Happy 80th birthday today to the multi-talented Miss Jackie DeShannon!
As I said way back in 2009:
Born the humbly-named Sharon Lee Myers, Miss De Shannon was a major collaborator over the years with such diverse artists as Ry Cooder, Randy Newman and Van Morrison, supported the Beatles on their first American tour in 1964, dated Elvis Presley AND Jimmy Page, and on the way wrote songs for Marianne Faithfull, The Byrds and Irma Thomas, had some hits of her own such as Bacharach and David's What The World Needs Now Is Love, and wrote When You Walk in the Room for The Searchers... Whew!
Let's celebrate the lady's songwriting talents, shall we? I featured her Grammy-winning Put a Little Love In Your Heart back in 2013, so we'll start this cavalcade of song instead with her own version of that Searchers hit:
And finally, in my opinion, Miss DeShannon's magnum opus...
Talent, indeed.
holy crud what a stellar woman with a random but influential discography! also how did i never know that tracy ullman had a non-comedic music career
ReplyDeleteIndeed she did - before Miss Ullman emigrated to the US and became a millionaire (thanks to retaining shares in The Simpsons I believe, since it began as a segment of her comedy show), she had a run of Top 40 hits, all cover versions of 1960s songs such as Sunglasses and They Don't Know.
DeleteMiss DeShannon remains one of the "great unknowns" behind many a familiar choon. It's remarkable how little-known she is, apart from her big hit with that Bacharach and David song! Jx
I didn't know much about her so thank you for this o post, I love Put a little love in your heart, Scrooged is one of my favourite movies.
ReplyDeleteI did think that was a vintage barbie doll at the top though. Or Jayne Mansfield
She was obviously being pitched in her early days as "the new busty blonde on the scene" (as in the first video), but she outgrew that image very quickly by dint of sheer talent, methinks. Jx
DeleteAbsolutely - but that top picture does look like a sixties Barbie
ReplyDeleteSome great songs there. A mega talent indeed.
ReplyDeleteAnd still going strong! Jx
DeleteImpressive!
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Jx
DeleteI didn't realise she wrote all of those humdingers! Love Breakaway!
ReplyDeleteSx
I loved everything Miss Ullman at the time...
DeleteBut yes, it is surprising to find one woman, otherwise completely out of the limelight, was such a prolific writer of hits for for other people. Jx