Petula Clark Mid-'60s International Smash Poll

She had an amazing run, something like 18 straight Top 40 hits in the US between '64 & '68. Will go with "I Know A Place", which is like series of joygasms. "Color My World" should be on here too.

Tony Hatch's production on all the Petula stuff is so amazing--a really wonderful soundstage full of details.

This is quite difficult. But probably "I Know a Place" for daring to be almost the same song as "Downtown" lyrically, but with still more massive crescendos.

Don't Sleep in the Subway ... Oh I lerv her so much ... Fond memories of my mom belting out Downtown.

You missed out this Jack Nitzsche-arranged beauty from 1967: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNQ2I4c9ga0&feature=kp

"A Sign of the Times" is really nice. Has that Motown/Northern Soul beat.

What, no "I'm In With The In Crowd"?

I have such nostalgia for "Don't Sleep In The Subway" because I once had a lover who always used to burst into my apartment singing this.

I Know A Place has a better beat ("the beat is the greatest there!") and more urgent tempo than Downtown so that's the one I always go for, and yeah, those crescendos are so amazing. Also the massive KEY CHANGE at the end, I am a sucker for the triumphant key change.

Her mid-'60s run was incredible. When I think about being in the backseat of my parents' car at the age of five or six, her music is the first thing I think of (I was probably aware of the Beatles, but no clue about the Rolling Stones or anyone else). The four I really, really love:

1. "I Know a Place," 2. "Downtown," 3. "I Couldn't Live Without Your Love," 4. "Don't Sleep in the Subway"

"colour my world" sounds like a dolly parton song with special guest george harrison, and is, obviously, fantastic.

as for the songs on this ballot, all of them.

I have to go with Downtown, but I'm not familiar with all of these tbh.

Downtown! Jimmy Page on guitar.

"Downtown" is over-familiar, "This is my song" can we negvote? So it comes below "You better come home" which will presumably get no votes but is probably ok..

'between "I" and "Subway", hmmmm

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Was thinking about "My Love" but decided I couldn't deny the magnificence of the bigger production numbers. Went with "Don't Sleep in the Subway."

Oh man, "Couldn't Live Without Your Love" in a walk, such a jaunty tune.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Not entirely convincing but interesting nonetheless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13FC2I9gcu8

Underrated: Don't Give Up

If Dionne Warwick does get in the HOF--unfortunately, it may have taken Bacharach's death to give her the needed push--I'd like to see Petula Clark's name pop up on a future ballot. I was discussing this with some friends the other day--one thought that she's far too our-parents'-music for the Hall (and we're all 60-65, to give that some context). I don't know: she was right in the middle of things in the Beatles/Stones/Motown moment of '65-'66, so I have to believe a lot of teenagers were buying "Downtown" and the rest. (And I "I Know a Place" is, for me, and even better celebration of that moment that "The 'In' Crowd.")

Realistically, probably close to zero chance.

Her album "Memphis" from 1970 is post-Hatch but still fantastic. Same band as Dusty in Memphis but different producer and arranger. There are 3 or 4 brilliant songs and the rest are very good. Plus one rinky dinky music hall number that even Damon Albarn would be ashamed of.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jan/02/forget-all-your-troubles-forget-all-your-cares-petula-clarks-20-best-songs-ranked