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Trio US originaire de San Francisco (Californie) et composé de Albeth, Priscilla et Sherell Paris.
The Paris
Sisters bridged the gap separating the traditional Vocals pop of the post-World
War II era from the equally generation-defining girl group sound that emerged in
the wake of rock & roll. By the 1961 release of their Phil Spector-produced
breakthrough "I Love How You Love Me," the siblings were already longtime
veterans of the music business. Albeth (the oldest), Sherrell (the middle child),
and Priscilla Paris (the baby) were born and raised in San Francisco. Their
mother, Faye, was the quintessential stage parent, a former opera singer who
continued her career vicariously through her children. The Paris Sisters got
their start singing and dancing at local Air Force showcases, and circa 1953
they made their recorded debut with a pair of singles for the tiny Cavalier
label: "The Bully, Bully Man" (a tie-in with local radio personality Red
Blanchard) and the seasonal effort "Christmas in My Home Town." In 1954, their
mother engineered a backstage visit during an
Andrews Sisters performance at the Warfield Theater, and the trio was so
impressed by the Paris siblings' uncanny imitations of their hits that they were
invited on-stage for encore performances of the canteen classics "Rum and Coca
Cola" and "Beer Barrel Polka." An MCA Records executive in the audience signed
the Paris Sisters to the label's Decca imprint immediately thereafter, and the
single "Ooh La La" appeared by year's end.
Despite the snowballing popularity of rock & roll, the Paris Sisters' early
Decca efforts adhered to the increasingly old-fashioned Vocals harmony approach
popularized by
the Andrews Sisters and the McGuire Sisters. As a result, singles like
1955's "Huckleberry Pie," "Give Me a Band and My Baby" (a collaboration with
crooner Bing Crosby's son Gary), and "Truly" earned little notice from radio
programmers. Although their records fared poorly, the Paris Sisters toured
relentlessly, appearing at county fairs, USO showcases, and even in Las Vegas,
casino performances made possible with the aid of falsified birth certificates,
makeup, and padded bras. After their seventh Decca single, 1956's "Daughter,
Daughter," the label terminated the Paris Sisters' contract, and the siblings
signed with Imperial to release 1957's "Old Enough to Cry," quickly followed by
"My Original Love." Imperial opted to cut its losses then and there, and the
Paris girls did not make another record for four years. When they finally
resurfaced on Lester Sill's fledgling Gregmark label in 1961, the impresario
insisted on a top-to-bottom overhaul of their approach, tapping up-and-coming
producer Phil Spector to shepherd the transformation. Spector relegated Albeth
and Sherrell to the background, and while he turned the spotlight on Priscilla,
he insisted she dial back her powerful voice to a dusky whisper.
While the Paris Sisters' Gregmark debut, "Be My Boy," earned little notice, the
follow-up, "I Love How You Love Me," cracked the U.S. Top Five, galvanized by
Priscilla's intimate lead turn and Spector's atypically restrained production.
After the 1962 singles "He Knows I Love Him Too Much" and "What Am I to Do" also
generated positive response at radio and retail, Spector began work on a Paris
Sisters LP, but as production costs began to skyrocket, Sill attempted to exert
control of the project. Their skirmish ended disastrously when, according to
Sill, one of his assistants accidentally discarded the master tapes, although
rumors persist of a far more nefarious outcome. Either way the Paris Sisters
suffered the most damage, and while their relationship with Sill disintegrated
under the threat of litigation, the siblings did not make another record until
1964, signing with MGM to cut a cover of the
Bobby Darin smash "Dream Lover" overseen by Spector's erstwhile arranger
Jack Nitzsche. After a pair of singles for Mercury, "When I Fall in Love" and "Always
Waitin'," the Paris Sisters recorded the 1966 Unifilms LP Sing from "The Glass
House", a soundtrack LP to a failed television series. That same year they
signed to Reprise, which paired them with Nitzsche and production partner
Jimmy Bowen -- though a commercial failure, the Paris Sisters' 1967 Reprise
LP Everything Under the Sun!!! remains an unsung classic of the waning girl
group era, featuring several original songs written by Priscilla herself.
