Robert Allen

Douglas Cooper and George O'Brien visit songwriter Robert Allen at his home in suburban New York. He has about twenty major pop hits, sung primarily by Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, and The Four Lads. The two questioners walk Allen, the songwriter/arranger, to his piano.

The Interview

We begin by asking about the Longines’ contest, Melody in Search of a Title. Allen tells us the contest is still running. He says that a successful song will communicate with a listener. This is very gratifying to him, and is especially fulfilling when the composition holds a meaning for individuals. [We ask him, and he plays the as yet unnamed melody].

O'Brien asks if he awakens with a rhythm he must write down. Allen agrees that ideas come to him at 'strange and weird times.’ He exemplifies this by recounting a day on which an idea for a song went around in his head when he was on a California golf course. We asked if he completed it, and he played Moments to Remember.

Cooper asks if we're in a time compression, when pop songs become golden oldies so fast. The songwriter attributes it to the speed-up in life events. He contends that even as radio, motion pictures and television came along, popular music continued to grow. 

I ask him to play his Chances Are. He said he'd done an album with Johnny containing more of his hits such as It's Not for me to Say. The album topped the charts for 9 1/2 years!

I ask his reaction when he's 'out and about’ and hears one of his songs. He says he's about to do some work with The London Symphony Orchestra, but he takes the greatest pleasure when a stranger sings, whistles or hums one of his pieces.