IT'S TRAD, DAD! is a curio and a musical from 1962 which looks at the phenomenon of 'traditional jazz' as opposed to the more popular rock and roll that was doing the rounds back in the day. It's a first for both director Richard Lester, who of course would later make IT'S A HARD DAY'S NIGHT with The Beatles, no less, and also for British film studio Amicus Productions, who would later become famous for their classic selection of horror anthologies. It was written by Milton Subotsky, too. The film itself is a plotless affair of some lame, dated jokes and endless cameos from various comedy and musical stars of the day. The biggest attraction is a number of songs played in a brightly-lit white studio from luminaries including Acker Bilk, Del Shannon, Chubby Checker, and many others.

Before Richard Lester became flavour of the month by directing the very innovative "A Hard Day's Night", he was experimenting with some innovative ideas on "It's Trad, Dad". It was a low key youth movie, designed to showcase up and coming talent and featured an invisible narrator who talked to the two teens who were busy organising a show. The plot had to do with a pair of teens who want to introduce some trad jazz into their town but have opposition from a bunch of "oldies". The featured star was Helen Shapiro who may not have cracked the big time in America but certainly did in Australia. "Walking Back to Happiness" was played so often on the radio I can still sing it now, 50 years later. She was a 14 year old discovery from Clapton whose distinctive low, throaty voice was her trademark.It's amazing, this movie bought the early 60s flooding back when trad jazz was really in vogue - Acker Bilk was number one (it seemed like forever) with "Stranger On the Shore", he was a highlight of this movie with a spirited rendition of "In a Persian Market". Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen often guested on TV shows at that time, "Sounds Incorporated" were a big band and had a huge hit in Australia with "William Tell Overture" and the hilarious Temperance 7, who specialised in 1920s jazz - remember them???A disgruntled Mayor wants to stamp out trad jazz so "the girl and the boy" (Helen Shapiro and Craig Douglas) decide to bring a jazz show to their town. Interspersed between the jazz acts are the rock and rollers - Gene Vincent ("Space Ship to Mars"), The Brook Brothers ("Double Trouble"), Del Shannon, Gene MacDaniells - what a fantastic voice he had and Chubby Checker who did the "Lose Your Inhibition" twist.The kids finally get their jazz show organised but the Mayor goes all out to sabotage it so while waiting for the acts to arrive the local talent get a chance to shine. Craig Douglas who had a hit in 1959 with "Only Sixteen" and of course Helen Shapiro who sings "Let's Talk", "Just Wondering" and "Ring a Ding Rhythmn".Unfortunately the movie flopped in America with the new title "Ring A Ding Rhythmn" - as if that made more sense than "It's Trad, Dad"!! Among the other cast members was Derek Nimmo as the comical waiter and Ronnie Stevens who actually hosted a variety show series in Australia. I just loved the end credits when it said Helen Shapiro's wardrobe was made with Butterick Patterns - you gotta love it!!!

If anyone is curious to look at 1961/62 U.K. just before The Beatles would make their way to American shores, then this is an excellent look at that moment of the British musical landscape. More then anything this film is about Art Direction. This is the kind of film that would show off Lester's amazing visual sense & get him hired to direct one of the great musicals of the 60's, "A Hard Days Night". The other quality I love about this film is the strange mixture of Folk, Dixie Jazz, R&B & Rock & Roll. I love how just 2 years before the Rock & Roll revolution would take hold that there seems to be such a wild mix of styles all floating around & waiting to take shape. Please see this film simply to get a peek at Lester's wonderful sense of visual delights. It very much has the feel of a magazine article come to life. Bravo!

I just watched this movie for the first time. I wonder why movies like this are so rarely seen. We've got all these cable channels now -- you'd think every movie ever made would end up getting played somewhere. This is a very interesting movie. I love the "teener" songs the most. It's amazing to think that Trad (Dixieland) had a burst of popularity just before the Beatles hit it big in the USA. Had it not been for the Beatles, would the 60's have been mostly about jazz? Anyway, after watching this movie, I thought it would be simple to search the Internet and find a complete listing of all the songs somewhere. Guess what -- it can't be done! I tried all kinds of Google entries and nothing returns a complete listing of the entire soundtrack. There is a CD available, but it only contains the Dixieland stuff. Does anyone know where I can find a complete list?