Marc Almond’s Torch Song Trilogy

Marc Almond is joined by his friend and record producer Tris Penna for the first episode of this three-part series about torch songs and torch song singers.

In this programme Marc explains what a torch song is, and traces the origins of the classic torch singers - the divas who were associated with this style of song in the 1920s and 1930s. Among them, Libby Holman performing her signature tune Moanin Low, which was first published in 1929. Marc says: “Libby was perhaps the first bona fide torch singer. She gave it its style.”

Marc and Tris discuss the lyrics used as well as the delivery of the early performances and recordings and celebrate the work of some of the great female torch singers of the 20th century, with tracks from Marlene Dietrich, Edif Piaf and Billie Holiday.

And Marc delves through his record collection to unearth some rarely-played torch songs, including the powerful Trouble Man sung by Lotte Lenya. There is reference to Dinah Washington’s influence on contemporary artistes as well as Eartha Kitt and inevitably Judy Garland, who is forever associated with the torch song genre.

This series was first broadcast in 2017.

• Presenter: Marc Almond
• Producer: Ashley Byrne for Made in Manchester Limited

Publicity contact: SH8