THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,984) Lulu — “Rattler”
The wistful “Rattler”, written by the Seekers’ Bruce Woodley, is one of the great railroad songs, deftly combining the themes of endless journeys and finally returning home to one’s love. It was first released by Herman’s Hermits (see #300, 613, 639, 841), then by the Dream Merchants, then Lulu (see #960), then the Seekers, then the Gingerbread Men, then Cliff Richard (see #630), and then Bruce Woodley himself. But only Lulu does it true justice. “Riding on some northern rail road . . . Rattler, take me home to my baby”
As to Lulu, Mark Deming tells us:
In the United States, Lulu is often thought of as a one-hit wonder, having scored a memorable number one hit in 1967 with the bittersweet and evocative “To Sir, With Love” . . . . In the United Kingdom, however, [she] . . . . would become an enduring star in pop music, on television, on-stage, and in the movies . . . . Lulu was born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie . . . in Glasgow, Scotland. . . . After years of competing in talent contests, she was invited to join a local pop group, the Gleneagles, when she was 14. . . . [I]n 1962, the group was spotted by Marion Massey, who saw potential in the combo, in particular their charismatic lead singer. Massey became their manager, changed Marie’s stage name to Lulu, and dubbed the band the Luvvers. In 1964, Massey landed a recording deal for the group with Decca Records, and Lulu & the Luvvers’ first single, an enthusiastic cover of the Isley Brothers’ “Shout,” was a hit, rising to number seven on the U.K. singles charts. More chart successes followed . . . along with a steady stream of television, radio, and concert appearances that led to Melody Maker magazine naming Lulu Britain’s most promising new act of 1965. In 1966, Lulu . . . made her debut as a solo act. She signed a record deal with Columbia Records (the British label affiliated with EMI), struck a production deal with Mickie Most (best known for his work with the Animals, Donovan, and Jeff Beck), and set out on several concert tours . . . . In 1967, Lulu made her big-screen debut in the coming-of-age drama To Sir, With Love, in which she played . . . a student who learns important lessons about maturity and self-respect from teacher Sidney Poitier. The film became a hit in the U.K. and the U.S., and Lulu’s emotional reading of the theme song rose to the top of the American pop charts . . . . In the U.K., “The Boat I Row,” “Let’s Pretend,” and “Love Loves to Love, Love” were all major hits that year. . . . In 1968, Lulu became the star of her own television series . . . which aired . . . until 1975 — and scored more hit singles in the U.K. with “Me the Peaceful Heart,” “Boy,” and “I’m a Tiger.” In 1969, she made news when she wed Maurice Gibb . . , though the marriage would only last four years. Lulu also represented England in the Eurovision Song Contest that year, and her song, “Boom Bang-a-Bang,” not only won the competition for England but became a major U.K. hit, peaking at number two on the sales charts.
Here are the Seekers:
Here is Bruce Woodley:
Here are Herman’s Hermits:
Here are the Dream Merchants:
Here are the Gingerbread Men:
Here is Cliff Richard:
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