Susan Maughan

Susan Maughan (born Marian Maughan, 1 July 1938,[1])[2] is an English singer who released successful singles in the 1960s. Her most famous and successful song, "Bobby's Girl" (a cover of the Marcie Blane single), reached number three in the UK Singles Chart at Christmas time in 1962. It also reached number six in the Norwegian chart in that year.

Susan Maughan
Birth name	Marian Maughan
Born	1 July 1938 Consett, County Durham, UK
Origin	Consett, County Durham
Genres	Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1953–present
Labels	Philips, Ember
Associated acts	Ray Ellington Quartet

Career

Maughan was born in Consett, County Durham. The sleeve notes on her 1963 album, written by John Franz, stated that

"Susan's family moved to Birmingham (in 1953) when Susan was 15. She started work there as a shorthand typist, but all the time she scanned the musical press to see if any band leaders needed a girl singer. Her luck was in as the well known Midlands band leader Ronnie Hancock was advertising for that very thing! An immediate audition was arranged, and Susan joined this fine band and sang happily with them for three years. In September 1961 Susan decided to try her luck in London, and during her brief 36-hour visit she won not only a recording contract but also a year's contract as featured singer with the Ray Ellington Quartet. Her biggest break came in September 1962 when she recorded 'Bobby's Girl'; her success brought so many offers that in November 1963 Susan decided to branch out as a solo artist."

In early 1963, following the success of "Bobby's Girl", Maughan had further minor UK hits entitled "Hand A Handkerchief To Helen" and "She's New To You". Also at that time she released her first album on Philips called I Wanna Be Bobby's Girl But.... All songs on this album featured male names, including the John D. Loudermilk songs "Norman" and "James (Hold The Ladder Steady)" which were hits in the US for the American singer Sue Thompson. Thompson had a minor UK hit in 1965 with "Paper Tiger", and the songs were also covered in the UK by Carol Deene.

John Franz's 1963 sleeve notes conclude: "Susan is one of the most conscientious artists in the entertainment industry – never quite believing in her own triumphs but continually striving to improve her work in every detail. This hard work, coupled with her natural singing talent can only lead to greater achievements in the future."

She appeared at the 1963 Royal Variety Performance, and in the 1963 film What a Crazy World.[3] Maughan also appeared in the film Pop Gear (1965) and sang the title song for the second Charles Vine low-budget superspy film, Where the Bullets Fly (1966). In 1971 she appeared in series five of the Morecambe & Wise BBC television series, having previously appeared on their 1962 ATV series. In that year she also replaced Clodagh Rodgers in the show at London's Adelphi Theatre, Meet Me in London, after Rodgers withdrew just before curtain up on the first night when one of her songs was cut. Late in rehearsals it had become clear the show was too long for one running twice-nightly.

In 1974, she recorded the song, Time, from the film, Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry, which she sang during her appearance the same year on the Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club show.

Personal life

She married advertising executive Nicolas Teller, February 1965.[4] She now lives in Eastbourne with second husband Nick Leigh, a theatre director.[5]

Discography

Studio albums

Swingin' Susan (Philips - 1963)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"A Lot of Livin' to Do"
2.	"If I Were a Bell"
3.	"The Lady's in Love with You"
4.	"Poppa Don't Preach to Me"
5.	"When Lights Are Low"
6.	"Just One of Those Things"
7.	"The Gypsy in My Soul"
8.	"Old Devil Moon"
9.	"It Might as Well Be Spring"
10.	"Things Are Swingin'"
11.	"Ca, Ce'st L'amour"
12.	"Gone with the Wind"

I Wanna Be Bobby's Girl But… (Philips - 1963)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bobby's Girl"	Gary Klein Henry Hoffman
2.	"I'm Just Wild About Harry"
3.	"Eddie My Love"
4.	"Charlie Is My Darling"
5.	"Jim"
6.	"Norman"
7.	"Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny! Oh!"
8.	"Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe"
9.	"James (Hold the Ladder Steady)"
10.	"Teddy"
11.	"South American Joe"
12.	"Billy (I Always Dream of Bill)"

