News
July 2022
What a fabulous surprise I got this month when the new McDonalds advert popped up on my television for Italian burgers with dad singing ‘On Days Like `These’. Thanks to everyone for alerting me. Most of you would assume I would know but the advertising companies go straight to the record label and make a direct deal. Whatever the case it’s great news as we’ve been popping up in adverts nearly every year.
With regards to all the messages about the Magnum advert, it isn’t dad, nor is it Bennett, it’s a cover version of ‘The Good Life’ recorded by Irish singer Neil Hannon. Wish it was dad with the amount of air time it’s had.
It’s like Groundhog Day with regards to the new release re Warners. We still haven’t had legal clearance on the tracks yet and this project has been inching along for well over a year. Talk about a yawnathon.
Nearly two years ago I found out that a few albums available to upload were inferior in quality compared to what is available in sound today so after airing my complaints Universal gave the go-ahead. Richard mastered them within weeks, and now at last someone has finally pushed a button which has made them live.
The remastered downloads of 8 of his 9 original Capitol albums now appear on all good download and streaming sites. The last album “We’re Gonna Change The World” and three brand-new compilations together with the rest of dad’s Capitol catalogue will be made available at a later date.
I was amazed to find over the last few months while doing the radio promotion on the new book that several people were not aware of dad’s brand-new album that we brought on in 2020 especially as Stranger in Paradise: The Lost New York Sessions went straight to the No8 spot in the official album charts and stayed in the charts for six months. The first CD is brand new material recorded with just a five piece band but `I decided to combine it was a second disc with all of dad’s more familiar titles, remastered of course by the fabulous Richard Moore, for any new fans of dad’s music. If you didn’t grab a copy head to Amazon and pick it up for the ludicrously low price of £4.24 as there are only two left in stock.
I was upset to learn nearly two years ago that a few albums available to upload were inferior in quality compared to what is available in sound today so after airing my complaints Universal gave the go-ahead. Richard mastered them within weeks, and now at least someone has finally pushed a button which has made them live.
The remastered downloads of 8 of his 9 original Capitol albums now appear on all good download and streaming sites as of 8th April. The last album “We’re Gonna Change The World” and three brand-new compilations gathering together the rest of Matt’s Capitol catalogue will be made available at a later date.

This is The Life (1966) – Available in Stereo for the first time digitally. Brand new re-master from original US master tape.
This is the Life –
I’m Glad There Is You
This Is The Life
You’re Gonna Hear From Me
I’ll Take Romance
Strangers In The Night
On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
Sweet Lorraine
My Best Girl
On A Wonderful Day Like Today
Merci Cherie
Honey On The Vine

Here’s To My Lady (1966) – Available in Stereo for the first time digitally. Brand new re-master from original US master tape.
When Joanna Loved Me
Real Live Girl
When Sunny Gets Blue
Laura
People
Here’s To My Lady
The Good Life
You’ve Got Possibilities
Rain Sometimes
Sweet Talkin’ Hannah
Nina Never Knew

Invitation To The Movies (1967) – Brand new remaster from UK and US Stereo master tapes
Alfie
Georgy Girl
Theme From “The Sand Pebbles”
A Time For Love
I Will Wait For You
Moment To Moment
Born Free
In The Arms Of Love
Wednesday’s Child
A Man And A Woman
Strangers In The Night

These Years (1967) – Brand new remaster from Stereo US master tapes
There’s A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World)
Release Me
Don’t Sleep In The Subway
What To Do?
The Happening
These Years
You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
Music To Watch Girls By
Here, There And Everywhere
Spanish Eyes
Nobody Cares For Me

Invitation to Broadway (1968) – Brand new remaster from Stereo US master tapes
Look For Small Pleasures
Stranger In Paradise
The Impossible Dream
The Apple Tree
I’ll Only Miss Her When I Think Of Her
Come Back To Me
Hello Dolly!
Sunrise Sunset
Walking Happy
If She Walked Into My Life
Put On A Happy Face

