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THE VIBRANTS
My Prayer (Georges Boulanger - Jerry Kennedy) Australia 1967 #24 Sydney #6 Melbourne #10 Brisbane #20 Adelaide #2 Perth Single on Columbia label. Adelaide band that evolved from Bobby James & the Vibrants after Bobby James formed the Bobby James Syndicate. They moved to Melbourne in 1966 and recorded their best-known songs, Something About You Baby and My Prayer. The Vibrants survived major personnel changes in 1968, and had a minor hit in 1970 with I Can't Let Go Of Your Love (by Buddy England, then a band member) before breaking up Reference: Vibrants page at Milesago.
P. J. PROBY
My Prayer (Georges Boulanger - Jerry Kennedy) UK 1966 Single on Liberty (UK), B-side of the Beatles giveaway That Means A Lot, produced at Abbey Road, London by Ron Richards. Texas-born James Marcus Smith, who changed his name initially to Jett Powers and then to P. J. Proby, had worked in the LA pop scene from 1957 as a versatile singer and songwriter. His deep, mannered vocals, often on reworkings of standard songs, benefited from skilful arrangements and production by the likes of Jack Nitzsche. Proby was always more popular in the UK - where he was based for some time in the mid-60s - and in Australia than in his home country. References: P. J. Proby page at British Beat Boom; P. J. Proby article at Wikipedia (partly unsourced); P. J. Proby UK single discography at P. J. Proby - Blue Velvet; Complete Beatles UK Discography at JPGR. Further reading: My Only in Oz (2) P.J. Proby - Mission Bell at PopArchives: The Blog. Michael Lane Heath, Get Hip to My Conflagration at Perfect Sound Forever. Thanks to Terry Stacey for version alert and links.
DIGGER REVELL
My Prayer (Georges Boulanger - Jerry Kennedy) Australia 1965 #7 Sydney #6 Brisbane #13 Adelaide In the same year Digger Revell charted with another song associated with The Platters, Twilight Time. Digger Revell (born Gary Hildred) had a number of hits in 1963-64 as lead singer of Digger Revell & the Denvermen, including My Little Rocker's Turned Surfie (1964). The Denvermen charted in their own right with a series of surf instrumentals in 1963, including Avalon Stomp and Surfside (#1 Sydney, #6 Melbourne). Digger Revell went on to a successful solo career, moving eventually into the country music scene. Further reading: There's a fine Teenagers Weekly cover shot of The Denverman at Instromania, along with a band history and discography. See also this article at TE Online about a 2003 appearance by Digger Revell in the Hunter Valley, NSW.
PETER WRIGHT
My Prayer (Georges Boulanger - Jerry Kennedy) Australia 1965 Second single on HMV (#EA-4717) by singer-songwriter from Toowoomba in Queensland, a Latin-styled arrangement recorded in Sydney with orchestra directed by Franz Conde. Peter Wright is still known for his 1967 Festival single House Of Bamboo, his own composition, backed by The Questions, anthologised on Ace Records' 2002 CD Peculiar Hole In The Sky. Further reading: 1. Jeff Black's site on Peter Wright and Chapter III is comprehensive and definitive, and sourced from several of the participants. 2. The YouTube channel Peter Wright Writes and Sings has video of Wright's 1966 composition The Rose Has A Thorn.
Thanks to Jeff Black. Version alert from Terry Stacey. (How did I miss this one?)
THE FOUR PENNIES
My Prayer (Georges Boulanger - Jerry Kennedy) UK 1964 On Philips EP Spin With The Pennies by band from Blackburn, Lancashire who topped the British charts in 1964 with Juliet. This is another example of how the repertoires of Australian artists often echoed those of British beat bands, especially when it came to reviving old songs. Further reading: Four Pennies page at British Beat Boom. Version alert and inference from Terry Stacey.
THE PLATTERS
My Prayer (Georges Boulanger - Jerry Kennedy) USA 1956 Influential version #1 USA #4 UK #5 Sydney #1 Melbourne #4 Brisbane Single on Mercury label, produced by Buck Ram. The Platters were a chart-topping black vocal group brought together in 1953 by arranger-composer-manager Buck Ram with lead tenor Tony Williams. Their numerous Top 40 hits began with Only You (1955, #5 USA) and included four #1s: The Great Pretender (1955), My Prayer (1956), Twilight Time (1958) and Smoke Gets In Your Eyes. See also I'll Never Smile Again (1961). In 1961 Sonny Turner replaced Tony Williams who had left for a solo career. Reference: Jay Warner, American Singing Groups (2006)
THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA
My Prayer (Georges Boulanger - Jerry Kennedy) USA 1939 Original vocal version Vocals by Ray Eberle. Lyrics by Irish-born songwriter Jerry Kennedy (1902-1984). Also recorded, for example, by The Ink Spots, Sammy Kaye, Vera Lynn, Ernie Fields, Roy Orbison, Ruby & the Romantics and Solomon Burke.
GEORGES BOULANGER ORCHESTRA
Avant De Mourir (Georges Boulanger) 1924 Original melody The Opus 17, a tango, of Romanian violinist, conductor and composer Georges Boulanger (1893-1958). Boulanger lived in Germany from the early 20s until 1948 when he moved to South America. He worked in Brazil then settled in Argentina for the rest of his days. Usually dated as 1926, this discography by Rainer E. Lotz (see VOX 01530, page 89) lists a 78 rpm German release on the Vox label in 1924 Not to be confused with French general and politician A modern recording of Avant de Mourir:
on Salon Orchestra Favourites, Vol. 2 (Naxos label, 2002) at Amazon.com   Reference: The Georges Boulanger website at Boulanger-Musik.com.ar. Later versions:
GERRY MONROE
My Prayer (Georges Boulanger - Jerry Kennedy) UK 1970 Later version #9 UK Single on Chapter One label. 
ANTHONY WARLOW
My Prayer (Georges Boulanger - Jerry Kennedy) Australia 1998 Later version #19 Sydney #46 Brisbane #35 Adelaide Single on WEA label by stage musical star getting into a 50s groove: the A-side is the Grease song Beauty School Drop Out. Both sides of the single charted in all three cities. Corrections or comments? Contact the writer. |
