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Valerie Carr
“WHEN THE BOYS TALK ABOUT THE GIRLS“
(Bob Merrill)
Roulette 4066
No. 19 June 9, 1958
UPDATE & REWRITE, June 11, 2015
Valerie was born in New York in 1936. A publicity pud from her label referred to her as a “normal girl”
living “a normal school girl’s life.” She attended the High School of Performing Arts and diligently
studied to be a classical pianist. In her late teens, the lush lark decided to test her wings and flew to
Boston, where she continued her musical studies at the Berklee School of Music. She studied voice
with Lee Daniels and began singing at local nightclubs.
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In 1956 or there abouts, Valerie returned to New York to cut demo recordings for a music publisher. King
Records issued a 45 or two. No earthquake. One number, “So Goes My Love,” was brought to the attention
of Roulette A & R men Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creators; that’s the One-Hit Wonder duo HUGO AND LUIGI.
The duo signed her on the spot; sayeth fading legend.
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Valerie’s first offering for Roulette was “You’re The Greatest.” Billy Scott happened to cover the tune for
Cameo Records, as the same time, and his rendering (#73, 1958) overshadowed Valerie’s.
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In mid-January ’58, Valerie did get to sing her redition on the “Ed Sullivan Show.” Next out of the hatch
was “When The Boys Talk About The Girls,” a teen-dipped tune that was to be Valerie’s primo charting
moment. Its pimple lyrics and clinky piano was enough to classify the disk as a rock’n’roll record.
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