Don't Sleep In The Subway, I Know A Place, DOWNTOWN, My Love! - PETULA CLARK
Sep 29 '03
The Bottom Line ”Petula Clark” was born on 15 November 1932 in Epsom, Surrey, England
Petula was taught to sing by her Mother at a very young age after her Father encouraged her to seek a career in show business. Her first paying job was in 1942 at the age of 10 when she sang for a bag of candy at Bentalls department store in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey in England. She next appears on a small radio station on shows “It’s All Yours”, “Variety Band Box” and “The Children’s Hour”. In her first two years of stage shows she racks up over 150 singing appearances. She also performed over 500 shows for the Military and garners the nickname of “The Forces Girl”. In 1943 she signs a deal with the Rank Organization and begins filming her very first Movie titled “A Medal For The General” also known by the name of “The Gay Intruders”. It also stars “Godfrey Tearle”, “Jeanne de Casalis”, “Morland Graham” “Mabel Constanduros” and “John Laurie”. This Movie role would begin her career as an Actress and she would go on to star in over 30 films from 1943 to 1982. She would also become England’s’ version of Shirley Temple from the US. In 1945 she appears in 3 Movies titled “Query”, “Strawberry Roan” and “I Know Where I’m Going!”.
On 17 July 1946 she would appear on the first show of “Cabaret” on BBC-TV where she became a regular until 2 November. She also appear this year on BBC radio for the shows called “Cabin In The Cotton”, “Calling All Forces” and “Guest Night”. Also in 1946 she appeared in 2 more films titled “Murder In Reverse” and “London Town” also known by the name of “My Heart Goes Crazy”. In 1947 she stars in another English made Movie titled “Vice Versa”. In 1948 she appeared in “Vote For Huggett”, “Here Come The Huggetts” and her biggest film to date titled “Easy Money”. She appears in 3 more movies in 1949 titled “The Romantic Age” also known as “Naughty Arlette”, “Don’t Ever Leave Me” and “The Huggetts Abroad”. Petula recorded and released many records in foreign countries some of which were “Africa”, “Asia”, “Australia”, “Canada”, “France”, “UK” and the “US” just to name a few. For the purposes of this posting I am only mentioning her charting records for the UK & US. Prior to 1960 the UK singles charts only listed the Top 12 songs in popularity in that Country. She records and releases her first single this year on “Columbia” in the UK only titled “Put Your Shoes On Lucy” backed by “There’s A House In The Sky”. Her second and final on “Columbia” is “I’ll Always” Love You” with the flip side being Clancy Lowered The Boom”. Other singles released in 1949 included “You Got To My Head”, “Music, Music, Music”, Silver Dollar”, “Two Lips”, “Doodle-Oodle-Day” and “It’s Not For The Want Of Trying”. None of these single in 1949 made the US or UK charts but a few found success in other countries.
In 1950 she releases a total of seven singles none of which make the UK or US charts but finding success in a few other foreign countries. On 24 November she begins her very own show on BBC-TV called “Pet’s Place”. The show aired weekly up until 24 July 1953 and it won her the award for Most Outstanding Artist on British TV. She also stars in one Movie this year titled “Dance Hall”. In 1951 she stars in “Madame Louise”, “White Corridors” and “The Madame Gambles”. She releases 4 singles this year only making an impact in a few other foreign countries. The following year she starred in “The Promoter” also known as “The Card” and in Made In Heaven”. She released 7 singles this year, none of which made the UK or US charts. In 1953 she released “Christopher Robin At Buckingham Palace” and “Poppa Piccolini” both in the UK. She also had her very first picture sleeve release in Australia with “Christopher Robin At Buckingham Palace”. In 1954 she would have her very first Top 12 hit in the UK with “The Little Shoemaker” that peaked at #7 there. This single was released on “King” records in the US, on “Radiola” records in Australia and on “Polygon” records in the UK where it had its greatest success. She released 4 other singles this year but all 4 failed to make the UK Top 12 or the US Top 100.
Her final record released in 1954 titled “Majorca” makes the UK charts the following February and peaks at #12 where it entered at. She also appears in 3 more Movies this year titled “The Gay Dog”, “The Happiness Of Three Women” and “The Runaway Bus”. She has charting success in the UK in November 1955 with “Suddenly There’s A Valley” that would later peak at #7 for her there. In January 1956 she releases her very first album titled “Petula Clark Sings”. It is followed later in the year by “A Date With Pet”, but both fail to chart. She stars in “Track The Man Down” this year another UK only release. In 1957 she severs ties with her Father who had been her Manager and moves out of the family home to a small apartment in Stratton Court in London. She has 2 hits on the singles chart this year with “With All My Heart” that peaks at #4 and “Alone” that peaked at #8 both in the UK only. She would also appear in the Movie “City After Midnight” also known as “That Woman Opposite”. She released one album this year in “You Are My Lucky Star” but it fails to make the UK or US charts. In 1958 she appears in “Six-Five Special” also known as ׄ.5 Special”. She has one charting single in the UK in “Baby Lover” at #12.
