DOWNLOAD NO.234 - LORRAE DESMOND

Lorrae Desmond, born Beryl Hunt 1932 in Mittagong NSW, had a #5 hit in Australia with “On The Waterfront” in 1955 then went off to the UK where she formed a backing group called “The Rebels”. Lorrae had instant success and had 9 singles released between 1956 and 1960 mostly on the Columbia label, and later Decca. In this period she also became entangled with sometimes-married comedian Terry Thomas. While in the UK Lorrae also had her own TV specials and was a popular live singer with numerous cabaret performances to her credit. She even featured in her own comedy series Trouble For Two in 1958, was in the cast of several Terry Thomas TV specials and competed to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957.

Lorrae came back to Oz circa 1960, had a TV comedy/cabaret career, won a TV Week Logie in 1962, got married and by the end of the 1960s was providing much needed entertainment to the Oz troops fighting in Vietnam. Lorrae had a few other singles in the 1960s and early 1970s. By the 1980s she was back at the forefront in TV shows and variety until she scored the coveted role of Shirley Gilroy in one of Australia’s longest running TV series “A Country Practice”. While appearing in this show she also managed get the cast to "sing" a few cast albums and she performed live alongside other cast members that had a variety entertainment background.

Singles:

1955 On The Waterfront / Hold My Hand – got to #5 nationally in Oz.

1956 Written On The Wind / A House With Love In It - UK

1957 You Won't Be Around / Play The Music - UK

1957 Kansas City Special / Preacher, Preacher - UK

1957 Ding Dong Rock-A-Billy Weddin' / Cabin Boy - UK

1958 Two Ships / Little David - UK

1958 Secret Of Happiness / Down By The River - UK

1958 Soda Pop Hop / Blue Blue Day - UK

1959 Tall Paul / Wait For It - UK

1960 Tell Me Again / Get Your Daddy’s Car Tonight – UK

1964 Everybody's Got A Home But Me / Cannibal Mardi Gras – Oz

1965 Never Before / Between Hello And Goodbye – Oz

1970 Everybody’s Favourite Model Girl / Dear John – Oz

Country artist Don Gibson who wrote “Oh Lonesome Me” had many hits in the USA but his only hit in the UK was a song he didn't write: “Sea of Heartbreak”. The single was backed with a throwaway ditty called “Blue Blue Day” which was covered by Lorrae Desmond and The Rebels in a country rockabilly style that was prevalent in the 1950s. In 2008 the song “Blue Blue Day” appeared on a UK made CD for the first time - click cover picture just above of 3 CD set.

Here for download is an extended Tom Mix 12”version of this great old track (original running time 1:47 mins, now is a massive 2:45 mins):

http://rapidshare.com/files/260937678/lorrae_desmond_-_blue_blue_day__ext_tom_mix_.mp3