I've already gone into the joys of Kismet, based on Borodin's Prince Igor but jammed with terrific melodic adaptations and with some of the best lyrics ever written. A hugely under rated gem.

I've just listened again to Irma La Douce, starring Keith Michell and Elizabeth Seal. A joy of a musical about prostitutes, drugs and murder!

Those were the days.

There's a song in Irma called Dis-Donc which used to set off my gorgeous golden spaniel Timmy - he only had to hear the intro to start howling his head off. Indeed, when I sang it he joined in; it became our party trick when I was 15 and 16.

Happy memories!