Gorgeously Me!

A wonderfully fresh and frank guide to why and how to write personal stories that will heal, liberate, inspire — and entertain — both writer and reader

For British girl-pop, 1960s Decca is a goldmine. The label had its A&R hounds sniffing into every nook and cranny of the British Isles, signing up Midlands schoolgirls (the Orchids), London folk club denizens (Dana Gillespie, Beverley), former child actresses (Adrienne Poster, Sandra Barry), Liverpudlian girl groups (the Vernons Girls, the Satin Bells), soulful northerners (Elkie Brooks, Truly Smith) and Scots (Lulu, Barry St John), well-connected Chelsea girls (Louise Cordet, Twinkle, Marianne Faithfull), Merseybeat wannabes (Beryl Marsden), talent show winners (Billie Davis, Babbity Blue, Jean Martin) and even transient Americans (Goldie & the Gingerbreads).

For those who prefer to own their music on vinyl, here is an eclectic and gorgeously packaged selection of American girl group artefacts from the 60s. The album opens with Whirlwind by producer Gary Paxton protégées the Rev-Lons, the trio’s final recording but also their best, and closes with He’s All Right With Me by the Mirettes (the Ikettes incognito). Other highlights include the Supremes-style Cupid’s Got A Hold On Me by the Belles; the Sweethearts’ recording of Beauty Is Just Skin Deep, a song originally intended for the Ikettes; and Summertime Is Surfin’ Time by the Surf Bunnies – three more terrific instances of the West Coast girl group sound. But not all the tracks here emanate from that part of the USA – viz Mr Everything by New York-based Little Eva Harris and little-heard examples from the Pets, Tren-Teens and Lovettes, all from New Jersey. Felice Taylor – here with her unissued-at-the-time Sing Me A Love Song – graces the eye-popping jacket, which houses a colourful inner sleeve featuring a 3,000-word track commentary and an array of illustrations. Compilation and notes by Mick Patrick.

Vocalist, pilot, and best-selling author Judy Whitmore introduces her rendition of “Come Fly With Me,” the title track from her upcoming album, slated for release in 2024.