In 1959 she released 2 albums titled “Pet Clark” and “Petula Clark In Hollywood” and both failed to make the charts. She also meets and falls in love with a promotion man “Claude Wolff” from “Vogue” records where she signs a new contract. In 1960 she released several records none of which would make the charts. In January 1961 she would have her biggest song to date released titled “Sailor”. This single would become her very first #1 hit in the UK and would sell silver. She released quite a few singles and albums this year and also had hits with “Something Missing” that peaked at #44 on the new Top 50 UK charts. This was followed up in July with “Romeo” that became her first gold selling record and it peaked at #3 in the UK. On 8 June of this year Petula and Claude finally marry but she decides to keep her own last name. In November her next single debuts on the charts in the UK titled “My Friend The Sea” and it later peaks at #7 there. In 1962 her charting success is with “I’m Counting On You” that peaks at #41 followed by “Ya Ya Twist” that peaked at #14 in the UK. “Ya Ya Twist” is a French Language version of the 1961 hit by “Lee Dorsey” in the US titled “Ya Ya”. In 1963 she appears in a French film titled “À Couteaux Tirés” and has one charting single in “Casanova” backed by “Chariot” that becomes her first ever 2-sided hit and it peaks at #39 in the UK.
In 1964 she appeared in only one Movie titled “Daggers Drawn”. She would also have her second gold selling single this year in the UK and her first ever-charting record in the US. “Downtown” debuted on the UK charts in November peaking at #2 and it debuted on the US charts in December and went all the way to #1 for 2 weeks. It replaces “I Feel Fine” by “The Beatles” that had been #1 for 3 weeks in the US but couldn't displace it from the top spot in the UK. She became the first Female singer from the UK to have a #1 hit in the US since “Vera Lynn” did it in 1952 with her hit titled “Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart” that was #1 for 9 weeks. During the year she had appeared on “Big Night Out”, “Language Of Love”, “Ready Steady Go!”, “A Swinging Time” and “Sunday Night At The London Palladium” all on British TV. On 14 March 1965 she makes her very first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on CBS TV. On 20 March her next single titled “I Know A Place” makes its US debut later going to #3 it would peak at #17 in the UK. Her newest album titled “Downtown” also made its debut this same day and became her first US charting success and later peaked at #21. On 13 April at the 7th annual Grammy Awards she wins best “Rock And Roll Recording of 1964” for “Downtown”. On 16 May she makes her second appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show”. Her second US charting album is titled “I Know A Place” and in July it peaks at #42.
On 10 July “You’d Better Come Home” makes its US chart debut later peaking at #22 and it peaks at #44 in the UK. This hit is followed by “Round Every Corner” in October that peaks at #21 in the US and at #43 in the UK. Her final release of the year debuts on Christmas day in “My Love” that goes all the way to #1 in the US and peaks at #4 in the UK. On 15 November which is her 33rd Birthday she begins a 1-year engagement at the Copacabana in New York City. On 27 November her next release titled “You’re The One” peaks at #23 in the UK but is not released in the US. “The Vogues” would to a version of this song and it went to #4 for them in 1965. Petula is offered a part in “Paradise Hawaiian Style” with “Elvis Presley” but declines the offer. The Female lead role goes to “Suzanna Leigh” instead. In December Petula appears on the “TNT Award Show” along with “Joan Baez”, “Bo Diddley”, “Ray Charles”, “The Lovin’ Spoonful”, “Ike & Tina Turner”, “The Ronettes”, “Roger Miller” and “Donovan”. Also in December her final release of the year “Petula Clark Sings The World’s Greatest International Hits” debuts on the but stalls at #129 in the US.
In 1966 she has 4 US charting singles the biggest of which was “I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love” that peaks at #9. The single would peak at #6 in the UK and the album of the same name would peak at #11 there and peaks at #43 in the US. “My Love” is her only other charting album of the year and it peaks at #68 in the US and is not released in the UK. The following year would be another busy one for Petula with 4 singles on the US charts the biggest being “This Is My Song” that peaked at #3 and goes all the way to #1 in the UK where it sold silver. She also had 2 charting albums this year the biggest of which was “These Are My Songs” that peaks at #27 in the US but is not released in the UK. She had 2 albums that both peaked at #16 in the UK this same year with “Colour My World” and “The Other Man’s Grass Is Always Greener”. In case you were wondering this IS NOT a reference to weed, a joint, marijuana and many other names. In 1968 she has 3 charting singles in the US the biggest of these was “Kiss Me Goodbye” that peaked at #15 but only gets to #50 in the UK. She has 2 charting albums this year the biggest of which was “Petula” that went to #51 in the US but was not released in the UK. After this year she would not have anymore charting albums in the UK until 1977. In 1968 she also starred in “Finian’s Rainbow” along with “Fred Astaire” and “Keenan Wynn” and directed by “Francis Ford Coppola”. This was her biggest selling Movie to date until her next Movie in 1969 titled “Goodbye Mr. Chips”. It also starred “Peter O’Toole”, “Michael Redgrave”, “George Baker” and “Michael Bryant”.