Sentimental Susan (Philips - 1964)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Someone to Watch over Me"
2.	"Dearly Beloved"
3.	"I Fall in Love Too Easily"
4.	"Do I Love You?"
5.	"Like Someone in Love"
6.	"I've Grown Accustomed to His Face"
7.	"Our Love Affair"
8.	"I'm in the Mood for Love"
9.	"Bewitched"
10.	"Where Can I Go Without You?"
11.	"That Old Feeling"
12.	"That's All"

Hey Look Me Over (Philips - 1967)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hey Look Me Over"
2.	"Great Day"
3.	"I'm a Believer"
4.	"More"
5.	"On Green Dolphin Street"
6.	"I'm All Smiles"
7.	"Let's Fall in Love"
8.	"Call Me"
9.	"Matchmaker, Matchmaker"
10.	"There's a Kind of Hush (All over the World)"
11.	"Cute"
12.	"Softly as I Leave You"

This Is Me (Ember Records - 1974)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Time (Is Such a Funny Thing)" (from the 20th Century Fox Picture "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry")	3:20
2.	"Help Me Make It"	3:18
3.	"Bigger than I"	2:12
4.	"There's Gotta Be a Way"	3:12
5.	"For the Rest of My Life"	3:47
6.	"Once More with Feeling"	3:00
7.	"Almost Close to You"	3:21
8.	"This Is Me"	2:35
9.	"We'll Sing in the Sunshine"	2:32
10.	"If We Only Have Love"	3:16
11.	"Where Do You Go"	2:33
12.	"Children of My Mind"	3:11
Total length:		36:17

Superlady (Performance Records - 1979)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Superlady"
2.	"I Will Survive"
3.	"With You I'm Born Again"
4.	"Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
5.	"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"
6.	"I Believe"
7.	"Last Dance"
8.	"Dance Yourself Dizzy"
9.	"Bobby's Girl"	Gary Klein Henry Hoffman
10.	"The Way We Were"
11.	"Lucky Day"
12.	"Love Is in the Air"
13.	"You Don't Love Me like You Used To"
14.	"You're a Lady"
15.	"Behind Closed Doors"
16.	"I Never Can Say Goodbye"

Let's Go Round Again (Not On Label -

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Get Happy"
2.	"Downtown"
3.	"You're My World"
4.	"I Only Wanna Be with You"
5.	"Let It Be Me"
6.	"Why Do Fools Fall in Love?"
7.	"You Don't Have to Say You Love Me"
8.	"Bringin' on Back the Good Times"
9.	"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"
10.	"Love Letters"
11.	"Almost like Being in Love"
12.	"When You Tell Me that You Love Me"

Compilations

Bobby's Girl (Wing Records - 1967)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bobby's Girl"	Gary Klein Henry Hoffman
2.	"She's New to You"
3.	"I've Got to Learn to Forget"
4.	"I'm a Lonely One Too"
5.	"Call on Me"
6.	"Kiss Me Sailor"
7.	"Make Him Mine"
8.	"Little Things Mean a Lot"
9.	"That Other Place"
10.	"You Can Never Get Away from Me"
11.	"Don't Be Afraid"
12.	"When She Walks Away"

I Want To Be Bobby's Girl (Gold Dust Records - 1996)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bobby's Girl"	Gary Klein Henry Hoffman
2.	"Eddie My Love"
3.	"Norman"
4.	"James"
5.	"Teddy"
6.	"South American Joe"
7.	"She's New to You"
8.	"I've Got to Learn to Forget"
9.	"Call on Me"
10.	"Kiss Me Sailor"
11.	"Make Him Mine"
12.	"That Other Place"
13.	"You Can Never Get Away from Me"
14.	"When She Walks Away"
15.	"Come a Little Bit Closer"
16.	"Hand a Handkerchief to Helen"	Fred Tobias Paul Evans
17.	"Stop Your Foolin'"
18.	"Hey Lover"
19.	"Bachelor Girl"
20.	"The Verdict Is Guilty"
21.	"I Didn't Mean What I Said"
22.	"Where the Bullets Fly"
23.	"Little Things Mean a Lot"
24.	"Don't Get Carried Away"
25.	"Don't Be Afraid"

