Search - Joan Regan :: Just Joan / Girl Next Door

Popular British singer of the fifties

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 01/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Though hugely popular in the fifties, Joan is almost forgotten now. This twofer is taken from Joan's peak years. Some hits are here but most are not - they can be found elsewhere.



The first album, Just Joan, is a selection of twelve standards (all ballads) from the Great American Songbook, which includes such classics as When I grow too old to dream, That old feeling and Someone to watch over me. Joan performs all these songs superbly.



The second album, Girl next door, only had eight tracks on its original release, but has been augmented here by four bonus tracks, some previously unreleased in Britain. There is some variation in tempo here. Two of Joan's major UK hits (Ricochet, Someone else's roses) are here, together with her American hit (Till they've all gone home), which didn't chart in Britain. My favorite track is a song I'd not come across before I bought this - The bluebells of Broadway are ringing tonight (about a Scotsman in New York).



This twofer is brilliant - if you enjoy easy-listening pop music, fifties style, Joan's music is well worth a listen."