Not surprisingly, Priscilla released her debut solo single, "He Noticed Me," on
the York label shortly after Everything Under the Sun!!! belly-flopped. The solo
LP Priscilla Sings Herself soon followed, and she closed out 1967 with Priscilla
Sings Billy, a tribute to jazz immortal Billie Holiday. The Paris Sisters
reunited the following year to release "Stark Naked Clown" on the GNP Crescendo
imprint. "Golden Days," a 1968 one-off for Capitol, proved to be the siblings'
swan song. While Albeth gradually moved behind the scenes into television
production and public relations work, Sherrell formed her own group, Sherrell
Paris & the Now People, touring nightclubs for several years before joining the
staff of Mark Goodman-Bill Todman Productions and spending more than two decades
as the personal assistant of The Price Is Right host Bob Barker. Priscilla
eventually relocated to London before settling in Paris, France, where she lived
for a quarter century. After a 1978 solo LP, Love Is..., she suffered an
accident resulting in partial facial paralysis, effectively ending her music
career for a number of years. By the 1990s Priscilla was again playing the
occasional Parisian club date, and in the spring of 2002 she returned to the
U.S. for a proposed Paris Sisters reunion concert. Sadly, the show was aborted
after the 18-hour flight left her too exhausted to perform. Priscilla died on
March 5, 2004, from injuries suffered in a fall at her home. She was 59.
Style musical : Girl Group, Pop, Brill Building Pop
Huckleberry
Pie (1955)
DAUGHTER! DAUGHTER! (1956)
ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT (1961)
DREAM LOVER (1964)
ONCE UPON A TIME
(1964)
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Years in activity :
| 1910 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 2000 | 10 | 20 |
DISCOGRAPHY
78 t., Singles & EP
| 1953 | 78 t. & SP CAVALIER 828 (US) | . |
The Bully Bully Man / Zorch Boogie |
| 1953 | 78 t. & SP CAVALIER 829 (US) | . |
Christmas In My Home Town / The Man With The Mistletoe Moustache |
| 12/1954 | 78t. DECCA 29372 (US) | . | Ooh La La / Whose Arms Are You Missing |
| 12/1954 | SP DECCA 9-29372 (US) | . |
Ooh La La / Whose Arms Are You Missing |
| 04/1955 | 78t. DECCA 29488 (US) | . |
Huckleberry Pie
/ Baby, Honey, Baby |
| 04/1955 | SP DECCA 9-29488 (US) | . |
Huckleberry Pie
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| 06/1955 | 78t. DECCA 29527 (US) | . | Gary CROSBY & The PARIS SISTERS - Truly Do / His And Hers |
| 06/1955 | SP DECCA 9-29527 (US) | . | Gary CROSBY & The PARIS SISTERS - Truly Do / His And Hers |
| 1955 | 78t. DECCA 29574 (US) | . | I Wanna / The Know How |
| 1955 | SP DECCA 9-29574 (US) | . |
I Wanna / The Know How |
| 11/1955 | 78t. DECCA 29744 (US) | . | Oh Yes, You Do / Lover Boy |
| 11/1955 | SP DECCA 9-29744 (US) | . | Oh Yes, You Do / Lover Boy |
| 04/1956 | 78t. DECCA 29891 (US) | . | I Love You Dear (Year-Round Love) / Mistaken |
| 04/1956 | SP DECCA 9-29891 (US) | . |
I Love You Dear (Year-Round Love) / Mistaken |
| 06/1956 | 78t. DECCA 29970 (US) | . |
So Much-So Very Much /
Daughter! Daughter!
|
| 06/1956 | SP DECCA 9-29970 (US) | . |
So Much-So Very Much /
Daughter! Daughter!
