Which popular radio show, a follow up to the earlier Children's Favourites was hosted by Ed Stewart from 1968 to 1979 and had the introductory tune 'Morningtown Ride', a song made famous by The Seekers?
Children's Favourites renamed Junior Choice and simultaneously broadcast on both stations and "Puffin' Billy" was replaced by an instrumental version of the Seekers' hit "Morningtown Ride" played by Stan Butcher, from his 1966 album a "His Birds and Brass". In February 1968 Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart took over from Crowther and was the host for eleven years, attracting more than 17 million listeners. The style became less cosy and less reverent. As tastes changed, new favourites were added, though some old favourites remained for years. Pop records, as opposed to records specifically for children, were requested more frequently as the 1970s progressed. The
Morningtown Ride Morningtown Ride "Morningtown Ride" is a lullaby, written and performed by Malvina Reynolds in 1957, and covered by a number of artists. It tells the comforting story of the journey through nighttime made by all the "little travellers" (children), on board a train, with the Sandman as guard. The song was performed by The Seekers with Bobby Richards and his Orchestra on the 1964 album "Hide & Seekers" (W&G Records WG-B-2362). It was subsequently re-recorded and released as a single in 1966 (Columbia DB 8060), produced by Tom Springfield. The song spent 15 weeks on the UK's "Record Retailer" chart,