Search - Billie Anthony :: Magic of Billie Anthony

BRITAIN'S ATOMIC BLONDE

Mr Gordon Turner | Waltham Abbey, Essex.United KingdomWALTHAM ABBEY, | 11/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having been a staunch admirer of Billie Anthony since the early 1950's I accepted the invitation to compile the material and write the liner notes for this C.D. with the greatest of pleasure.The album contains thirty three of her very best songs commencing with her vocal debut in 1953 and working on through to her final recording in 1960. Included is the only song released in the U.S.A. "Yes We Have No Bananas", and of course the collection wouldn't be complete without her only U.K. chart hit - "This Ole House"- written by singer/song writer Stuart Hamblin. As a direct result of her success with his song Hamblin wrote another especially for her. The song - which gained her a great many fans - was of course "Shake The Hand Of A Stranger". Also included is a duet "(oh baby mine) I Get So Lonely" with Tony Brent, the man we have to thank for persuading her to abandon her dancing career in favour of one in singing. Besides being an extremely talented and hard working performer, Billie was one of the U.K's brightest and bubbliest song birds during the 1950's who's energy and fun loving performances rapidly won her the title of "Britain's Atomic Blonde Vocalist". If you're not already a fan of the dynamic Miss Anthony, just one play of this highly recommended C.D. and your conversion is guaranteed and you'll acknowledge that her robust vocal style and ability were unique."

A bundle of fun in fifties Britain

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 04/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Billie was born into a showbiz family, at her home next door to the Glasgow Empire. As an entertainer, she was hugely successful, but she only had one British chart hit from twenty-two single releases.Billie never recorded an album, so those singles, including the B-sides, represent her entire recorded output. 33 of the 44 tracks (as many as would fit on) have been included in this collection. Most of them are upbeat, fun songs including her only hit, This ole house. Billie could also sing ballads, as she demonstrates on You, but there aren't many tracks like that here.In those primitive days of British pop, heavy reliance was placed on American songs. British singers covered American songs and competed with each other as well as the original American singers for sales and chart positions. So it was that Rosemary Clooney, Billie Davis, Joan Regan and Alma Cogan all released versions of This ole house as singles. Rosemary topped the British chart, with Billie peaking at number four, easily beating the other two. Given that Joan and Alma both have an impressive string of UK hits in the fifties, often with covers of American songs, this was quite an achievement, but it was never repeated.The writer of This ole house, Stuart Hamblen, liked Billie's version so much that he wrote a song specially for her. That song, Shake the hand of a stranger, failed to chart even though it was an original song, but listening to it on this collection, it's difficult to understand why.Many of the songs here are covers, but Billie's vibrant personality shines through in every song. If you enjoy upbeat, pre-Elvis pop, this is worth a listen."