Alma Cogan, The Girl With A Giggle In Her Voice

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 7:20 pm

Singer Alma Cogan was one of the most famous well known and successful stars of music and entertainment during the Fifties.
She was known on her TV appearances wearing the most fabulous bouncy, glittery dresses that she herself designed.
She was also known for having fantastic parties in the flat that she shared with her Mother and Sister in Kensington High Street. These parties were attended by showbiz and famous stars, including Sammy Davies Jnr, Michael Caine, Cary Grant, Lionel Blair, Frankie Vaughan, Danny Kaye Tommy Steele, anyone could look up and see the light on at Alma's and gatecrash the party, with wine and spirits flowing in her famous lounge and she loved it and so did her guests.
Her Sister Sandra Caron, was guest on Eric Hall's show today. This Month October marks the 40th Anniversary of Alma's tragic death at the young age of 34, one of the saddest stories we can remember in show business.
There is a video out to co-inside with this date, and it contains some great songs of Alma's and there is some rare colour footage from the Fifties of her shows, never been seen before. This DVD is available at www.hmv.co.uk at a bargain price Â£8.99 It looks great to us.
Alma and Matt were both appearing on TV and recording at that time.

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 9:42 pm

Aww - bless her. Even though she died when I was 5 months old, its an amazing testament that she still has fans nearly 40 years on. I have heard of her of course, and heard some of her songs, so would be interested in seeing her brought to life through the magic of film.

Never heard about her parties before either - sounds like an amazing life!

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 10:30 pm

The DVD is the one mentioned a whole ago, coming from Odeon, who were responsible for Matts DVDs. Are you on a commission with them L&H??

DutchDean · Post by **DutchDean** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:24 am

Alma Cogan is another one of my favourites, I am so glad that finally she is getting more attention.

Here is the link to the new Alma website from Eddie G.

www.almacogan.com

I recently sent him a wonderful photogrpahy of Alma and a young Shirley Bassey which can be seen in the galleries section.

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:21 am

Dean, that's a lovely picture of Alma with Shirley Bassey and a great web-site too.
Some clips to view worth looking at and remembering what a star performer she was.
She made so many recordings and we have many favourites recorded by Alma but one album that we particularly like is "With Love In Mind" with "Love Me As Though There Were No Tomorrow" "I'm In The Mood For Love" and this one specially, Noel Coward's "If Love Were All" .

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:35 pm

Who brought the song "I'm In The Mood For Love" to the publics attention?? answer, of my very special favourites the lovely Frances Langford from the 1935 film "Every Night At Eight"

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 10:04 am

It's a great song Robert, not forgetting that the lovely Alice Faye also starred in the Film "Every Night At Eight" and though we haven't seen the film we'll lay a bet that Mr debonair George Raft sweeps one of those ladies off their feet and on to the dance floor,

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:09 pm

Just realised the version of 'Mambo Italiano' on our i-tunes is by Alma! I thought it was Rosemary Clooney! Such a huge range of her hits looking at her website. 'Sugar time' was one I'd heard before, and did she do the 'Tenessee Wig-Walk'? or just the 'Tennessee Waltz'? I know she advised never to 'Tango with an Eskimo', and that she 'Couldn't tell a waltz from a Tango'. Wasn't it great when singers sang about simple things! Love, dance, moonlight, wine, food. Now its sex, slapping your bitch up and 'gangstas killing rude boys' - apparently!

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:26 pm

Was it Alma who sang "Twenty Tiny fingers"??

Marian

DutchDean · Post by **DutchDean** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:32 pm

One of Alma best recording and in my opinion the best version EVER of this song is the Lennon and McCartney song 'Yesterday' - issued after her death in 1967 it is a dream and shows the promise of a more adult Alma singing beautiful ballads and standards. Do get me wrong I love her pop stuff, as has been mentioned it reflects a less aggresive, gentle and simple time when peoplesang about dancing and love and wanting to meet the man/lady of their dreams.......ah 'Yesterday'....

DutchDean · Post by **DutchDean** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:34 pm

Yes - 'Twenty Tiny Fingers' was hit from Alma in 1955. Also one of those wonderful pop songs of yesteryear.

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:02 pm

L&H, you didn't mention if you like Frances Langfords voice in your post. I think she is adorable with a rich and very smooth velvety voice. A class apart. (P.S. I haven't seen the movie either)

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:56 pm

Robert, Frances Langford was a lovely singer, and a big star, she toured all over with Bob Hope during the war entertaining the troops. We have some of her recordings mainly on our American Dance Bands compilations, one or two favourites "Easy To Love" with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, "The Man I Love" with The Victor Young Orchestra, another we have is Frances singing with Tony Martin, "Why Do I Love You."

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 12:40 am

Yes Lena and Harry, they actually entertained the troops in real war zones during WW2, Vietnam and Korea. On one occasion during WW2 they were travelling in a jeep, when it started to be fired upon, they both jumped out of the jeep and into a ditch. Frances Langford landed right on top of Bob Hope

but at least they were both safe, thankfully

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 7:59 am

Bet she was wishing it was Clark Gable or Errol Flynn