This weekend marked the passing of Acker Bilk, one of the more celebrated members of the traditional jazz revival in the UK, which included his single "Stranger on The Shore," a song that became the first song from the UK to top the charts in the United States. It may have lost some traction over the years but it's never too late to start appreciating good music. Five of Bilk's tracks reached the Top 10 in the UK and you can check them all out below:
"Stranger on The Shore" (no. 2 in 1961)
Although premiering during 1961, this instrumental track would go on to be the bestselling single in all of the UK during 1962. Bilk plays his clarinet with the very vibrato that would make him renowned at home and abroad. Although he initially wrote the track in tribute to his newborn daughter, hence the original title "Jenny," he was approached by a television company that offered to buy the rights to the tun as the theme to its new show Stranger on The Shore, if he would be willing to alter the title. He was, and it did. It would be his last hit for a while, what with the rock 'n' roll invasion taking place soon after. Bilk would admit during 2012 (he performed up through 2013) that he had grown tired of playing his classic.
"Summer Set" (no. 5 in 1960)
Bilk would find the most success as a member of the Columbia label and this would be the first single he would release on it. The song came at a time when his band's calling card wasn't strictly his headlining clarinet playing, so you'll notice that he shares the spotlight almost equally with pianist Dave Collett, who also cowrote the track with Bilk.
"Aria" (no. 5 in 1976)
As we mentioned above, Bilk had trouble finding the charts after the success of "Stranger on The Shore." He would only land one other single in the Top 10 following that release, and it came more than 15 years later. "Aria" is an unusually orchestral track for the otherwise undoubtedly jazz musician, and the only Top 10 single he would release on a label other than Columbia (it was produced by Pye Records). The rather grand string section that introduces the relatively somber instrumental is also a rarity for a performer who found the most success with upbeat numbers such as "Stranger."
"Buona Sera" (no. 7 in 1960)
"Buona Sera" was an obvious choice for a single in an era where many performers would simply rehash the successful hits of other performers. American trumpet player Louis Prima had a hit during 1956 with "Buona Sera," which translates to "good evening." Bilk had no trouble translating the trumpet line to clarinet for his own version, although the style of percussion in his own rendition is somewhat off-putting.
"That's My Home" (no. 7 in 1961)
"That's My Home" stands out among Bilk's Top 10 singles in the UK because of the relative lack of clarinet from the headliner. Instead, he uses the single as an opportunity to air out his vocals. Interestingly, his approach to both "instruments" are somewhat similar, both emphasizing vibrato. Bilk still gets a chance to play his primary tool, sharing the solo spotlight with a trumpet. This track was released by Columbia two singles before "Stranger" became a smash. The track in between? "The Stars and Stripes Forever," which still managed to get to no. 22 across the pond.
