Allan Smethurst

Allan Francis Smethurst (19 November 1927^[1] – 24 December 2000),^[2] aka The Singing Postman was an English folk singer^[3] and postman. He is best known for his self-penned novelty song, "Hev Yew Gotta Loight, Boy?", which earned him an Ivor Novello Award in 1966, and "A Miss from Diss".^[2]

Life and career

Born in Walshaw, near Bury, Lancashire, England,^[4] the son of Allan and Gladys Mabel (née Curson),^[5] Smethurst was raised in Sheringham, Norfolk. His mother came from the nearby village of Stiffkey. He later became a postman in Grimsby.^[4]

Smethurst hummed tunes on his daily post round for twelve years, writing and singing songs in his native Norfolk dialect.^[4] 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 on 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. 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.

Smethurst left the music industry in 1970, later admitting he had an alcohol problem and that he had spent all of his money and was penniless. He spent his last few years living quietly in a Salvation Army hostel in Grimsby, where he died from a heart attack in December 2000.^[2]

In September 2010, a BBC Radio 4 programme, "In Search of the Singing Postman", was broadcast which was written and presented by D. J. Taylor.^[6]

Discography

Albums

• The Singing Postman's Year (RTP)^[7]
• Recorded Delivery (Parlophone, 1966)^[8]
• The Sound Barrier (Parlophone, 1967)^[9]
• The Best of the Singing Postman (Starline, 1967)^[10]
• First Class Male (1971, Gemini)^[11]
• Hev Yew Gotta Loight, Boy? (Parlophone, 2005)^[3]

Singles and EPs

• "First Delivery EP" (EMI, 1966)^[12] No. 7 UK EP chart^[13]
• "Second Delivery EP" (Parlophone, 1966)^[14]
• "Third Delivery EP" (Parlophone, 1966)^[15]
• "Fourth Delivery EP" (Parlophone, 1966)^[16]
• "Ladies Darts Team" / "Roundabout" (Parlophone, 1966)^[17]
• "Mind How You Go" (Parlophone, 1967)^[18]
• "Please Mr. Postman" (Parlophone, 1967)^[19]
• "Fertilising Lisa" / "Ballad of A Ten Bob Note" (President PVK.005, 1977)^[20]
• "Hey the Bottom Dropped Owt" (Ralph Tuck, 1997)^[21]

References

External links

• "Hev Yew Gotta Loight, Boy?" lyrics
• Singing Postman biographical information
• Singing Postman article