Susan Maughan
Encyclopedia
Susan Maughan is an English
singer who released successful singles
in the 1960s.
, "Bobby's Girl
" (a cover
of the Marcie Blane
single), reached number three in the UK Singles Chart
at Christmas time in 1962. It also reached number six in Norwegian chart
in that year. In early 1963, Maughan had further minor UK hits entitled "Hand A Handkerchief To Helen" and "She's New To You". Also at that time she released her first album
on Philips
called I Wanna Be Bobby's Girl But.... All songs on this album featured male names, including the John D. Loudermilk songs "Norman" and "James (Hold The Ladder Steady)" which were hits in the US
for the American
singer Sue Thompson
. Thompson had a minor UK hit in 1965 with "Paper Tiger", and the songs were also covered in the UK
by Carol Deene
.
The sleeve notes on the 1963 album, written by John Franz, stated that
John Franz's 1963 sleeve notes conclude "Susan is one of the most conscientious artists in the entertainment industry - never quite believing in her own triumphs but continually striving to improve her work in every detail. This hard work, coupled with her natural singing talent can only lead to greater achievements in the future."
She appeared at the 1963 Royal Variety Performance
, and in the 1963 film, What a Crazy World
. Maughan also appeared in the film, Pop Gear
and sang the title song for the second Charles Vine
low-budget superspy film, Where the Bullets Fly (1966). In 1971 she appeared in series five of the Morecambe & Wise
BBC television
series. In that year she also replaced Clodagh Rogers in the show at London’s Adelphi Theatre
, Meet Me In London, after Rogers withdrew just before curtain up on the first night when one of her songs was cut. Late in rehearsals it had become clear the show was too long for one running twice-nightly.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer who released successful singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in the 1960s.
Career
Her most famous and successful songSong
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, "Bobby's Girl
Bobby's Girl
Bobby's Girl is an album by Aileen Quinn. It was released on cassette and LP November 1982 by Columbia Records . Aileen Quinn is best known for her portrayal of the title character in the movie musical Annie....
" (a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the Marcie Blane
Marcie Blane
Marcie Blane is an American female singer who recorded pop music. The Seville record label issued a demo performed by the high school student as a favor for a friend. The song was "Bobby's Girl", which was followed by "What Does a Girl Do" and several other singles...
single), reached number three in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at Christmas time in 1962. It also reached number six in Norwegian chart
VG-lista 1962
This is a complete list of all the singles that entered the VG-lista - the official Norwegian hit-chart - in 1962. 57 singles entered the VG-lista in 1962 altogether and these are all listed below according to how well they have charted over time....
in that year. In early 1963, Maughan had further minor UK hits entitled "Hand A Handkerchief To Helen" and "She's New To You". Also at that time she released her first album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
on Philips
Philips Records
Philips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also...
called I Wanna Be Bobby's Girl But.... All songs on this album featured male names, including the John D. Loudermilk songs "Norman" and "James (Hold The Ladder Steady)" which were hits in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer Sue Thompson
Sue Thompson
Sue Thompson is an American pop and country music singer. She is best known for the million selling hits "Sad Movies " and "Norman", both pop hits for her in the 1960s.-Early life:...
. Thompson had a minor UK hit in 1965 with "Paper Tiger", and the songs were also covered in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by Carol Deene
Carol Deene
Carol Deene was an English pop singer.After appearing on Joan Regan's BBC TV programme 'Be My Guest' in 1961, when she was 16, Deene was signed to the HMV label, and scored three Top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart in 1962...
.
The sleeve notes on the 1963 album, written by John Franz, stated that
Susan's family moved to BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
[in 1953] when Susan was 15. She started work there as a shorthand typist, but all the time she scanned the musical press to see if any band leaders needed a girl singer. Her luck was in as the well known Midlands leader Ronnie Hancock was advertising for that very thing! An immediate audition was arranged, and Susan joined this fine band and sang happily with them for three years. In September 1961 Susan decided to try her luck in London, and during her brief 36-hour visit she won not only a recording contract but also a year's contract as featured singer with the Ray Ellington Quartet. Her biggest break came in September 1962 when she recorded 'Bobby's Girl'; her success brought so many offers that in November 1963 Susan decided to branch out as a solo artist.
John Franz's 1963 sleeve notes conclude "Susan is one of the most conscientious artists in the entertainment industry - never quite believing in her own triumphs but continually striving to improve her work in every detail. This hard work, coupled with her natural singing talent can only lead to greater achievements in the future."
She appeared at the 1963 Royal Variety Performance
Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
, and in the 1963 film, What a Crazy World
What a Crazy World
What a Crazy World was a stageplay and film written by Alan Klein and directed by Michael Carreras. The film was released in 1963.- Cast :Joe BrownSusan MaughanMarty WildeHarry H CorbettAvis BunnageGrazina FrameMichael GoodmanMichael Landis...
. Maughan also appeared in the film, Pop Gear
Pop Gear
Pop Gear is a British music review film, directed by Frederic Goode and released in 1965. It contains live concert footage of The Beatles, and lip-synched videos of some of the British Invasion bands, including The Animals, Herman's Hermits, The Nashville Teens, Peter and Gordon, Matt Monro, Billy J...
and sang the title song for the second Charles Vine
Licensed to Kill (1965 film)
Licensed to Kill is a 1965 superspy imitation James Bond film starring Tom Adams as British secret agent Charles Vine. It was directed and co-written by Lindsay Shonteff. Producer Joseph E...
low-budget superspy film, Where the Bullets Fly (1966). In 1971 she appeared in series five of the Morecambe & Wise
Morecambe & Wise Show (1968) Episodes
This is an episode summary of British TV comedy show The Morecambe & Wise Show.The nine series of 50 minute programmes produced between 1968 and 1976 by Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise are generally considered to be their best output; From series two all are penned by Eddie Braben these programmes...
BBC television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
series. In that year she also replaced Clodagh Rogers in the show at London’s Adelphi Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
, Meet Me In London, after Rogers withdrew just before curtain up on the first night when one of her songs was cut. Late in rehearsals it had become clear the show was too long for one running twice-nightly.
Singles
- "Bobby's Girl" - (1962) - PhilipsPhilips RecordsPhilips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also...
- UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#3 - "Hand a Handkerchief to Helen" - (1963) - Philips - UK #41
- "She's New To You" - (1963) - Philips - UK #45
See also
- The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social ClubThe Wheeltappers and Shunters Social ClubThe Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club was a British television variety show produced by Granada Television from 1974 to 1977. It was set in a fictional working men's club in the North of England and was hosted by comedian Colin Crompton. Also regularly featured was comedian Bernard Manning...
- Helen ShapiroHelen ShapiroHelen Kate Shapiro is an English singer and actress. She is best known for her 1960s UK chart toppers, "You Don't Know" and "Walkin' Back to Happiness".-Early life:...
- List of people from Brighton and Hove
External links
- 45-rpm website biography
- Susan Maughan mini-biography at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...