Helen Shapiro's amazing spin on some pop classics
uthungus | San Francisco, CA | 08/02/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Buyers/collectors of great music stars please don't just see what's on this CD by the titles and assume "just because...Leslie Gore, Connie Francis, Dionne Warwick, etc. had the (American hit) versions of these popular standards that this is simply "just a collection of covers" and dismiss Helen Shapiro's AMAZING vocal talents!! These were some of her own favorites she was backed to record. She had her own biggies overseas - many of them on this like "Walkin' Back to Happiness", "I Don't Care", "Keep Away From Other Girls", "Don't Treat Me Like a Child" etc.. She was an amazing "child prodigy" in that her singing career started at the young age of fourteen, even though she sounded much older. There aren't many other singers out there that have or have had her vocal style and that's what makes her versions of these tunes - along with top-notch arrangements on all - so unique and sometimes better sounding, IMO. In fact, it's only generally lesser talented "airport male lounge singers" (like Bill Murray's SNL singer parody) that tried to do the range she could and NOT make it work! That said, my own favorites and versions of things she did just as well or even just a tad better than the pops are as follows: "Lipstick on Your Collar" is delightfully sock-hop sounding (Connie was too vocally elegant to keep doing this type of genre forever, anyhow); "Rain Until September" is powerful and upbeat; "Walk on By" holds its own against Warwick (I like both about the same - and the arrangement is almost identical); "My Guy", "Move Over Darling" and "Will You Love Me Tomorrow". Another treat was the unique arrangement style on a few of these and tracks of her other albums. I believe since she was popular in Japan that she recorded there too. There's definitely an influence with the captivating "choppy beat" of "Teenager in Love" that you just have to listen to and appreciate it fully! I'm still looking for more of her work and have enjoyed it thoroughly along the way."
Teen pop star of the early sixties
Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 09/17/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Helen eventually became a jazz singer of some repute but she is mostly remembered for her early sixties pop music, which she recorded as a teenager. Her first four UK hits were also her biggest, with two of them (You don't know, Walking back to happiness) going all the way to number one and the other two (Don't treat me like a child, Tell me what he said) making the top three. After that, she had just one more top ten hit (Little Miss Lonely) and six minor hits, ending with a cover of Fever (Peggy Lee). This collection contains all of Helen's UK hits including the minor hits.
Most of the other tracks here are covers of songs made famous by others, although it is worth noting that Helen was the first singer to record It's my party, the song that eventually became Lesley Gore's biggest hit. A trio of bluesy songs (St Louis blues, Basin street blues, Blues in the night) offer a clue to Helen's later career as a jazz singer.
The remaining songs include covers of Lipstick on your collar (Connie Francis), He's a rebel (Crystals), Will you love me tomorrow (Shirelles), Teenager in love (Dion and the Belmonts), Are you lonesome tonight (Elvis Presley), Beyond the sea (Bobby Darin), It might as well rain until September (Carole King), Move over darling (Doris Day), Please Mr Postman (Marvelettes), My guy (Mary Wells) and It's in his kiss (Betty Everett - this song was later a hit for Linda Lewis in the seventies and Cher in the eighties).
This is an outstanding collection of Helen's music. If you enjoy early sixties pop music by such singers as Lesley Gore, Brenda Lee and Connie Francis, give Helen's music a listen."
Teenage Sixties sensations
Gary Selikow | Great Kush | 08/15/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"British teenager Helen Shapiro was one of the most spectacular female singing sensations of the early 1960s.
Her deep and sensual voice belied her tender years, and her melodies were done as covers many times later, by other singers.
The clasic It's My Party, the festive Walkin' Back To Happiness, the woeful A Teenager In Love, the jazzy cover hit Are You Lonesome Tonight, the flirtatious Move Over Darling, the airy Walk On By, the rich melodic Walk On By, the rich and melodic Queen For Tonight and the vibey It's In His Kiss are all great memorable hits that will live on forever, and have been played time and time again."
Track Listings (28) - Disc #1