EMI Presents The Magic Of Ruby Murray

Title: EMI Presents The Magic Of Ruby Murray
Label: EMI
Catalog Number: 7243 8 55084 2 4
Release Date: 1997
Format: Compact Disc

Track Listing:

Album Text (Insert)

Ruby Murray's recent death robbed the world of one of the most successful female singers of the popular music era. At one time, in 1955, she had five singles in the top twenty chart, a remarkable achievement in any context.

She was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on March 29th 1935 and was something of a child prodigy. She was spotted by Richard Afton, a television producer, made her T.V. debut when only twelve and was soon touring, throughout the province, in variety. In 1954 she appeared in London in Tommy Morgan's review, "Mrs Mulligan's Hotel" and was then signed by B.B.C. as vocalist on a series, "Quite Contrary." These ventures were to be the start of a successful broadcasting and performing career which maintained her reputation into the sixties and beyond.

She recorded her first tracks for Columbia, an EMI label, having been signed by producer Ray Martin. Her single, "Heartbeat," included on this album, was issued as a 78 and, reaching No. 3, was to be the first of a run of successful recordings. "Heartbeat" was followed as a best seller by "Softly, Softly" which topped the charts in February 1955 with a run of twenty-two chart weeks in all, and then shortly afterwards by "Let Me Go Lover," a particularly popular song. It was recorded at about this time by, among others, Dean Martin, who peaked at No. 3 and Teresa Brewer, No. 9. Ruby's version also reached No. 3. The song was revived a decade later by Kathy Kirby whose recording also made the top twenty. "Happy Days And Lonely Nights" (No. 6, February), "Evermore" (No. 3 in July and still in the charts in October) and "I'll Come When You Call" (No. 6, November) completed an outstandingly successful 1955 for Ruby.

Although major chart success eluded Ruby for some time after this, she continued to issue some fine singles. Included here are "Make Him Jealous" from 1956, and, from the following year, "Knock On Any Door," the perennial favourite "Mr Wonderful", "O'Malley's Tango" and "Little White Lies." The middle of the fifties found Ruby much in demand as a performer. A television series, a starring role at the London Palladium and extensive touring, both here and abroad, kept her in the public eye. She dubbed the vocal for actress Dorothy Bromiley in the feature film "It's Great To Be Young" on the song "You Are My First Love" and acted in "A Touch Of The Sun," a comedy, with Frankie Howerd and Dennis Price. Ruby's last chart success came in 1959 with the release of "Goodbye Jimmy, Goodbye" which reached No. 10 in the July. It, too, is featured here.

Her endearing popularity took her career through the seventies and eighties when she was still to be seen on the cabaret circuit. Although she recorded newer material, it is for the classic recordings from the fifties that she is still held in high esteem. Her endearing quality is well illustrated on this album of the very best of Ruby Murray.

R.B. Whittaker

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