The Late Late Show (1968) – Brand new remaster from Stereo US master tapes
If She Should Come To You
When I Fall In Love
Maria
Hello Young Lovers
September Song
Time After Time
This Is All I Ask
I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face
Days Of Wine And Roses
The Shadow Of Your Smile
Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes)
The Party’s Over

Todo Pasara (1968) – Brand new remaster taken from the 1st generation mixdown masters for the first time ever.
Alguien Canto (The Music Played)
Que Tiempo Tan Feliz (Those Were The Days)
Lo Que Quedo (All That Remains)
No Puedo Quitar Mis Ojos De Ti (Can’t Take My Eyes Off You)
Todo Pasara (Everything Will Happen)
Vete Por Favor (Walk Away)
Nacida Libre (Born Free)
La Montaña
No Me Dejes (If You Go Away)
Amandote Otra Vez (Lovin’ You Again)
Si Tu Te Vas (If You Go)
La Perla Y El Rubi (The Ruby And The Pearl)

En Espana (1970) – Brand new remaster taken from the 1st generation mixdown masters for the first time ever. La Estrella Del Sur Mixed to Stereo for the first time and Dónde Hallarse? Has been re-mixed due to damage to the master tape. Newly added bonus track ”Ven Mi Amor” also receives it’s first time Stereo mixes
Sueño Imposible (The Impossible Dream)
No Me Pesa, Es Mi Hermano (He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother)
Te Esperaré (I Will Wait For You)
Jean
Si Yo Fuera Carpintero (If I Were A Carpenter)
La Sombra De Tu Sonrisa (The Shadow Of Your Smile)
Dónde Hallarse? (Where In The World)
En Días Como Estos (On Days Like These)
Los Dos (Two People)
Puedo Ser Feliz (You’ve Made Me So Very Happy)
Qué Tonto Fui
La Estrella Del Sur (The Southern Star)
All eight albums were re-mastered completely in high resolution audio by Monro archivist Richard Moore.
We’ll post more information on the remaining 4 sets as soon as the release date is confirmed.
For all new members and for those of you that don’t know Richard and I launched dad’s very own YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/MattMonroOfficial and put together a four-part audio documentary to celebrate dad’s special 90th birthday. The programmes were written and narrated by myself and feature an intimate portrait of the man behind the voice, drawing on previously un-broadcast interviews, extremely rare recordings previously thought lost, interviews with his family and friends and messages from some of his more famous fans.
I also made a deal with Aviator so every two weeks we feature a rare television performance of dad and the YouTube channel still has all the ones you may have missed by not visiting yet. It’s all totally free and if you register the site will send you a reminder every time something new is added