Also in 1969 she had 3 more hits on the singles charts the biggest of which was “Happy Heart” that only made it to #62 in the US. She had 2 albums on the charts this year and her biggest was “Portrait Of Petula” that peaked at #37 in the US. In 1970 she only has 2 albums on the charts and no singles the biggest of these was “Just Pet” that stopped at #176 on the US charts. Her next album and single in 1971 were both titled “The Song Of My Life” where the album failed to make any of the charts the single peaked at #32 in the UK. Her final charting album in the US is also released this year titled “Warm And Tender” and it stops at #178 on the charts. In January 1972 she has a UK hit only in “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” that goes to #47 there. The song is from the rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” that becomes a Movie starring “Ted Neeley” “Carl Anderson” and singer “Yvonne Elliman” who also had a #28 hit with the same song. She releases several English and French speaking albums this year but only “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” makes the charts and it peaks at #47 in the UK failing to chart in the US. From 1973 through 1976 she has no US or UK charting records. In 1977 a UK release only titled 㦀 All-Time Greatest” goes to #18. In 1982 she has her final US charting record with “Natural Love” that only goes to #66 on the charts.
Also in 1982 she stars in “Never Never Land” that also includes “James Marcus”, “Evelyn Laye”, “Christian Henson” and “Michael Shannon”. Also this year she replaces “Julie Andrews” as Maria in the stage revival of “The Sound Of Music”. She also appears in a non-singing role of “Candida” by “George Bernard Shaw”. In November 1988 she has her final charting single in the UK with an updated version of “Downtown” called “Downtown 88” that goes all the way to #10 there. On 21 April 02 she has her final charting success when “The Ultimate Collection” debuts on the UK album charts later peaking at #18 there. The CD I am reviewing today is titled ”THE GREATEST HITS OF PETULA CLARK”. It was originally released in 1986 on the “GNP” record label. The songs on this CD are listed below in the order as they appear, followed by the length of each song then by my rating of each and finally by my overall rating of this CD:
1. Downtown – 3:11 – 5
2. A Sign Of The Times – 2:59 – 5
3. Don’t Sleep In The Subway – 3:00 – 5
4. Let It Be Me – 2:29 – 3
5. Color My World – 2:56 – 5
6. This Girl’s In Love With You – 3:31 – 4
7. Kiss Me Goodbye – 3:59 – 5
8. I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love – 3:02 – 5
9. I Know A Place – 2:48 – 5
10. The Other Man’s Grass Is Always Greener – 2:58 – 3
11. Who Am I? – 5
12. My Love – 2:47 – 5
13. Happy Heart – 3:30 – 5
14. You’d Better Come Home – 2:57 – 4
15. This Is My Song – 3:21 – 5
16. Round Every Corner – 2:40 – 5
TOTAL POINTS: 74 POINTS DIVIDED BY 16 SONGS = 4.62 or 4 1/2 STARS
Rating Key:
5 –Great
4 – Very Good
3 – Good
2 – Fair
1 – Poor
0 – This song does not belong here!
