In London, Hollywood And Paris [Box set]

It's an amazing fact Petula Clark has been recording for eight decades and thanks to her propensity for popping into a recording studio wherever she happens to be, she has this year already laid down a couple of tracks for a future CD in spite of her constant world-wide travels for concerts etc. It goes without saying she is now the iconic British National Treasure with her early childhood appearances quickly leading to radio, films, television and ultimate massive selling international recording star. Obviously, her reputation rests on ever growing nostalgia so I was quite taken back when meeting her just a few years ago when she told me she hated looking back, only regarded the "now" and would never write her biography despite lucrative offers to do so. Well, current rumours indicate she has changed her mind regarding the latter resolve and that's OK with me as I am sure she has a fascinating tale to tell.

There's nothing wrong with looking back and I am thankful her back-catalogue is constantly recycled for all to enjoy. A fine example is this Jasmine four-CD box-set which delves into the many facets of Pet's career-changing moves with singles, albums and a daring invasion of France gaining her Continental respect and preparation for eventual international lift-off. Taking its cue from Pet's initial Nixa release in 1955 after Pye's take-over of the small but perfectly formed Polygon outfit on which she was its biggest star, SUDDENLY THERE'S A VALLEY/WITH YOUR LOVE were the titles and the single made it to #7 despite competition from other versions. Quick reissues of THE LITTLE SHOEMAKER and MAJORCA from the tail-end of her Polygon recordings fed demand and a string of wistful ballads (FORTUNE TELLER, TO YOU MY LOVE, WITH ALL MY HEART), covers of American hits (BAND OF GOLD, MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS), notable oddities (THE LITTLE BLUE MAN) and the contemporaneous ditties (ALONE, BABY LOVER) met with varying Chart success. However, Pet gained further kudos when she waxed the frantic FASCINATING RHYTHM with a busy Laurie Johnson arrangement followed by a brilliant 1957 album of movie songs called YOU ARE MY LUCKY STAR which included AS TIME GOES BY, SLUMMING ON PARK AVENUE, ZING WENT THE STRINGS OF MY HEART and I YI YI YI YI amongst suitable choices to help kick her "English Rose" image. During 1958 demand for recordings in French extended Pet's range and TOUT CE QUE VEUT LOLA (WHATEVER LOLA WANTS) and PRENDS MON COEUR (A FOOL SUCH AS I) expanded an ever growing European popularity base.

Given the chance to record an album in Hollywood with notable arranger/conductors like Billy May produced the acclaimed and aptly titled IN HOLLYWOOD (1960) with I LOVE A VIOLIN, THERE'S A SMALL HOTEL and DARN THAT DREAM amongst the songs. Further UK singles and French language covers of popular English hits ensure all four discs on this excellent collection tell the tale of Pet's vocal maturity and continuing rise to fame beyond British shores. A final flip-back in time includes rare actual soundtrack cuts which can be finally accessed together with often brief snippets supplying proof/recall of Pet's warbling in the HUGGETT'S movies plus THE GAY DOG, MADE IN HEAVEN, "6.5 SPECIAL" and others from the period 1946-1958. Just for once, Jasmine's excellent remastering is matched by following a logical chronological track order (except the bonus soundtrack items and a few alternate takes), year of release, catalogue numbers and orchestras. Thanks guys!

This album is the second from Jasmine to take us back to the pre-Downtown Petula Clark of the 1950s, in this case taking off where the other one left us and moving us forward into the 1960s.

Petula, as befits her enormous talent, has always been an eclectic artiste, at home with a wide range of musical styles, and this album demonstrates this versatility perfectly. Following the chronological order of releases (why is this so rare) the box set follows Petula's career through ballads, big band, novelty songs, country, show tunes and more, to her early days as a bubble pop singer of the late `50s.

Of course every fan knows that one fateful night in November 1957, Petula made the trip to Paris to appear in a concert at the famed Olympia Theatre [where incidentally, she will be singing again this November, 54 years on]. As with so many things in Pet's organic career, she could never have guessed the significance of the 3-song set she presented that night. The next day, despite having been low on the concert bill, and having sung rather badly with a stinking English cold, Petula, now referred to as "la petite anglaise" (the little Englishwoman) was the toast of Paris's newspapers. She could also little guessed that, in Paris, she would fall in love

And so began a spectacular French career (and a marriage), both of which are going strong all these years later.

This record invites us to join as she puts a tentative foot on the French recording scene. Sounding incredibly English compared with her later French work, she offers a wide a range of styles in her adopted language. Indeed in her first ever French EP, reproduced here, she duets with Claude Robin, "Allô mon caeur", smoulders on "Tout ce que veut Lola", teases with the jaunty "Papayer" and emotes on the dramatic "Histoire d'un amour" ...a portent for the future.

We also have Petula's first two English language studio albums "You are my lucky star", a Hollywood song book and "Petula Clark in Hollywood", which is a stroll down Tin Pan Alley.

The album also includes Christmas carols and soundtracks from Petula movies of the 1940s and 50s.

An immense amount of material then... and one of the joys of it is that it is in such good quality. Like the last Jasmine release ("It had to be you"), you hear these tracks in perfect condition, many for the first time. You can lie back, close your eyes and take a journey through Petula's pre Downtown career tracing as you do, the growing confidence and maturity of her style.

Excellent and informative sleeve notes from Petula Clark expert, Theo Morgan, and an attractive cover photograph of Petula, reproduced on the actual discs make this a really professionally produced set.