Junk Box Jury

Taken from the LP ‘Hey Look Me Over’ | (Fontana Special SFL-13135) August 1969

Susan Maughan | “I’m A Believer” | (Fontana Special) | This is a triumphant album for Susan Maughan. It will potently boost her already high reputation in the vocal world. It is a driving, jubilant, jazz-styled song-fiesta and I commend it to you most warmly.

What may be looked on as the launching pad for this in-orbit LP was a BBC Swingalong broadcast. In it, Susan was backed by the Laurie Holloway Quartet.

Though she and Laurie are old friends, they have previously worked together only on a few one-nighters. The lesson of this broadcast was that they ought to work together a lot more in future — for she and Laurie’s outfit generated an exciting, infectious blend of voice and instrument that simply could not just come to a stop there and then.

Susan realised this. It was a radio recording — so she was able to tape the broadcast itself. Susan’s manager is that experienced show business personality, Paul Cave.

Her agent— Dick Katz— is not only a top man in that field but also a pianist of some renown. To them she played the tape — and they at once shared her intense zeal for it.

All three decided that A R Manager John Franz lust HAD to hear it. Few people are busier than John Franz. Susan’s hope was that he would listen to one song on the tape. He listened in fact to all five. He was then as enthused as the others.

He said to Susan, “Please go ahead with plans for an album with Laurie. I leave details to you. Do what you like.”

As Susan says today, “What a wonderful feeling of artistic freedom it gives you to receive a go-ahead like that!”

For several evenings after that Susan and Laurie kicked numbers around at the piano in her London home near Hyde Park. They set keys. They planned routines. They talked about arrangements. Then they were all set for the studios — and three sessions under John Franz’s supervision for this high-fettled, talent- laden album complete.

Susan Maughan | “I’m A Believer” | (Fontana Special)

My own favourite from it is the hauntingly beautiful “Green Dolphin Street”– sung tenderly and movingly and given a musical embroidery of exquisiteness and finesse.

But it is not easy to pick a favourite from such consistent excellency as I think you will realise when you have listened. I would sum up the appeal of Susan’s singing by saying that it combines a youthful elation with the polish and expertise of the seasoned professional.

She can in fact boast almost a decade of show business experience – yet is still not 25! The explanation is that she made up her mind at a very early age that one day she would hit the top in the singing world. Moreover, she decided she would EARN that success by thorough apprenticeship in the art and craft of putting over a song.

That you gain priceless know-how by being a band singer is borne out by the starry list of top vocal artists – headed by Sinatra and Ella – who have fashioned their early style in such a field. Susan not only embarked on this first, testing phase of her career at the tender age of 16 but stayed with it seriously and diligently for three years – with the Ronnie Hancock band in her hometown, Birmingham.

In that time she also learned to read and write music. It was then that John Franz listened to her and gave her a long contract. “I was delighted,” he recalls today, “I heard talent and exuberance”.

Susan Maughan | “I’m A Believer” | (Fontana Special)

Though now a disc artist, Susan opted for still more experience as an outfit vocalist with the celebrated Ray Ellington Quartet.

“That was a great swinging year with Ray” she says today. “In fact the uninhibited pulse-quickening mood we created while making this new album was very reminiscent of the way things were with the Ellington outfit.”

So Susan has sung superbly and Laurie Holloway has directed the music and played piano with admirable artistry. But it is the wish of them both that credit be given to the highly skilled musicians who teamed with them to produce this album.

Well, on one track or another, the bass players were Kenny Baldock, Spike Heatley and Kenny Napper. Drummers: Bobby Kevin, John Spooner. Guitarists: Philip Lee, George Kish. Gentlemen –You were great! (Dick Tatham)

• LP originally released on (Philips BL-7791) 1967

Any questions and feedback about the material posted on my website let me know by using the contact form provided.

cost of record: £2
from: The Children’s Society