Allan Smethurst
Encyclopedia
Allan Francis Smethurst aka The Singing Postman was an English
postman and singer.
Born in Walshaw
, Lancashire
, the son of Allan and Gladys Mabel (née Curson), Smethurst was raised in Sheringham
, Norfolk
. His mother came from the nearby village of Stiffkey
. He later became a postman in Grimsby
.
Smethurst hummed tunes on his daily post round for twelve years, writing and singing songs in his native Norfolk dialect
. An audition tape sent to a BBC regional radio programme earned him a spot on Ralph Tuck's local radio show, and Tuck recorded Smethurst on his own record label, "The Smallest Recording Organisation in the World" based in Lowestoft. A four track EP made the EP charts in 1965 and after another EP release by Ralph Tuck and an album The Singing Postman's Year he was signed to EMI
who re-released earlier songs and recorded new items. He made numerous live and promotional performances, including Top of the Pops
but was afflicted by nerves and stage fright.
In 1966, the Singing Postman's best known hit "Hev Yew Gotta Loight, Boy?" won Smethurst the Ivor Novello Award for best novelty song of the year. The hit knocked The Beatles
from the top of the East Anglia hit parade and remained in the charts for nine weeks. Rolf Harris
recorded a cover version without success. The song had a small comeback in 1994 when it was featured on a television commercial for Ovaltine
.
He quit the music business in 1970, later admitting he had an alcohol problem and that he'd spent all his money and was penniless. He spent his last few years living quietly in a Salvation Army
hostel in Grimsby
where he died in December 2000.
other songs included:
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
postman and singer.
Born in Walshaw
Walshaw
Walshaw is a village within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. It is to the south of Tottington and 2 miles northwest of Bury...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, the son of Allan and Gladys Mabel (née Curson), Smethurst was raised in Sheringham
Sheringham
Sheringham is a seaside town in Norfolk, England, west of Cromer.The motto of the town, granted in 1953 to the Sheringham Urban District Council, is Mare Ditat Pinusque Decorat, Latin for "The sea enriches and the pine adorns"....
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. His mother came from the nearby village of Stiffkey
Stiffkey
Stiffkey is a village and civil parish on the north coast of the English county of Norfolk. It is situated on the A149 coast road, some east of Wells-next-the-Sea, west of Blakeney, and north-west of the city of Norwich....
. He later became a postman in Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
.
Smethurst hummed tunes on his daily post round for twelve years, writing and singing songs in his native Norfolk dialect
Norfolk dialect
The Norfolk dialect, also known as Broad Norfolk, is a dialect that was once, and to a great extent, still is spoken by those living in the county of Norfolk in England...
. An audition tape sent to a BBC regional radio programme earned him a spot on Ralph Tuck's local radio show, and Tuck recorded Smethurst on his own record label, "The Smallest Recording Organisation in the World" based in Lowestoft. A four track EP made the EP charts in 1965 and after another EP release by Ralph Tuck and an album The Singing Postman's Year he was signed to EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
who re-released earlier songs and recorded new items. He made numerous live and promotional performances, including Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
but was afflicted by nerves and stage fright.
In 1966, the Singing Postman's best known hit "Hev Yew Gotta Loight, Boy?" won Smethurst the Ivor Novello Award for best novelty song of the year. The hit knocked The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
from the top of the East Anglia hit parade and remained in the charts for nine weeks. Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris, CBE, AM is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter and television personality.Born in Perth, Western Australia, Harris was a champion swimmer before studying art. He moved to England in 1952, where he started to appear on television programmes on which he drew the...
recorded a cover version without success. The song had a small comeback in 1994 when it was featured on a television commercial for Ovaltine
Ovaltine
Ovaltine is a brand of milk flavoring product made with malt extract , sugar , cocoa, and whey...
.
He quit the music business in 1970, later admitting he had an alcohol problem and that he'd spent all his money and was penniless. He spent his last few years living quietly in a Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
hostel in Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
where he died in December 2000.
Selected discography
- The BBC Singing Postman EP (RTP 1965) #20 in UK EP charts
- First Delivery EP (EMI 1966) # 7 in UK EP charts
- The Singing Postman's Year (RTP)
- Second Delivery EP (EMI 1966)
- Third Delivery EP (EMI (1966)
- Fourth Delivery EP (EMI 1966)
- Recorded Delivery LP (EMI 1966)
- The Sound Barrier LP (EMI 1967)
Famous Songs
- Bin Born A Long Time
- I Wear Horn Rimmed Glasses
- When The Moon Peeps O'er The Hill
- Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy?
- Followin' Th' Binder Round
- The Devil's Hoofprints
- Roundabout
- Miss From Diss
- Moind Yer Head, Boy
- You'll Hatta Come Along a Me
other songs included:
- Ha' Yer Fa'er Got a Dickey, Boy?
- Oi Shot a Rabbit Up a Tree
- The Motorbike Song
- Mystery of Owld Tom's Grave