Walter Potts
Enzo Matrix
Gary Jackson, the presenter, played a song called "Not Too Little, Not To
Much" by Chris Sandford and mentioned that Chris had appeared in Corrie. So
I did a bit of research and came up with this interesting article.
http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/djssa.htm
<Quote>
Chris Sandford was born in London in 1939. Like many of Radio Caroline's
early presenters, he came from a theatrical background. He had played a
character called 'Walter Potts' in television's Coronation Street. Walter
was a milkman who became a pop singer and the song featured in the
programme, Not Too Little Not Too Much, became a Top 20 hit for Chris in
1963. He released a number of other singles including You're Gonna Be My
Girl with backing band The Coronets which featured drummer Mitch Mitchell,
later to join the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Keith Skues's book Pop Went The
Pirates refers to Chris working in the sales department in Caroline House,
the station's headquarters, but he also hosted promotional events and
briefly broadcast on Caroline North. He was only there for about six weeks
in 1964 or 1965 but he made a big impression on one listener. Derek from
Manchester wrote in the guestbook: "A great DJ. (The other presenters) took
the piss out of him and locked him in the loo whilst on the air!" Chris
continued to make records, including a Bob Dylan spoof called I Wish They
Wouldn't Always Say I Sound Like The Guy From The USA Blues. John Cronnolley
has written to remind us that Chris also had a Top 30 hit in March-April
1975 as part of a duet with the late voice-over star Bill Mitchell. They
appeared under the name "Yin and Yan" on a spoof of Telly Savalas' hit
version of If. Since his time at sea, Chris has continued to act and
appeared in an episode of ITV's Danger Man series set on a pirate station.
Called Not So Jolly Roger, it was released on video in 1992 and is currently
available as part of a DVD box-set. Chris appeared in TV's The Persuaders as
well as such films as Half A Sixpence, Deep End and Up The Chastity Belt. He
also works as a voice-over and producer.
</Quote>
Does anyone remember the character of Walter Potts? He's a /teensy/ bit
before my time! ;-)
The article says that the song featured on Corrie. What there a musical
episode?
--
Enzo
I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.
Enzo Matrix
> Does anyone remember the character of Walter Potts?
I've done a bit more research.
http://www.corrieblog.tv/2007/08/just_who_was_co.html
<Quote>
Just who was Brett Falcon, Corrie's sixties-sensation?
A couple of weeks ago we were blogging away about Sue Nicholls and her 1960s
singing career, and some Corrieblog readers were discussing Brett Falcon,
Corrie's first musical superstar. Ahem. Walter Potts, a local
window-cleaner, was 'discovered' by Dennis Tanner in 1963 and was the next
big thing, well, in Weatherfield at least. Dennis changed Walter's name to
'Brett Falcon' and set sealing one of Brett's first gigs at Jerry and Myra
Booth's wedding. Brett Falcon's career took off and he recorded a single
called 'Not too little, Not too much', which was released by Granada to
coincide with the storyline. It reached No.17 in the chart.
By the end of 1963 Brett Falcon became a 'singing sensation', and crowds of
girls hammered on Elsie Tanner's door to try and meet their favourite star.
The storyline mirrored the amazing success of the Beatles from nearby
Liverpool and Granada invited the boys along for a publicity photoshoot.
There were rumours that the Beatles were to appear in an episode of
Coronation Street, but they never did.
</Quote>
smct...@cix.compulink.co.uk
Matrix) wrote:
> *From:* "Enzo Matrix" <enz...@hotmail.com>
> *Date:* Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:21:02 +0100
The song was banal and insipid and the plot line bottom-clenchingly awful.
Granada even worked in a sequence where Walter/Brett "sang" the song to a
simpering Lucille Hewitt (& I forget who else) - only he actually mimed to
the record, thus turning CS into a kind of bargain basement "musical" for
that one episode. Chris Sandford was very much a one-hit (boneless) wonder
but there were no Stock Aitken & Waterman in them days, like.
Speaking of Dennis Tanner - who was a great character - gives me the
excuse yet again to remind everyone that the actor who played him - Philip
Lowrie - did all the voice over stuff on "Fifteen To One"....
SimonM
Enzo Matrix
It seemed like your typical early-sixties chart stuff to me, when I heard it
this morning.
John Dean
> I've just been listening to the radio, online that is.
>
> Gary Jackson, the presenter, played a song called "Not Too Little,
> Not To Much" by Chris Sandford and mentioned that Chris had appeared
> in Corrie. So I did a bit of research and came up with this
> interesting article.
> http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/djssa.htm
>
> <Quote>
> Chris Sandford was born in London in 1939. Like many of Radio
> Caroline's early presenters, he came from a theatrical background. He
> had played a character called 'Walter Potts' in television's
> Coronation Street. Walter was a milkman who became a pop singer and
> the song featured in the programme, Not Too Little Not Too Much,
> became a Top 20 hit for Chris in 1963.
<snip>
>
> Does anyone remember the character of Walter Potts? He's a /teensy/
> bit before my time! ;-)
Remember him vividly
>
> The article says that the song featured on Corrie. What there a
> musical episode?
There was a whole story line about Walter being 'discovered'. The song was
featured on the show and released in real life. May have been the first
commercial crossover of its kind in the UK
--
John Dean
Oxford
Nick
> Enzo Matrix wrote:
> > Does anyone remember the character of Walter Potts?
>
> I've done a bit more research.
>
> http://www.corrieblog.tv/2007/08/just_who_was_co.html
>
> <Quote>
> Just who was Brett Falcon, Corrie's sixties-sensation?
>
> A couple of weeks ago we were blogging away about Sue Nicholls and her 1960s
> singing career, and some Corrieblog readers were discussing Brett Falcon,
> Corrie's first musical superstar. Ahem. Walter Potts, a local
> window-cleaner, was 'discovered' by Dennis Tanner in 1963 and was the next
> big thing, well, in Weatherfield at least. Dennis changed Walter's name to
> 'Brett Falcon'
I remember Walter Potts but thought Dennis changed his name to Brett
Thunder - he could play the guitar, too!
Nick