Barbara Lewis' hit, "Hello Stranger" planted itself firmly on the Pop Charts (#3) in May of 1963. What most people never realized was that she wrote the song herself.
What a smooth, sentimental ballad; and it distinctly features someone working overtime on that Hammond organ . . .
TO LISTEN TO "HELLO STRANGER" click on this link:
I owned her album, "Baby I'm Yours" (1965), and I remember noting that the couple on the cover were as white as they could be. I guess Atlantic Records wasn't quite ready to put the faces of their black artists on the cover . .
Of course, most people are familiar with the title song, "Baby I'm Yours," which peaked at #11 in June of 1965. It was written by Van McCoy, and went on to become a million seller.
TO LISTEN TO "BABY I'M YOURS" click on this link:
Some of my favorites from this album are: "Someday We're Gonna Love Again," and especially, "Snap Your Fingers."
TO LISTEN TO "SOMEDAY WE'RE GONNA LOVE AGAIN" click on this link:
TO LISTEN TO "SNAP YOUR FINGERS" click on this link:
Also included on this album was an original composition of Lewis' called, "Puppy Love," which peaked at #38 on the Pop Charts in January, 1964.
TO LISTEN TO "PUPPY LOVE" click on this link:
BUT . . .
My personal favorite by Barbara Lewis got as high as #11 on the Pop Charts in September of 1965.
Click on this link to watch a live performance of "Make Me Your Baby," on Shindig! (this 1965 clip also includes
"Baby I'm Yours")
"Baby I'm Yours")
What a powerful live performance - truly restrained passion, and proof that she could really sing. Of course, she's backed by Darlene Love & the Blossoms!
Lewis' last Top 40 hit came in July of '66 when she hit #28 on the Pop Charts with, "Make Me Belong To You."
TO LISTEN TO "MAKE ME BELONG TO YOU" click on this link:
Thankfully, Barbara Lewis has not remained a 'stranger.' Check out this clip of her performing, "Hello Stranger," live in 2010!
Better than ever!
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