Search - Michael Holliday :: Magic Of

Successful British singer of the fifties

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 05/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My guess is that Michael's success was largely limited to his native Britain, many of his recordings being covers of American songs. He was Liverpool's second pop star (following Lita Roza) and topped the British charts in 1958 with Story of my life and again in 1960 with Starry eyed. In between, he reached number three with Stairway of love.



Michael had a smooth, baritone voice that he used effectively to sing all types of song. I remember him best for a cover of Vernon Dalhart's Runaway train (I was a small boy at the time), but that track is omitted from this collection. It's the sort of song you either love or hate and the compiler obviously hated it.



What you do get here are excellent covers of Hot diggity, I'll always be in love with you, Skylark, Have I told you lately that I love you, I wonder who's kissing her now, The folks who live on the hill, The yellow rose of Texas, Dear heart, My last date with you and Old Cape Cod, as well as several less well known songs.



Michael died prematurely aged just 34, possibly caused by a drugs overdose. Fans of the British based Irish singer Val Doonican should check out Michael Holliday - their musical styles and voices have a lot in common."