Today is Petula Clark’s birthday. She turns 81, yup 81. I have played her songs often on Coffee as she is favorite of mine. Today’s music hasn’t appeared here. I chose four, the most I ever post.
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From the era when the songstress was omnipresent on TV, Cilla, Dusty, Kathy, Lulu, Dusty (you said Dusty twice, I like Dusty) and Pet. The gal from Epsom Surrey had always been a star from the BBC radio broadcasts during the war to jamming with Jimmy Page on Downtown.
She spoke languages, she lived in exotic places like Switzerland, heck even the French liked her. I guess at the end of the day, she was as mainstream an entertainer as you could imagine but who doesn’t love Downtown and Subway.
As big a fan as I am — and as deserving of a Coffee birthday tribute as Pet may be — it somehow seems wrong not to acknowledge the huge contribution of Tony Hatch, her producer. Without Mr. Hatch’s production work, I’m not sure Petula would ever have become the hit-maker Pet we know and love. It’s my opinion he was as responsible for Pet’s success as Bacharach-David were for Dionne Warwick, George Martin for The Beatles and Andrew Loog Oldham for The Rolling Stones.
As talented a singer as Pet was (is?), it was the Hatch Sound that took her recordings to the next level and helped her become a superstar rather than just a one-hit wonder. Think there wasn’t such a “sound?” Then take a listen to the woman who was to become his wife, Jackie Trent. If there hadn’t already been a “Pet Clark,” perhaps Jackie could have filled that niche. But there WAS a Pet and, truthfully, Jackie didn’t have quite the voice Pet did.*
So happy birthday, Ms. Clark. You’ve always been a favorite of mine. And next time you see Mr. Hatch, tell him thanks for being such a master behind the board. You two made music magic!
* In case you’ve never heard her, here’s Jackie Trent. Sound familiar?
Jackie was a northern girl who was a somewhat peripheral singer but did write with her to be husband Tony Hatch . Tony Hatch did everything from producing very early Bowie to writing the theme tune to Crossroads.
However, Pet Clark had the presence, the voice, and the ability to deliver international hits for Hatch. There was a very good reason that it was Pet Clark who recorded Subway and not its writers Hatch-Trent.
im6,
I don’t think this would occurred to me as I usually just let the music play, but I totally agree after listening to this. Jackie Trent (whom I’d not heard before this) has the Pet touch but only a touch so I could hear our Petula singing this with far more mastery.
November 15, 2013 at 12:24 pm
https://app.box.com/s/3cgygye7f9k6liw9rrwg
November 15, 2013 at 1:57 pm
From the era when the songstress was omnipresent on TV, Cilla, Dusty, Kathy, Lulu, Dusty (you said Dusty twice, I like Dusty) and Pet. The gal from Epsom Surrey had always been a star from the BBC radio broadcasts during the war to jamming with Jimmy Page on Downtown.
She spoke languages, she lived in exotic places like Switzerland, heck even the French liked her. I guess at the end of the day, she was as mainstream an entertainer as you could imagine but who doesn’t love Downtown and Subway.
Happy 81st birthday to Petula Clark .
November 15, 2013 at 3:24 pm
My Dear Hedley,
I like Dusty.
Those are my favorite songs, but I have played them here and decided to go with other songs heard less.
I have some of her German albums. I was going to play one, but I forgot as they are stored elsewhere.
Definitely mainstream but she is Petula!!
November 15, 2013 at 2:38 pm
As big a fan as I am — and as deserving of a Coffee birthday tribute as Pet may be — it somehow seems wrong not to acknowledge the huge contribution of Tony Hatch, her producer. Without Mr. Hatch’s production work, I’m not sure Petula would ever have become the hit-maker Pet we know and love. It’s my opinion he was as responsible for Pet’s success as Bacharach-David were for Dionne Warwick, George Martin for The Beatles and Andrew Loog Oldham for The Rolling Stones.
As talented a singer as Pet was (is?), it was the Hatch Sound that took her recordings to the next level and helped her become a superstar rather than just a one-hit wonder. Think there wasn’t such a “sound?” Then take a listen to the woman who was to become his wife, Jackie Trent. If there hadn’t already been a “Pet Clark,” perhaps Jackie could have filled that niche. But there WAS a Pet and, truthfully, Jackie didn’t have quite the voice Pet did.*
So happy birthday, Ms. Clark. You’ve always been a favorite of mine. And next time you see Mr. Hatch, tell him thanks for being such a master behind the board. You two made music magic!
* In case you’ve never heard her, here’s Jackie Trent. Sound familiar?
November 15, 2013 at 3:06 pm
Jackie was a northern girl who was a somewhat peripheral singer but did write with her to be husband Tony Hatch . Tony Hatch did everything from producing very early Bowie to writing the theme tune to Crossroads.
However, Pet Clark had the presence, the voice, and the ability to deliver international hits for Hatch. There was a very good reason that it was Pet Clark who recorded Subway and not its writers Hatch-Trent.
November 15, 2013 at 3:29 pm
MDH,
After hearing this song, I agree with why it was Petula, not Jackie.
November 15, 2013 at 3:28 pm
im6,
I don’t think this would occurred to me as I usually just let the music play, but I totally agree after listening to this. Jackie Trent (whom I’d not heard before this) has the Pet touch but only a touch so I could hear our Petula singing this with far more mastery.
Thanks you.