The Very Thought of You - Al Bowlly

[appalachiablue]

Last edited Sat Mar 12, 2022, 03:33 PM - Edit history (2)

- Al Bowlly with Ray Noble and His Orchestra. Albert Allick Bowlly (7 Jan. 1898 – 17 April 1941) was a Mozambican-born South African–British vocalist and jazz guitarist, who was popular during the 1930s in Britain. He recorded more than 1,000 songs.


His most popular songs include "Midnight, the Stars and You", "Goodnight, Sweetheart", "Close Your Eyes", "The Very Thought of You", "Guilty", "Heartaches" and "Love Is the Sweetest Thing". He also recorded the only English version of "Dark Eyes" by Adalgiso Ferraris, as "Black Eyes", with the words of Albert Mellor.. Bowlly was born in Lourenço Marques (today Maputo) in the Portuguese colony of Mozambique. His parents were Greek and Lebanese. They met en route to Australia and moved to South Africa. Bowlly was brought up in Johannesburg..

.. On 16 April 1941, Bowlly and Messene had given a performance at the Rex Cinema in Oxford Street, High Wycombe. Both were offered an overnight stay in town, but Bowlly took the last train home to his flat at 32 Duke Street, Duke's Court, St James, London. He was killed by a Luftwaffe parachute mine that detonated outside his flat at ten past three in the morning. His body appeared unmarked. Although the explosion had not disfigured him, it had blown his bedroom door off its hinges, and the impact against his head was fatal. He was buried with other bombing victims in a mass grave at Hanwell Cemetery, Uxbridge Road, Hanwell, where his name is given as Albert Alex Bowlly.

A blue plaque commemorating Bowlly was installed in November 2013 by English Heritage at Charing Cross Mansion, 26 Charing Cross Road, described as "his home at the pinnacle of his career"...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Bowlly

[secondwind]

1. OH HOW I LOVE THIS SO MUCH! THANK YOU!

[appalachiablue]

2. Wonderful song, & artist. Tragic ending in a London Luftwaffe bombing, 1941.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Bowlly

.. On 16 April 1941, Bowlly and Messene had given a performance at the Rex Cinema in Oxford Street, High Wycombe. Both were offered an overnight stay in town, but Bowlly took the last train home to his flat at 32 Duke Street, Duke's Court, St James, London. He was killed by a Luftwaffe parachute mine that detonated outside his flat at ten past three in the morning.[6] His body appeared unmarked. Although the explosion had not disfigured him, it had blown his bedroom door off its hinges, and the impact against his head was fatal. He was buried with other bombing victims in a mass grave at Hanwell Cemetery, Uxbridge Road, Hanwell, where his name is given as Albert Alex Bowlly.

A blue plaque commemorating Bowlly was installed in November 2013 by English Heritage at Charing Cross Mansion, 26 Charing Cross Road, described as "his home at the pinnacle of his career".

[CommonHumanity]

3. Related story

Fittingly, this song plays a key role in the most romantic moment of my life.

I was in grad school and had the sweetest dearest funniest boyfriend. I truly failed to appreciate him enough and regret it.

He was a jazz musician and played sax and flute. He introduced me to so much good jazz. Sometimes now I hear a song he introduced me to and my mind is filled with memories of sweet times.

He introduced me to this song and we both LOVED it. He was learning to play it exquisitely on the sax - in order to play it to me. It was kind of "our song".

One night we went to a great local bar together. It was a super cool bar and lots of folks we knew were there. Eventually, we ended up in separate areas chatting with folks we knew. I was kind of being an ass and enjoying these two guys flirting with me. I know it sounds shitty, but believe me, I would never flirt in front of him or be unfaithful. I'm not even one to flirt. Never knew how and still don't. Too shy. I'd just always thought I was unattractive, even though I wasn't (thanks mom) and was liking the attention. Not too proud of that kind of insecurity, but it was what it was.

Anyway, it was getting around closing time. A few people started streaming out. I wasn't sure where my boyfriend was when suddenly I hear the most beautiful sax sounds wafting through the air. He's finished learning the song and was standing in the bar playing it for me.

Sweet right?

[appalachiablue]

4. You're so lucky! What a wonderful story and sweetheart! Beautiful :)