arranged by Claus Ogerman
produced by Quincy Jones
from the movie “Ski Party”（1965）
Pop Chart Peaks: Billboard 13, Cash Box 19, Record World 23
Marvin Hamlisch’s very first （co-written） song hit was recorded by Lesley in late 1963 and issued on a single in’65 in conjunction with her performance in that year’s “Ski Party” movie.

 

 

 

 

U.S. Pop Chart Peaks: Billboard 2, Record World 2, Cash Box 4 – UK Chart Peak: 2
She was Jamaica-born Millicent Smith, and her big hit was a song first recorded in 1956 by Barbie Gaye.

 

Between November 1961 and January 1966, young songstress Clairette Clementino would issue nine singles over three different labels. The first four discs released on Encore Records that were conducted and produced by Tommy Oliver, were fine examples showcasing the big teen/pop voice of then 12 year old Clairette. Her move to Capitol Records where her records were produced by Jim Economides and Stu Phillips with Jimmie Haskel and Stu Phillips providing the arrangements, was where she would record some wonderful tracks most notably,’Ev’rywhere’ and’It’s Happening To Me’ on which Clairette’s maturing voice was surrounded by a studio full of musicians and background singers. There was nearly a year gap between her final Capitol single issued in October 1964 and her last known single release on Colpix Records issued in January 1966 credited to simply,’Clairette’. With Producer Bob Marcucci and arranger Gene Page, the session was held in mid-December 1965 in Hollywood at Sunset Sound Recorders. The songs,’Lollipops And Roses’ and’With All My Heart’ were on the docket for the three hour evening session. The plug side,’Lollipops And Roses’ was composed by Tony Velona and was first recorded by Jack Jones in 1961 who won a Grammy Award with it in 1962. Of the many others who recorded it, Steve Lawrence and Paul Peterson had success with it in 1962 as did Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass in 1965. It is the finger popping, brassy style of the latter which arranger Gene Page obviously got his inspiration. Back in 2014 when asked about that session, Clairette recalled, “…..I remember that night well; I remember the white walls! I remember how the studio was set up; it probably was a favorite of Bob Marcucci’s. I remember driving there and feeling a bit scared of being alone…… Crazy huh?” At seventeen years old, the two and a half minute song was a departure in style from Clairette’s previous recordings in that she was displaying an impressive, jazzy/pop side in her vocal delivery. Both’Lollipops And Roses’ and the flip side,’With All My Heart’ which was composed by Bob Marcucci and Peter DeAngelis and first made popular by Jodie Sands in 1957, were slickly produced and although neither charted, it was by no means due to a lack of quality. Regardless, Clairette moved on with her life and left the music biz. In 2013, when looking at the black & white photo of herself taken in 1963, Clairette Clementino stated, “…..I remember clearly that photo shoot in an office in the round Capitol Records building. JUST A BABY!!! lol!!”
Today Clairette is an energetic, happily married mother of five grown children living the good life in Northern California.

arranged & produced by Stu Phillips
Pop Chart Peaks: Billboard 54, Music Vendor 67, Cash Box 86
The former Mouseketeer and current “Donna Reed Show” cast member （as Jeff Stone） does a more ‘teen-oriented’ cover of the Jack Jones release from some months earlier.