Billboard US Top 100 Pop Singles for “Petula Clark”
1. DOWNTOWN- peaked at #1 for 2 weeks (Gold)
2. I Know A Place – peaked at #3
3. You’d Better Come Home – peaked at #22
4. Round Every Corner – peaked at #21
5. MY LOVE– peaked at #1 for 2 weeks
6. A Sign Of The Times – peaked at #11
7. I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love – peaked at #9
8. Who Am I? – peaked at #21
9. Color My World – peaked at #16
10. This Is My Song – peaked at #3
11. Don’t Sleep In The Subway – peaked at #5
12. The Cat In The Window (The Bird In The Sky) – peaked at #26
13. The Other Man’s Grass Is Always Greener – peaked at #31
14. Kiss Me Goodbye – peaked at #15
15. Don’t Give Up – peaked at #37
16. American Boys – peaked at #59
17. Happy Heart – peaked at #62
18. Look At Mine – peaked at #89
19. No One Better Than You – peaked at #93
20. My Guy – peaked at #70
21. Wedding Song (There Is Love) – peaked at #61
22. Natural Love – peaked at #66
Billboard US Top 200 Pop Albums for “Petula Clark”
1. Downtown – peaked at #21
2. I Know A Place – peaked at #42
3. The World’s Greatest International Hits – peaked at #129
4. I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love – peaked at #43
5. My Love – peaked at #68
6. Color My World/Who Am I – peaked at #49
7. These Are My Songs – peaked at #27
8. Petula – peaked at #51
9. The Other Man’s Grass Is Always Greener – peaked at #93
10. Petula Clark’s Greatest Hits Volume 1 – peaked at #57
11. Portrait Of Petula – peaked at #37
12. Just Pet – peaked at #176
13. Memphis – peaked at #198
14. Warmer And Tender – peaked at #178
SOME SONG LYRICS
Don’t Sleep In The Subway
You wander around on your own little cloud
When you don't see the why or the wherefore
You walk out on me when we both disagree
'Cause to reason is not what you care for
I've heard it all a million time before
Take off your coat, my love, and close the door
Don't sleep in the subway, darlin'
Don't stand in the pouring rain
Don't sleep in the subway, darlin'
The night is long
Forget your foolish pride
Nothing's wrong
Now you're beside me again
You try to be smart, then you take it to heart
'Cause it hurts when your ego is deflated
You don't realize that it's all compromise
And the problems are so overrated
Goodbye means nothing when it's all for show
So why pretend you've somewhere else to go
Don't sleep in the subway, darlin'
Don't stand in the pouring rain
Don't sleep in the subway, darlin'
The night is long
Forget your foolish pride
Nothing's wrong
Now you're beside me again
Don't sleep in the subway, darlin'
Downtown
When you're alone and life is making you lonely
You can always go - downtown
When you've got worries, all the noise and the hurry
Seems to help, I know - downtown
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose?
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go downtown, things'll be great when you're
Downtown - no finer place, for sure
Downtown - everything's waiting for you
Don't hang around and let your problems surround you
There are movie shows - downtown
Maybe you know some little places to go to
Where they never close - downtown
Just listen to the rhythm of a gentle bossa nova
You'll be dancing with him too before the night is over
Happy again
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go downtown, where all the lights are bright
Downtown - waiting for you tonight
Downtown - you're gonna be all right now
And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to
Guide them along
So maybe I'll see you there
We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares
So go downtown, things'll be great when you're
Downtown - don't wait a minute for
Downtown - everything's waiting for you
Downtown, downtown, downtown, downtown
My Love
My love is warmer than the warmest sunshine
Softer than a sigh.
My love is deeper than the deepest ocean
Wider than the sky.
My love is brighter than the brightest star
That shines every night above
And there is nothing in this world
That can ever change my love
Something happended to my heart the day that I met you
Something that I never felt before
You are always on my mind no matter what I do
And everyday it seems that I want you more
My love is warmer than the warmest sunshine
Softer than a sigh.
My love is deeper than the deepest ocean
Wider than the sky.
My love is brighter than the brightest star
That shines every night above
And there is nothing in this world
That can ever change my love
Once I thought that love was meant for anyone else but me
Once I thought you'd never come my way
Now it only goes to show how wrong we all can be
For now I have to tell you everyday
My love is warmer than the warmest sunshine
Softer than a sigh
My love is deeper than the deepest ocean
Wider than the sky
My love is brighter than the brightest star
That shines every night above
And there is nothing in this world
That can ever change my love
My love is warmer than the warmest sunshine
Softer than a sigh
My love is deeper than the deepest ocean
Wider than the sky
My love is brighter than the brightest star
That shines every night above
And there is nothing in this world
That can ever change my love
JAGUARDOG’S FINAL THOUGHTS
The music of “Petula Clark ” was cheerful, earnest, elegant, energetic, gentle, good-natured, happy, innocent, naïve, playful, soothing, sophisticated, summery and sweet. I owned almost all of Petula’s singles at one time when I had my major record collection. I only ever owned one of her albums until I purchased this CD last year. As you can tell by my rating above that no bad songs are found on this CD and I consider it one of her best compilation albums/CDs. Petula has always rated real high with me not only based on her great songs but she has always been a great looking person as well. She’s up there with “Nancy Sinatra”, “Lulu”, “Olivia Newton-John”, “Connie Francis” and “Cher” just to name a few. Well that about does it for this chapter of the Rock ‘N’ Roll History lesson for this week folks. Not sure who is up next but it’s a toss up between “Roy Clark”, “Jimmy Cliff” or “Patsy Cline”. I hope everyone has a Great evening, thanks for dropping by and taking the time to read and maybe leave a comment and as always God Bless You All, Ron.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
JAGUARDOG
|
 - Top 100 |
|
Member: Ron Drain
Location: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Reviews written: 235
Trusted by: 496 members
About Me:
I LOVE Music/TV/Movies & sports like Football - NFL/College, Baseball, Olympics - Summer/Winter and Wrestling.
|
|
|