The Best Of Susan Maughan (Spectrum Music - 1999)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bobby's Girl"	Gary Klein Henry Hoffman	2:33
2.	"Little Things Mean a Lot"	Edith Lindeman Carl Stutz	2:46
3.	"Come a Little Closer"	Mike Hawker John Franz	2:45
4.	"Hand a Handkerchief to Helen"	Fred Tobias Paul Evans	2:08
5.	"I'm a Lonely One Too"	Susan Maughan	2:54
6.	"She's New to You"	Pat Owen Ruth Silver	2:32
7.	"Don't Get Carried Away"	Susan Maughan	1:59
8.	"Bachelor Girl"	Susan Maughan	2:11
9.	"Verdict Is Guilty"	Al Rain	2:03
10.	"Baby Doll Twist (Broken Doll)"	Clifford Harris Jerry Tate	2:21
11.	"I've Got to Learn to Forget"	Alan Fielding	2:21
12.	"Call on Me"	Mike Hawker John Franz	2:34
13.	"That Other Place"	Clint Ballard, Jr.	2:28
14.	"South American Joe"	Cliff Friend Irving Caesar	2:23
15.	"Make Him Mine"	Bob Barratt	2:26
16.	"Kiss Me Sailor"	Eddie Rambeau Bud Rehak	2:23
17.	"Mama Do the Twist"	Roy C. Bennett Sid Tepper	2:01
18.	"Some of These Days"	Shelton Brooks	1:51
Total length:			42:39

UK singles

• "I've Got To Learn To Forget" – (1962) – Philips
• "Baby Doll Twist" – (1962) – Philips
• "Mama Do The Twist" – (1962) – Philips
• "Bobby's Girl" – (1962) – Philips – UK No. 3, Ireland No. 6,[6] Israel No. 5[7]
• "Hand a Handkerchief to Helen" – (1963) – Philips – UK No.41
• "The Verdict Is Guilty" – (1963) – Philips
• "She's New To You" – (1963) – Philips – UK No.45
• "Hey Lover" – (1964) – Philips
• "Kiss Me Sailor" – (1964) – Philips
• "Little Things Mean A Lot" – (1964) – Philips
• "That Other Place" – (1964) – Philips
• "Make Him Mine" – (1964) – Philips
• "You Can Never Get Away From Me" – (1965) – Philips
• "When She Walks Away" – (1965) – Philips
• "Poor Boy" – (1965) – Philips
• "Where the Bullets Fly" – (1966) – Philips
• "Don't Go Home" – (1966) – Philips
• "Come And Get Me" – (1966) – Philips
• "To Him" – (1967) – (Philips)
• "I Remember Loving You" – (1968) – Philips
• "Cable Car For Two" – (1968) – Philips
• "We Really Go Together" – (1969) – Philips
• "Time (Is Such A Funny Thing)" – (1974) – Ember
• "El Bimbo" – (1975) – Ember –

See also

• The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club
• Helen Shapiro

References

1. Most internet references give her birth year as 1942. The correct year of 1938 is confirmed from the UK General Register Office Records.
2. IMDb database
3. Whetstone, David (13 December 2002). "Singer Susan's changed from Bobby's Girl to Wicked Queen". www.journallive.co.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
4. Information taken from captions beneath Alamy & Getty stock images of their marriage. http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-feb-02-1965-susan-maugham-the-pop-singer-weds-at-the-hampstead-register-135929102.html Further supported by the marriage entry in the General Register of Births, Deaths & Marriages.
5. "Homecoming for star". Chronicle Live. 23 September 2004. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
6. Billboard Magazine, Hits of the World, January 1963. Nielsen Business Media. 26 January 1963. p. 24. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
7. Billboard Magazine, Hits of the World, December 22, 1962. Nielsen Business Media. 22 December 1962. p. 28. Retrieved 17 September 2013.

External links

• 45-rpm website biography
• Susan Maughan mini-biography at the Internet Movie Database website