Phyllis McGuire Sings

 

St. Louis Blues

Phyllis McGuire Sings

Orchestra Conducted by Marty Manning, Sy Oliver and Ralph Burns

Vocal Arrangements by Murray Kane

Produced by Bob Theile

Cover Design: ARW Productions, Inc.

Liner Design: Joe Lebow

ABC-Paramount ABCS 552 STEREO

1966

From the back cover: This is Phyllis McGuire's first solo album, and it's long overdue! Nicknamed "the one in the middle" by her sisters Christine and Dorothy, Phyllis is the lead singer of the famed McGuire Sisters. Her "middle" position was established long ago when the girl's mother decided that Chris and Dottie should keep an eye on baby Phyllis between them in the back seat of the family car, and she has remained in the middle of the performing trio ever since. Today, the whole world keeps its eyes on Phyllis and her sisters as they continue to attain new heights as the most talented, beautiful and professional sister team in show business. Now, the spotlight fades to the center of the trio as Phyllis McGuire takes the solo:

Singing a program of familiar songs, Phyllis now occupies her own well-deserved place in the charmed circle of singers who talents shine brightly and permanently. There isn't a song here you haven't heard before, but backed with arrangements by the music industry's finest (Marty Manning, Sy Oliver and Ralph Burns), Phyllis' individual style lets you hear them with new insight and appreciation. Her extraordinary choices of Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes and I Loves You Porgy give an indication of the extraordinary girl who chose them and performs them here.

Recording is one of the last fields of entertainment to which Phyllis has turned her solo talent. She has starred in summer stock productions of Annie Get Your Gun, The Unsinkable Molly Brown and Little Me. She will long be remembered for her comedy role in Frank Sinatra's movie, Come Blow Your Horn. She has been a guest on television with Ed Sullivan, Johnny Carson, Perry Como, Mike Douglas and on the Password show. Rounding out her show business career, Phyllis won raves notices for her nightclub act. Now, at long last, she is, as the song says, "right back where she started from – on records – but singing even better than those years when she and her sisters won fame from hits like Sugartime, May You Always, Sincerely, He and Just For Old Times Sake.

You've heard all about the McGuires winning performance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts show at the beginning of their career, and their subsequent six-year stay on the Godfrey morning show; and you've seem them perform on every top television variety show. Phyllis' appeared as a solo artist definitely does not herald the end of the sister team. As lead singer and acknowledged "talker" of the three, Phyllis is following the logical path to her own spotlight, but she plans to enjoy its glow only when it doesn't interfere with her role as one of The McGuire Sisters.

From Billboard - June 11,1966: Phyllis McGuire has selected wisely in her first solo album. She is off to  a strong start with a lusty "Careless Love" and follows with a torch "My Happiness." She also does more than all right with "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and "All The Things You are." It's strictly nostalgia, tastefully down.

Careless Love

My Happiness

Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes

Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)

Like Someone In Love

St. Louis Blues

I'll Always Be In Love With You

One Kiss

Vaya Con Dios

All The Things You Are

I Can't Give You Anything But Love

I Loves You Porgy