I used to spend a lot of time in my idle younger years just looking up and down the narrow spines of the 33 rpm albums on the shelf above the family record player reading off the names of the artists and their work.
Amongst quite a wide range of genres there was one particular name that was well represented- that being James Last and his Orchestra.
He was a prolific recording artist bringing out some 60 albums from the early 1960's. It is only Elvis Presley who brought out and sold more.
It is a remarkable attribute but yet mention the name James Last to anyone below the age of 50 and you will get a huge blank expression.
As a strange coincidence indeed it is on this very day in May 1980 that Last entered the UK singles charts with "The Seduction-Love Theme".
In spite of his 200 millions of album sales globally this short four minute or so single was his only entry into the Top 75 throughout the whole of his musical career. Compare that with his enviable CV for his albums. This included 5 UK top 10's, 45 UK top 40's and 65 UK top 75's.
So there is a very real danger that James Last and his contribution to pop culture will soon , if not already the case, be forgotten.
The musical output is not to everyone's taste and liking. It is mainly adaptations and interpretations of the songs of other artists and although instantly recognisable they are quite unique in their style and sound.
There is a certain mellow and melodic tone through the trademark combination of a brass section, strings and electric guitar.
It is not what is rather insultingly labelled as elevator music or muzak but more sophisticated than that.
To me the distinctive James Last music has been a soundtrack to my early family life.
It was to be heard at social gatherings of my parent's friends when us kids would get a glimpse of the adults partaking in small talk, the men in smart suits and the wives in kaftans and party frocks.
I can summon up very fresh memories of the smell of a Party Can of beer, Babycham and Perry, vol-au-vents, pineapple and cheese on cocktail sticks.
It was a rare time to catch our own parents being a little bit on the tipsy side, happy and carefree from the pressures of modern suburban life.
But we may have seen, some time ago now, the very last of Last.
He is not on the playlists of radio stations and has not been for much of his halcyon years.
Perhaps as some pundits say his music is just not radio friendly because of its easy listening and gentle demeanour.
There is however a hardcore fan base and following. At a revivalist concert a few years ago the demographic of those attending was in the 50 to 70 years old range suggesting, as I first mooted, that the influence of a musical heritage from our parents has a lot of explaining to do.
Those at the upper age range of the Officianados will have heard first hand in the 1960's the emergence of James Last and just stuck with him. That second place in record sales on an all time basis means that even during the apparent dominance in the 60's of The Beatles, The Stones and other Megastars he was always just in the background.
Not everyone it seems wanted to be fully immersed in the 1960's vibe and James Last offered to this group a different type of musical affiliation.
There has always been a big appeal in his timeless persona. Little changed in his personal styling over the decades from a smart jazzy jacket and slacks to go with his neatly trimmed beard and overall grooming.
Yes, I repeat, his work was cover version based and could be criticised as being a simple copy cat approach lacking individuality and creativity but Last was a skilled musician behind that showmanship.
We may be made to admit in future years that he was indeed a genius and ahead of his time in production and performance.
I feel that I am now obliged to take up and run with the James Last legend and keep his achievements in their rightful place in the history and development of mankind. First stop- well, "Non Stop Dancing" will do nicely thank you.
There are about 20 plus albums of the same name to work through.
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