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| 09/1957 | 78 t. IMPERIAL X 5465 (US) | . | Tell Me More (Don't Stop, Don't Stop) / Old Enough To Cry |
| 09/1957 | SP IMPERIAL X 5465 (US) | . |
Tell Me More (Don't Stop, Don't Stop) / Old Enough To Cry |
| 11/1957 | 78 t. IMPERIAL X 5487 (US) | . | Someday / My Original Love |
| 11/1957 | SP IMPERIAL X 5487 (US) | . | Someday / My Original Love |
| 02/1958 | SP DECCA 9-30554 (US) | . |
Mind Reader / Don't Tell Anybody |
| 03/1961 | SP GREGMARK 2 (US) | . | Be My Boy / I'll Be Crying Tomorrow |
| 08/1961 | SP GREGMARK 6 (US) |
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All Through The Night
/ I Love How You Love Me |
| 1961 | EP TOP RANK 20011 M (F) |
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All Through The Night
|
| 01/1962 | SP GREGMARK 10 (US) | . | A Lonely Girls Prayer / He Knows O Love Jim Too Much |
| 03/1962 | SP TOP RANK JET-1042 (JAP) |
 |
I Love How You Love Me / I'll Be Crying Tomorrow |
| 04/1962 | SP GREGMARK 12 (US) | . | Let Me Be The One / What Am I To Do |
| 07/1962 | SP GREGMARK 13 (US) | . |
I Love You / Once Upon A While Ago |
| 05/1964 | SP MGM K 13236 (US) |
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Dream Lover
/ Lonely Girl |
| 08/1964 | SP MERCURY 72320 (US) |
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Once Upon A Time
/ When I Fall In Love |
| 08/1965 | SP MERCURY 72468 (US) | . | Always Waitin' / Why Do I Take It From You |
| 02/1966 | SP REPRISE 0440 (US) | . |
Sincerely / Too Good To Be True |
| 05/1966 | SP REPRISE 0472 (US) | . |
I’m Me / You |
| 08/1966 | SP REPRISE 0511 (US) | . |
My Good Friend / It’s My Party |
| 01/1967 | SP REPRISE 0548 (US) | . | Long After Tonight Is All Over / Some Of Your Lovin' |
| 01/1968 | SP CAPITOL 2081 (US) | . |
Greener Days / Golden Days |
| 08/1968 | SP GNP CRESCENDO GNP 140 (US) | . |
The Ugliest Girl In Town / Stand Naked Clown |
| 1968 | SP ERIC 101 (US) | . | I Love How You Love Me / He Knows I Love Him Too Much |
| 1985 | SP Original Sound Oldies But Goodies OBG 4547 (US) | . | I Love How You Love Me (Paris
Sisters) /
From A Jack To A King
(Ned
MILLER) |
| 19?? | SP COLLECTABLES COL 1297 (US) | . | I Love How You Love Me /
All Through The Night
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Albums
| 1966 | LP 12" UNIFILMS 505 (US) |
 |
THE PARIS SISTERS SING FROM "THE GLASS HOUSE" - Can't Help Falling In Love / Together / The Best Part Of It Is / You Went Your Way / Your Own Glass House / Yesterday / How Can You Know My Love / Help Me / Our Own Way |
| 1967 | LP 12" REPRISE R-6259 (mono) / RS-6259 (stereo) (US) |
 |
THE PARIS SISTERS SING EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN!!! - My Good Friend / Sincerely / See That Boy / You / Long After Tonight Is All Over / Some Of Your Lovin' / Too Good To Be True / I'm Me / It's My Party / Born To Be With You |
| 1969 | LP 12" SIDEWALK T 5906 (US) |
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GOLDEN HITS OF THE PARIS SISTERS - I Love How You Love Me / I Don't Even Care / Won't You Help Me / I Came A Long Way To Nowhere / Can't Help Falling In Love / Be My Boy / I Don't Give A Darn / Together / Yesterday / He Knows I Love Him Too Much |
| 1992 | CD A-Side AZ-8001(JAP) |
