Search - Petula Clark :: Portrait of Petula

"PORTRAIT OF PETULA" IS A PICTURE WORTH KEEPING

Thomas C. Rizzo, Jr. | Largo, Florida | 09/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Clark's U.S. career was in high gear when this LP was originally issued in conjunction with her second NBC-TV special (oddly enough, the artwork used are promo shots from her first, highly controversial outing with guest Harry Belafonte, available on VHS under the title "Spectacular!"). Her quasi-hit "Happy Heart" (she graciously allowed guest Andy Williams to perform his version on her show, ironically leading the way for him to have the bigger success with it) leads 16 tracks in all, including the self-penned (under the oft-used pseudonym Al Grant) "Love Is The Only Thing" and "Some"; "When I Was A Child" and "When I Give My Heart", both by composer Clive Westlake, who was responsible for her later single release, "No One Better Than You"; a truncated, rocking version of "Games People Play" (which eventually found its way to the "Simpatico" soundtrack); a haunting cover version of "Windmills Of Your Mind"; and possibly the lovliest arrangement of the Rodgers/Hart classic, "My Funny Valentine," ever produced. Three Hatch/Trent numbers from the "Don't Give Up/Kiss Me Goodbye" LP (fondly known as "The Pink Album") are bonus tracks. Best of all is the addition of "When You Return", which was actually listed on the cover of the original LP but inexplicably not included among the album tracks. Mostly lush arrangements here show the obvious influence of Ernie Freeman and Michel Colombier, who were slowing drawing Clark away from her signature "Downtown" sound and into a musical world of more symphonic sounds."