Franz and Friend

June 22, 2024

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On this week's edition of On the Town Steyn plays a cavalcade of big names - Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff - plus a bloke you've never heard of but whose tunes you certainly will know. And we have a couple of desert songs from half-a-century apart - plus Sinatra, Dylan and a great favourite of Leslie Nielsen's.

To listen to the show, simply click here and log-in.

We apologise for the continuing vocal weakness and breathing issues on today's show. Mark hopes to be in better voice next week.

Thank you for all your kind comments on last week's Father's Day show. Linda Powers, a Kansas member of The Mark Steyn Club, writes:

I love this episode! So many rich songs, but I especially love the Chet Atkins section. The song is special as is the information about his younger years. I didn't know. My own father was an enigma, and all these pieces shared here remind me of my many and various emotions and memories of him. Thanks again and again, Mark.

Suzy agrees:

I was so moved by Mark Steyn's Father's Day programme this morning... ending with the wonderful Soliloquy from Carousel that I often sang right through with my dad, and being his little girl, the second part was so softly and lovingly sung just for me... What a start to the day. Thank you again.

From First Weekend Founding Member Fran Lavery:

That was the best! Can I say it? It was the best of the rest and the rest were all pretty fantastic shows.

One more from First Quarter Founding Member Michael Seth:

Thank you for such a wonderful episode under trying circumstances. The image of young Chet Atkins sleeping in a straight-back chair stays with me. An unexpected treat to hear Mark Knopfler as well.

Thanks for all your comments. On the Town is Steyn's weekly music show on Serenade Radio every Saturday at 5pm British Summer Time - that's 6pm in western and central Europe/12 midday North American Eastern. You can listen from anywhere in the world by clicking the button at top right here.

As listeners know, Mark is a great believer in old-school appointment listening, and loves the way Serenade's Saturday schedule flows from Cindy Kent to Steyn and on to the evening shows. However, we appreciate that many potential listeners are, at the appointed hour, watching Rishi Sunak bungle yet another elementary photo-op. So, as a bonus for Steyn Club members, we shall be posting the shows here every weekend.

We do enjoy your comments on our weekend programming. Steyn Clubbers are welcome to leave them below. For more on The Mark Steyn Club, see here - and don't forget our special Gift Membership.

Mark Steyn on the Town can be heard on Serenade Radio at the following hours:

Saturday 5pm London time/9am Los Angeles

Sunday 5am London time/12 midnight New York

Steyn's Song of the Week continues at its usual hour on Sunday, Monday and Thursday.