summer Wine CD - and enjoys what he hears. 

Having been forced to endure a period of inactivity at a time when even watching old Summer Wine videos and dvds indoors seems a waste of that rarity, the British Summer, one way for me to forget some post-operative pains was, for once,  to sit quietly (Smiler’s favourite occupation if you recall) listening to the Last of the Summer Wine CD.    As may be seen from elsewhere on this site, this is a collection of virtually all the original music from the tv series as written by the amazing Ronnie Hazlehurst.   

Simply reading the titles of the music from my MP3 player (yes I do know how to use it at last) as they play brings enormous pleasure and captures the character and wonderful memories of those after whom each piece of music is named.  You can find comprehensive details of each track elsewhere written beautifully by Clive Eardley so I shall not attempt to add my views (click on “SW CD on home page) but each track is (to use Bill Owen’s words) “simply magic”.

The theme and its variations takes us through the musical realms of  Yorkshire fantasy with tracks dedicated to the three guys, the scenery, the “ladies”, the amazing and much missed Eli and Edie, right through to a love song entitled “Nora, my Nora”.

The CD sleeve notes are written by Alan J W Bell, Roy Clarke and of course the composer Ronnie Hazlehurst.  Just imagine what over thirty years of LOSW would have sounded like without Ronnie’s brilliant musical interpretations.  Those who can play episodes over and over again should try listening to the music without actually watching (if you can bear to do so of course) and you will, over a number of episodes hear some or parts of all 21 tracks of this very special music.  You will also hear some clever adaptations cunningly made by Ronnie to fit the requirements of certain episodes with their unique themes.

In the words of Roy Clarke…” All I said to the producer was – I don’t want funny music and back came this hauntingly beautiful theme.  I couldn’t believe my luck.  It remains so after all this time because it has whatever magical mixture is needed to become a classic.  It will be played and loved long after the programme is forgotten.”

Also in the sleeve notes are 3 versions of lyrics to the Last of the Summer Wine theme song as written by Roy Clarke, Norman Newell and of course Bill Owen.  These are gems in themselves and I can only urge you to order your own copy of the CD in order to appreciate them as you listen to this quality film music.  I am a John Barry fan but Ronnie cannot be bettered with this intelligent and entirely appropriate musical identity of the programme.  The man is a hero and deserves the highest commendation.

I should stress that I  have nothing whatsoever to do with the marketing or selling of this CD but urge those who haven’t yet acquired a copy to do so without delay.  For those of us in the UK awaiting the new series towards the end of the year it IS almost enough to be going on with.

Of course I also love Pink Floyd and Joe Cocker but that’s another story; mere 60 year olds you know………!

Gerald Hayne

Click here to visit the SWCD page and find out how to buy a copy from the Appreciation Society.