Found Performance: “My Love” by Petula Clark

When most of us think of the British Invasion, we probably focus on all those 1960s “boy bands” — Beatles, Stones, DC5, Animals, Kinks, Hollies, Yardbirds, Peter & Gordon, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Herman, etc.)  There was a big exception of the female gender.  Petula Clark became one of the most popular performers of that era. Her breakthrough hit, and her signature song, was “Downtown,” a mega-giant around the world in 1964.

This “Found Performance” is another of her chart-topping hits in the US, Canada and the UK. “My Love” was written by prominent songwriter Tony Hatch. The studio backing track was by none other than LA’s famed “Wrecking Crew.”

In February 1966, “My Love” peaked at #1 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 (two weeks at #1, thirteen total weeks on the chart) and on Canada’s RPM Play Sheet it went to #1. Back home in the UK, Clark’s song stalled at #4, but its momentum was such that she put together several more smash hits. 

Since this record was always one of my ’60’s favorites, I have periodically searched for a video of Clark performing this hit song. I consider this to be one of the best of those performances. To augment the original film, I have cleaned up the video as best as I could and added a better quality audio track. The video is at ad free Vimeo, so click 2x on the start button – the first time to go to Vimeo and then again to start the video.)

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Author: Steven Smith

Presently editor and historical writer with QZVX.COM in Seattle. Former radio broadcaster and radio station owner, 1970-1999. Journalism and speech communications degrees. I enjoy researching articles and online reporting that allows me to meld together words, audio and video. P.S. I appreciate and encourage reader comments and opinions. View other articles by Steven Smith
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6 thoughts on “Found Performance: “My Love” by Petula Clark

    1. Mavis….yeah as kids she was pretty old to us….she being in her 30s. Although she looked good, in 1966 she was 34. This Friday I will exactly double that age, she was not so ancient looking back on it,

  1. Definitely one of the most charming and genuine singers ever! I recorded a segment with her for my syndicated show, “Rock n Roll Rewind” in 1999. It’s worth the effort to uncover her remarkable story that began at a tender age and placed her prominently in front of troops during World War 2. Few entertainers have ever impressed to the degree that Petula Clark did. I believe she made her TV debut in the U.S. in the Ed Sullivan Show.

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