I was amazed to find over the last few months while doing the radio promotion on the new book that several people were not aware of dad’s brand-new album that we brought on in 2020 especially as Stranger in Paradise: The Lost New York Sessions went straight to the No8 spot in the official album charts and stayed in the charts for six months. The first CD is brand new material recorded with just a five-piece band but `I decided to combine it was a second disc with all of dad’s more familiar titles, remastered of course by the fabulous Richard Moore, for any new fans of dad’s music. If you didn’t grab a copy head to Amazon and pick it up for the ludicrously low price of £4.63 and for those of you that contacted me saying they could not get hold of it Amazon now have more stock in.
The cruise lines seem to have had a change of strategy and are not prioritising specialized entertainment speakers at the moment preferring to stick to destination speakers. This has meant that Peel Agency has cancelled the Christmas cruise I was booked for on Fred Olsen in December this year. I don’t know whether it is to cut down on money but I feel it is very short-sighted of the cruise line as having no alternatives to destination talks is boring for a lot of people. I went to a few when I first started cruising some four decades ago but I’m on holiday to have fun and these talks are additional to the port talks they offer to try and sell tours. While many will find them interesting there should always be light and shade on the schedule and I’m surprised that Fred. Olsen has taken this approach especially as my reviews and umpteen other entertainment speakers have always been strong.
But here’s some good news. I have finally heard from Celebrity Cruises and have been offered three cruises out of Southampton this year. I could have asked for more but I don’t fly, and even if I did, I wouldn’t chance it with the mess at the airports currently. My friend, a comic on the cruises has missed two sailings because both flights were cancelled but only after he had spent seven odd hours at the airport. Another friend spent two days at Gatwick. Finally, after eight hours he was sitting on the flight only for the pilot to come out and tell the passengers that they couldn’t take off as the plane was too heavy!!! Everyone off and back to check-in. Only those that were prepared to travel with just hand luggage were allowed back on the plane. Finally, he was seated on the aircraft again and nearly 100 minutes later the pilot came back out and said the flight had been cancelled. He stayed overnight at the airport hotel only for the same thing to happen the next day so he went home. I couldn’t put myself through all that stress.
Anyway, for those that like to follow my travels here’s my schedule
Celebrity Silhouette – 9 – 16 July 2022
Celebrity Silhouette – 16 – 23 July 2022
Celebrity Silhouette – 30 July – 13 August 2022
Celebrity Silhouette – 10 – 19 September 2022
Celebrity Silhouette – 19 – 30 September 2022
The great news is that it will give me an opportunity of plugging my new book “The Autonomous Cruiser: The Complete Guide to Cruising For and with Disabled Travellers”, which made No4 in Amazon’s Disability & Travel section. On 1st June I was featured in the magazine Cruise International, which was a great scoop for me especially as it was a whole page. This coming month I will be featured in Able magazine. I have no idea how much they will include of the article `I wrote for them so it will be a nice surprise (especially if I’m not in it at all, lol)
I have also done several blog articles and dozens of BBC and Hospital radios since I got home but the book is only as good as its publicity so if any of you have a social media site, I would be grateful if you could post a copy of the book cover as this is a subject, I am very passionate about.
The Autonomous Cruiser by Michele Monro is published by Clink Street Publishing and both the paperback and eBook are available to buy online from all good retailers including Amazon.co.uk
If you’d like to read my article that was featured on wheelchairtravel.org I’ve put the link below.
https://wheelchairtravel.org/top-tips-accessible-cruising-with-a-disability/
and here’s the one that came out on the World of Cruising website
Cruises for disabled travellers: Top tips for… | World of Cruising
I also have a new Author’s website – michelemonro.com and as well as the information on both of my books it will be used in the future for any updates to the book and news of the port guide sequels.

This is the first book to specifically address the needs of the disabled cruiser and their carers so they can ensure a stress-free holiday. Having spent more than 40 years cruising the world and also working as a specialist speaker on a number of cruise lines including Celebrity, P&O, Fred. Olsen and Royal Caribbean, I was shocked to find there was nothing on the marking to address the needs of a disadvantaged traveller and that made me very cross.
In the 1990s I was diagnosed with MS. It was then I began to fully appreciate the absence of advice and information about cruise travel with a special need. I felt strongly that whilst living with a disability presents a lot of obstacles, a cruise holiday shouldn’t have to be one of them and I began what was to become 3 years of painstaking research covering all the possible details a disabled cruise traveller needs to know. Because of the pandemic, the book was put on hold for a further two years and I then had to update it twice, one for Brexit and again for the effects of Covid on the industry. At one point I nearly pulled it but when the industry started going back to sea I decided to persevere.
The Autonomous Cruiser is the result. The most up to date and comprehensive guide available, advising on the whole process of cruising, including: –
Cruise and port choices, and the accessibility of cruise terminals. A comprehensive section on fly-cruises including airport guides, car park assistance, wheelchair advice, checked luggage, lounges, and delayed and missed departures
Critical pre-planning information including holiday administration, vaccinations, medication, cabin selection, upgrades, pier transfers, luggage services, drinks packages, specialty dining and online check-in
Life on board incorporates embarkation, cruise ship etiquette, dining, entertainment, meetings, bridge visits, swimming pools, spa facilities shopping and duty-free, photo gallery, onboard savings, ship visits, port calls, tendering, safety, technology at sea and the travel scams to watch out for
Caregivers, chaperones and service dogs
A directory outlining the most important disability resources, including accessible shore excursions, dedicated apps, cruise specialists and accessible travel agents