Coventry Music Articles by Pete Clemons: Just For You - 1964 Sam Costa Film

Thursday, November 3, 2022

Just For You - 1964 Sam Costa Film - Coventry Connections

Just For You - 1964 Sam Costa Film - Coventry Connections.

by Pete Clemons

Born 1910, Sam Costa began his working life as a singer for big bands. Sam was also one of my Mum's favourites. As such I remember him for presenting 'Housewives Choice' on Radio 2 from 1967. He also appeared of 'Juke Box Jury' and David Frost's 'Frost on Sunday programme.

During 1964 Sam Costa appeared in a film with several connections to Coventry within it. The plot to the film is almost non existent really. Well, to be honest, there isn't one at all. It's more a programme that showcases singing stars from the hit parade of the day complete with Sam Costa's interludes.

Throughout the movie DJ/agent Sam lies in his other worldly computer operated bed. If there is a message then it is that he is demonstrating all the trappings of success. The bed provides him with all his needs. 'This is the life' he says. 'All the wonders of modern science at my beck and call, anything I want at the touch of a button'.

Another scene has Sam ranting 'I'm not paying through the nose for all this guff for nothing you know'. 'Its amazing what you can do in bed. This bed does everything'. Between songs he has this continual conversation with the computer which is trying to stir him into life.

From his berth Costa introduces: Faye Craig: "Bongo Baby" and "Voodoo." The Applejacks: "Tell Me When." Al Saxon: "Mine All Mine." Band Of Angels: "Hide & Seek." The Orchids: "Mr. Scrooge." The Bachelors: "The Fox" and "Low In The Valley."

Freddie & The Dreamers: "You Were Made For Me" and "Just For You." Doug Sheldon: "Night Time." Caroline Lee, Roy Stone and Judy Jason: "Teenage Valentino." Peter and Gordon: "Leave Me Alone" and "Soft As The Dawn." Millie Small: "Sugar Dandy." Jackie and the Raindrops: "Loco-Motion."

The Warriors: "Don't Make Me Blue." Mark Wynter: "I Wish You Everything." Johnny B. Great: "If I Had A Hammer." Louise Cordet: "It's So Hard To Be Good." The Merseybeats: "Milkman."

From that list you might just have spotted the Coventry associations. These of course are The Orchids and Johnny Goodison. After The Orchids performance Sam quips 'The rumours that The Orchids helped me with my 11+ are totally untrue'

For the American market, several of the UK musical performances were cut from the film. Added however was new footage of US artists – including The Chiffons, The Vagrants and The Rockin’ Ramrods. It was then released Stateside as 'Disk-O-Tek Holiday'.

Just For you is a feature completely of it's time. It is excellent quality, widescreen and in colour. At the same time it is a incredibly priceless resource in as much that you get rare footage of several not so well known crooners of the day.

It is futuristic in that the film features a TV remote control as well as a huge wall mounted screen.

Lots of groovin, ravers and go go dancing. Sam Costa did eventually get dressed but still lived life in bed. The line of show was, for me, 'have you got your weekend joint yet'? - Not sure those days had arrived at that time but it really made me smile.