365 Days #229 - Reg Luckhurst - Your Cheatin' Heart (mp3s)

MP3:
1. Your Cheating Heart (2:15)
2. Was It Rain (2:29)
3. In The Misty Moonlight (2:28)
4. Home (3:00)

There has long been a tradition for sports personalities to make records. Such luminaries as Muhammad Ali, Vinnie Jones and Paul Gasgoine have put voice to vinyl, and some even made the charts. However occasionally a lesser-known name world cut a disc, which were always heading straight for the bargain bins. One such name was English speedway rider Reg Luckhurst. He came to fame in London in the mid-1960s as a team member of the Wimbledon Speedway team (The 'Dons'). Somehow he got the chance to make a couple of singles in 1971. I confess know very little about Speedway but I'm a sucker for celebrity records, no matter how obscure the celebrity, and these are pure magic.

The first of these singles was for major label Decca and is a cover of the Hank Williams classic backed with the lesser known song Was It Rain (a big hit for Frances Langford in the 1950s). Needless to say this bombed but was swiftly followed by a second single for the smaller label Crystal, this time a cover of the more recent country ballad In The Misty Moonlight (a hit for Dean Martin and previously Jerry Wallace).

The music is provided by respected jazz session pianist Ronnie Price and his band and is faultless. The problem here is with Reg's limited vocal abilities. When I first found these singles, before I knew anything about who Reg was, I assumed that he was much older than his true age (he was about 30) because his choice of material is very old fashioned and he sings like a veteran cabaret crooner. It also doesn't help that he has been double tracked and has a slight labiodental speech impediment leading to his curious singing style. This is especially bad on my favourite Was It Rain where Reg mispronounces some of the words, so that "I noticed when you kissed me, that both your cheeks were wet" sounds surreally like "both your cheeks were wed."

On this song he has also changed some of the words so it looses its meaning. The actual lyrics read: "We parted in the lane, was it tears that fell or was it rain?". But in Reg's world it comes out as: "We parted in the rain, was it tears that fell or was it rain?" thus answering his own question! But his style is strangely infectious. Play 'em a few times and I guarantee you'll be singing like Reg by bedtime...

- Contributed by: David Noades

Images: Record, Magazine

Your Cheating Heart / Was It Rain
Label: Decca
Catalogue: F13148
Credits: Musical director Ronnie Price
Year: 1971

In The Misty Moonlight / Home
Label: Crystal
Catalogue: CR7012
Credits: With Ronnie Price and his Music
Year: 1971

Comments

[Jon]

Bloody hell! It's Karaoke night at the old folks home. . . 30 you say? How square can you get for 1971? You would have thought he'd been into Greaser/Rocker type stuff if he was into bikes. Though the name Reg Luckhurst makes him sound about sixty five. Any photos?
Jon

[Dave]

If you want to see what Reg looked like click on the link called Magazine which shows Reg (on the left) on the cover of Speedway Star from circa 1968. There is also a great pic of him at the following site:

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1128565728054092940kZnfaw

[Steve]

WOW! I can't believe Reg is on here! I am a lifelong Wimbledon Speedway fan, and Reg was one of my heroes in the 60's and 70's. Outside of his his speedway achievements (he reached the 1965 World Final), he was quite well known for his amateur "cabaret" act, as was Leicester's Malcolm Brown. I never ever thought I would find mp3's of his ANYWHERE! Thank you so much...

[rob stone]

Reg is a total legend within speedway and grasstrack and well known for being one of the nicest guys in both sports. My dad used to watch him at Rhodes Minnis throughout the sixties racing alongside the likes of Don Godden and Alf Hagon.
All the best Reg.

[denis pook]

just came across this by chance -as an old wimbledon fan its great to here Reg getting mentioned he used to ride no. 5 for the dons partnered by Bob Dugard (eastbourne promoter) great times if only the dons were still going!!!!!!