These Little Girls’ve Gone Rockin’
1950s Britgirl Rock n Roll Various Artists.
Released 2024.
Record Label- Jasmine Records JASCD1229 www.jasmine-records.co.uk
Sound Products from Hasmick Promotions Ltd.
Compilation & Annotation by Roger Dopson.
Transfers & Digital Processing by Reynolds Mastering.
Made in the United Kingdom.
Reviewed by Terry Mead 30/09/2024.
Album Review: British girls in the 1950s were very much reduced to covering their American counterparts with a sum what reduced outlet. Here we have a fine cross section of British female artists covering many well-known and some lesser-known tracks as well as some original compositions put together on one album by Jasmine Records.
So, lets have a look at some of them with Billie Anthony starting us off with her rendition of “This Ole House” more of a pop style with a country twang reminiscent of Stuart Hamblen’s including the hollow mans voice commenting along the way. Diana Decker continues with her original song “Rock A Boogie Baby” with orchestral backing and a jiving beat. Next we have a couple of well-known covers by Alma Cogan that conjure up a neat mix. Eve Boswell follows with three tracks on this album a ripper of a jiver called “Where In The World Is Billy” a great cover of Lavern Bakers “Tra La La” and “Sugar Candy” a nice little catchy number. Billie Anthony is back again with Anita Carters “ If I Had A Needle and Thread” which included Chet Akins on guitar and Floyd Cramer on drums, really worked over cover with sound and beat. Lita Roza sings “Lucky Lips” a cover made famous by Cliff Richard in 1963,with Joan Regan pounding out Jill Coreys “Love Me To Pieces” at an awesome pace. The standard “Ding Dong Rockabilly Wedding” is captured here by Lorrae Desmond giving her fellow Brit Marion Ryan a run for her money, while The Terry Sisters harmony group cover Teresa Brewers “It’s the Same Old Jazz” in their own harmonising style which takes it away from the jazz feel. Two from Do & Dina Farrell by the same composers both with similar intros and beat combine next for this duo which has that all familiar sing a long style.” Six Day Rock” from Sandra Alfred is a jolly number typical of the early rocking British sounds with the distinctive squeaky voice to match. The famous Beverly Sisters give us “Long Black Nylons” a tune that goes back to the Duke Ellington era which the sisters have beefed it up to a rocking jiver. Kerry Martin gives us two, a more fast paced “Cold Hands Warm Heart” while the ”Stroll Me” lives up to the title as a stroller. Don Gibsons “Blue Blue Day” is tackled next by Lorrae Desmond and quite a cover it is with her high-pitched voice. Brenda Lees “Ring-My Phone” has The Lana Sisters giving it a more pop sound rather than Brenda’s gritty pitch. Betty Johnsons “Hoopa Hoola” is given an outing by Joyce Shock in a more subtle way, and she covers Lloyd Price's “Personality” to in a more sing-along style.. Moving on to Bobby Hendericks “Itchy Twitchy Feeling” by Cherry Wainer a more of an up-tempo version and Janice Peters taking on Ruth Browns “This Little Girls Gone Rockin” written by Bobby Darin and a stupendous version I might add hitting all the high notes. Two more from Janice “A Girl Likes” written by Ian Samwell who also wrote “Move It” and “You’re The One” both good rocking tracks. Marion Ryan gives us the catchy “Jo-Jo The Dog Faced Boy” following on is Sally Kellys “Little Cutie” written by Lionel Bart another of those typical Brit pop sounds from the era. So, we come to the last track and it’s the Vernon Girls that were formed at the Vernon’s football pools company in Liverpool singing “Don’t Look Now” they were a 16-piece vocal group that poured out the notes with a distinctive flavour and were regulars on the Oh Boy show in the late fifties.
So, let’s Summarise hats off to Jasmine records for compiling this album opens up to the world the British contingent of female rockin’ singers and groups many of whom are unknown in this day and age, with some cool tracks to listen to defiantly worth an investment in.
Track List:
1. Billie Anthony - This Ole House
2. Diana Decker - Rock A Boogie Baby
3. Alma Cogan - Why Do Fools Fall In Love
4. Alma Cogan - I'm In Love Again
5. Eve Boswell - Where In The World Is Billy?
6. Lita Roza - Lucky Lips
7. Eve Boswell - Tra La La
8. Billie Anthony - If I Had A Needle And Thread
9. Eve Boswell - Sugar Candy
10. Joan Regan - Love Me To Pieces
11. Lorrae Desmond - Ding Dong Rock A Billy Weddin'
12. The Terry Sisters - It's The Same Old Jazz
13. Billie Anthony - Love And Kisses
14. Alma Cogan - Party Time
15. Do & Dina Farrell - Young Magic
16. Do & Dina Farrell - New Love Tonight
17. Sandra Alfred - Six Day Rock
18. The Beverly Sisters - Long Black Nylons
19. Alma Cogan - Gettin' Ready For Freddie
20. Jill Westlake - Sharin'
21. Kerry Martin - Cold Hands Warm Heart
22. Kerry Martin - Stroll Me
23. Lorrae Desmond - Blue Blue Day
24. The Lana Sisters - Ring-A-My Phone
25. Joyce Shock - Hoopa Hoola
26. Cherry Wainer - Itchy Twitchy Feeling
27. The Terry Sisters - Sweet Thing
28. Janice Peters - This Little Girl's Gone Rocking
29. The Lana Sisters - Buzzin'
30. Lorrae Desmond - Wait For It
31. Janice Peters - A Girl Likes
32. Janice Peters - You're The One
33. Marion Ryan - Jo-Jo The Dog Faced Boy
34. Joyce Shock - Personality
35. Sally Kelly - Little Cutie
36. The Vernons Girls - Don't Look Now
For a complete catalogue, please write to the JASMINE Records address below:
Jasmine Records Unit 8, Forest Hill trading estate, Perry Vale, London se23 2lx.
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