OK, so what does an old proghead like me know about Petula Clark? I’ve heard
of the lady, of course. I know she’s had some hits, but I don’t know much of
the pretty gal’s world-trotting history. Born in the UK, where as a small child
she sang on the radio during World War II, traveling and recording in Paris,
scoring with big hits like “Downtown” in the early 60s — Petula
Clark has been an international superstar for decades and is still working today.
On the newly released CD Open Your Heart: A Love Song Collection
and DVD Portrait Of Petula Clark, There’s a lot to learn
about the lady, her music and why you should care about Petula Clark.
The CD is a 21-song collection of just what it professes to be: Love songs.
As Clark herself says about love songs: “Singers love to sing them. I’ve
recorded quite a few, even written some of my own at different stages of my
life.” The 21 songs here do indeed span decades with many previously unreleased
nuggets. Generally P.C. does nice jobs with everything here, with a few out-and-out
really spectacular moments. The CD opens with the poignant Queen tune “Those
Are The Days Of Our Lives.” While the arrangement doesn’t much differ
much from Queens’, Clark does a fine job on a song I had thought, up until
now, only Freddie Mercury could do justice.
In “More Love,” Clark uses her slightly shaky voice (and I say
that in the best sense of the word; Petula Clark has a slight warble to her
voice that suits her) to great effective. “I Am Your Song” finds
her rising above the backing instruments. “Good Things Don’t Last Forever”
features a bit of 70s-like wah-wah, over-the-top orchestration and strong backing
vocals. Clark takes a stab at Paul Stookey’s insipid “The Wedding Song
(There Is Love),” and actually lifts this tired-old wedding warhorse from
its arched sentimentality
The lady gets into a little country here on songs like “Silver Spoon”
and the honky-tonk “Super Loving Lady.” The CD is best when the
tunes are a-movin’ and a-groovin’ ala “Thank You My Love” and “C’est
Ca, Ma Chanson.” A live 1974 performance of Clark singing the Leon Russell
classic “A Song For You” may be the jewel of the collection. Ironically,
in a live setting, recorded at the Royal Albert hall in London, the orchestra
behind is subdued — something they rarely ever are on the rest of this
CD. “It’s Ok (I Believe You),” a tune Clark wrote and recorded in
2008, ends the disc on a high note.
On the DVD, we are reminded of Petula Clark’s personal history as well as her
international fame. She pays tribute to her hits (relying heavily on some of
those love songs she was best known for) and the three countries she says she
calls “home” — France, England and the United States. The
lady opens the show with a few well chosen numbers, including a light and touching
“My Funny Valentine.” Then there’s a faux picnic scene with
Andy Williams, a slightly embarrassing tribute to American country and western
music called “You Can’t Rollerskate in a Buffalo Herd,” some travelogue
shots of Paris as Clark sings “Mademoiselle de Paris,” and footage
with her and her kids. The DVD also includes a couple of recent interviews —
one with Andy Williams and the other with Petula Clark. Both comment on the
TV specials they worked on together.
Taken together I got a good dose of what Petula Clark is all about. Open
Your Heart: A Love Song Collection is a must-have to round out your
Petula.Clark collection, and Portrait Of Petula Clark harkens
back to the TV variety shows of 60s and 70s. Either way, it’s a great
way to learn a little about the talent of Petula Clark.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
