We’re getting close to March 12! That’s the last day for UK citizens and residents to e-sign Irene Seaton’s PETition for Prime Minister Brown to recommend Petula Clark be awarded the title of Dame.
Today the post (to use the UK vernacular) brought quite a surprise. A large envelope from The International Petula Clark Society in England. Thank you, Terry Young and Bonnie Miller! The contents include a lavish program book from Pet’s appearance at Theatre Royal on November 26, 2006 with the BBC Concert Orchestra. November ’06 was also when the BBC broadcast Petula Clark: Blue Lady. You can watch it at this link.
My wondering eyes also beheld an autographed 8×10 glossy photo. These days, images developed on photographic paper are becoming increasingly rare, and this scan just doesn’t do justice to the image quality of this lovely, suitable-for-framing portrait.
Here’s a Petula Clark song from 1967 that you may not have heard in a while. I remember it from listening to WABC in NYC.
[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2008/FEB/CatInTheWindow.mp3]Radio station am740 in Canada featured Petula on its Applause show shortly before her birthday. Here it is.
[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2008/FEB/PetulaApplause.mp3]
I’ve always been a sappy sucker for “Kiss Me Goodbye”! I think it’s great that fans can have such big differences in their responses to a song. Many Beatles fans can’t stand “Mr. Moonlight,” but I like it because John throws his voice into it with as much passion as anything he ever did.
I have to say I always disliked “Kiss me Goodbye” until I heard her sing it in Paris a few years ago with a new arrangement. It’s on the DVD of the Olympia concert. Give it a listen if you can.
There’s an Italian version of it on Youtube at the moment, singing live in a big italian hall, with Frank Owens on piano. I love that too.
FYI, Petula was on Italian TV last night, and there are two clips of her singing “Chariot” with a new trendy arrangement, and “This is my Song” in English, French and Italian. I’m told she also sang “Ciao Ciao”
The show was , I think, to celebrate the San Remo Festival, which she won many years ago with “Invece No”.
I’m very pleased to see that Brian Sibley has posted a worthy promotion of the PETition at this link. I’ve added a comment to his blog, thanking him.
“Kiss Me Goodbye” is a favorite of mine. “Cat in the Window” was out at the same time as the Doors’ “People are Strange.” Another song from around then was “Incense and Peppermints.” That period of time is memorable to me because of the 7th grade dance at West Rocks Junior High School in Norwalk, CT. Joan Dingeldein looked absolutely smashing in her paisley dress. Oh dear, I’m getting badly off topic, aren’t I? And I’m the Webmaster!
Good LORD! I must getting senile. I have absolutely no memory of “The Cat in the Window! But this should come as no surprise to me. I bookmarked “Billboard: This Day in Music History.” If you look at the Top 100 for ANY year (it goes back as far as 40 years), you will find “huh?” songs from many big-name artists! For instance, this week 40 years ago, Paul Revere and the Raiders were at no. 20 with “Too Much Talk.” HUH? There are also bands I never heard of with songs I don’t remember (Henson Cargill: “Skip a Rope,” at 46.) I know, Billboard considers ALL the venues, such as R&B, not just what was play on WABC!
Oh, Pet was at 27 with “Kiss Me Goodbye.” It would make it to number 13, with a total of 13 weeks on the chart.
Wow. I’m jealous. I want that photo…..
Great though, Doug, I’m happy you got some goodies.
I was at that concert for which you got the programme (program). It was spectacular, and I got a few minutes with Petula in the Bar afterwards, where as always she was charming, funny and so very lovely. I’ve seen her three times since then, and every time she has made time to chat, have a joke and pass some time.
Of course, I’m not special. She does this for all her fans.
That’s a true superstar!