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"
ReleasedJune 1960 (1960-06)
Recorded1960
StudioDecca Studios, London
GenrePop
Length2:45
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)R. P. Weston
Tommy Steele singles chronology
"Little White Bull"
(1960) 		"What a Mouth (What a North and South)"
(1960) 		"Happy-Go-Lucky Blues"
(1960)

"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

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

Background

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

7": Decca / F 11245

  1. "What a Mouth (What a North and South) – 2:45
  2. "Kookaburra" – 1:58

Charts

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

  1. ^ "What A Mouth!". www.goldenhindmusic.com. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Francis & Day's Album of Cockney Songs ", Sheet Music Warehouse. Retrieved 14 February 2022
  3. ^ The Two Bills From Bermondsey: What A Mouth, What A Mouth (What A North And South), 45worlds.com. Retrieved 14 February 2022
  4. ^ "The Londoners", Folktrax Archive. Retrieved 14 February 2022
  5. ^ a b c Lassandro, Sebastian (11 July 2021). Tommy Steele: A Life in the Spotlight. Fonthill Media. p. 86.
  6. ^ "BBC radio actuality recordings: Bermondsey pub songs 1954 | The London Sound Survey". www.soundsurvey.org.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  7. ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
  8. ^ "Lever Hit Parade". flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Tommy Steele: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  10. ^ "Top Twenty" (PDF). Disc. 16 July 1960. p. 3. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  11. ^ "NME Music Charts". New Musical Express. 8 July 1960.
  12. ^ "The Second Ten". Record Mirror. 9 July 1960.