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THE PARIS SISTERS Sing their Favorites - Be My Boy / I Love How You Love Me / All Through The Night / He Knows I Love Him Too Much / A Lonely Girl's Prayer / Let Me Be The One / What Am I To Do / Dream Lover / My Good Friend / Sincerely / See That Boy / You / Long After Tonight Is All Over / Some Of Your Lovin' / Too Good To Be True / I'm Me / It's My Party / Born To Be With You / Daughter Daughter / I Love How You Love Me [Sidewalk version] |
| 199? | CD Teenage 613 (DK) |
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I Love How You Love Me - I Love How You Love Me / Be My Boy / He Knows I Love Him Too Much / Dream Lover / I'll Be Crying Tomorrow / All Through The Night / Once Upon A Time / Yes, I Love You / A Lonely Girl's Prayer / What Am I To Do / Let Me Be The One / Lonely Girl / My Good Friend / Sincerely / See That Boy / You / Long After Tonight Is Over / Some Of Your Lovin' / Too Good To Be True / It's Me / It's My Party / Born To Be With You / Always Waiting / Daughter, Daughter / Why Do I Take It From You / He Noticed Me [Priscilla Paris solo] / Help Me / Huckleberry Pie / Baby Honey Baby / Be My Boy (stereo) / I Love How You Love Me (stereo) |
| 07/2004 | CD ERIC 11523 (US) |
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THE PARIS SISTERS SING EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN!!! - My Good Friend / Sincerely / See That Boy / You / Long After Tonight Is All Over / Some Of Your Lovin' / Too Good To Be True / I'm Me / It's My Party / Born To Be With You |
| 07/2004 | CD CURB D2-78861 (US) |
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THE BEST OF THE PARIS SISTERS - I Love How You Love Me / I Don't Even Care / Won't You Help Me / I Came A Long Way To Nowhere / Can't Help Falling In Love / Be My Boy / I Don't Give A Darn / Together / Yesterday / He Knows I Love Him Too Much / Always Waitin' |
| 10/2006 | CD VARESE SARABANDE 302 066757-2 (US) |
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THE COMPLETE PHIL SPECTOR SESSIONS - Be My Boy / I'll Be Crying Tomorrow / I Love How You Love Me / All Through The Night / He Knows I Love Him Too Much / A Lonely Girl's Prayer / Let Me Be The One / What Am I To Do? / Yes -- I Love You / Once Upon A While Ago / I Love How You Love Me [version] |
| 2009 | CD MrFiveMusic ? (US) |
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HE PARIS SISTERS Anthology - My Good Friend / Long After Tonight Is All Over / Too Good To Be True / You / I Love How You Love Me / All Through The Night / Be My Boy / He Knows I Love Him Too Much / A Lonely Girl’s Prayer / Let Me Be The One / What Am I To Do / Dream Lover / Sincerely / See That Boy / Some Of Your Lovin' / I'm Me / It's My Party / Born To Be With You / Daughter, Daughter / I Love How You Love Me (fast version) / He Noticed Me [Priscilla Paris solo] / Help Me / Always Waiting / Why Do I Take It From You / Lonely Girl / Huckleberry Pie / Baby, Honey Baby |
| 02/2016 | CD ACE CDTOP 1465 (UK) |
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Always Heavenly - THE PARIS SISTERS ANTHOLOGY - I Love How You Love Me / When I'm Alone With You / Lonely Girl / Be My Boy / My Good Friend / Baby That's Me / Once Upon A Time / I Came A Long Way To Nowhere / What Am I To Do / Play It One More Time / Always Waitin' / He Knows I Love Him Too Much / I'm Me / Together / See That Boy / Greener Days / Dream Lover / Why Do I Take It From You / Won't You Help Me / Long After Tonight Is All Over / Stand Naked Clown / Then Came Love / You / Once Upon A While Ago / Diet Rite Commercial |
© Rocky Productions 27/10/2016
