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Cathy Carr, born Angelina Cordovano in the Bronx in 1936, was a child star on TV and performed in WWII with the USO, and later sang with the bands of Sammy Kaye and Johnny Dee. She got her first recording contract in 1953 when she was 17, and between 1956 and 1962 she had a run of half a dozen US hits, of which the biggest was her No. 2 chart debut in 1956 with “Ivory Tower”. She was very much a singer of the pre-rock ‘n’ roll era, who adapted to the new music by retaining her teen focus, and not moving on to more sophisticated styles until long after her chart career ended. 

This 58-track 2-CD collection comprises most of her A & B sides on the Coral, Fraternity, Roulette, Smash and Laurie labels from this era, along with almost all the titles from her albums “Ivory Tower” on Fraternity and “Shy” on Roulette. It features all her career hits, including the No. 2 “Ivory Tower”, along with “Heart Hideaway”, First Anniversary”, I’m Gonna Change Him”, “Little Sister” and “Sailor Boy”. It has performances with some notable orchestras of the day, including Don Costa, Dan Belloc, Lew Douglas, Hugo Peretti, Joe Reisman, Henry Glover and Billy Mure. 

It’s a substantial and enjoyable showcase for an artist we don’t hear too much about, but who was a stylish and distinctive performer.

Tracks

CD 1
1. HALF PINT BOOGIE Cathy Carr And Her Boyfriends (Coral 60907) 1953 
2. HEARTBROKEN Cathy Carr And Her Boyfriends (Coral 60907) 1953 
3. SOMEBODY TOLD YOU A LIE Cathy Carr And Her Boyfriends (Coral 60988) 1953 
4. I'LL CRY AT YOUR WEDDING Cathy Carr (Coral 61092) 1953 
5. WARM YOUR HEART Cathy Carr (Fraternity 712) 1955 
6. I NEVER REALLY STOPPED LOVING YOU Cathy Carr (Fraternity 712) 1955 
7. MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT Cathy Carr (Fraternity 718) 1955 
8. TOWARDS EVENING Cathy Carr (Fraternity 718) 1955 
9. IVORY TOWER Cathy Carr (Fraternity 734) 1956 
10. PLEASE, PLEASE BELIEVE ME Cathy Carr (Fraternity 734) 1956 
11. HEART HIDEAWAY Cathy Carr (Fraternity 743) 1956 
12. THE BOY ON PAGE 35 Cathy Carr (Fraternity 743) 1956 
13. WALTZING TO THE BLUES Cathy Carr (Fraternity 750) 1956 
14. OH BABY Cathy Carr (Fraternity 750) 1956 
15. IT LOOKS LIKE LOVE Cathy Carr (Fraternity 757) 1957 
16. WILD HONEY Cathy Carr (Fraternity 765) 1957 
17. HOUSE OF HEARTACHE Cathy Carr (Fraternity 782) 1957 
18. PRESENTS FROM THE PAST Cathy Carr (Fraternity 782) 1957 
19. DOLL BABY Cathy Carr (Fraternity 793) 1958 
20. DON'T COME TO MY PARTY Cathy Carr (Fraternity 793) 1958 
21. TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM Cathy Carr (Roulette 4107) 1958 
22. FIRST ANNIVERSARY Cathy Carr (Roulette 4125) 1958 
23. WITH LOVE Cathy Carr (Roulette 4125) 1958 
24. I'M GONNA CHANGE HIM Cathy Carr (Roulette 4152) 1959 
25. THE LITTLE THINGS YOU DO Cathy Carr (Roulette 4152) 1959 
26. SHY Cathy Carr (Roulette 4187) 1959 
27. PERSONAL SECRET Cathy Carr (Roulette 4187) 1959 
28. LITTLE SISTER Cathy Carr (Roulette 4219) 1959 
29. DARK RIVER Cathy Carr (Roulette 4219) 1959 
30. WHAT DO I DO NOW Cathy Carr (Roulette 4248) 1960

CD 2
1. GOLDEN LOCKET Cathy Carr (Roulette 4296) 1960 
2. I WANT TO BE YOUR PET Cathy Carr (Roulette 4296) 1960 
3. SOMEONE TOLD YOU A LIE Cathy Carr (Roulette 4323) 1961 
4. BASEBALL HE LOVES Cathy Carr (Roulette 4367) 1961 
5. I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU Cathy Carr (Roulette 4383) 1961 
6. YOU'RE BREAKING MY HEART Cathy Carr (Roulette 4383) 1961 
7. FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW Cathy Carr (Smash 1726) 1961 
8. NEIN, NEIN, FRAULEIN Cathy Carr (Smash 1726) 1961 
9. SHOULD I BELIEVE HIM Cathy Carr (Laurie 3133) 1962 
10. SAILOR BOY Cathy Carr (Laurie 3147) 1962 
11. NEXT TIME THE BAND PLAYS A WALTZ Cathy Carr (Laurie 3147) 1962 
12. DARKTOWN STRUTTERS' BALL Cathy Carr (From the album "Ivory Tower" Fraternity F-1005) 1957 
13. LOOKING FOR A BOY Cathy Carr (From the album "Ivory Tower" Fraternity F-1005) 1957 
14. AFTER I SAY I'M SORRY Cathy Carr (From the album "Ivory Tower" Fraternity F-1005) 1957 
15. DOODLE DEE DO Cathy Carr (From the album "Ivory Tower" Fraternity F-1005) 1957 
16. LET THEM TALK Cathy Carr (From the album "Ivory Tower" Fraternity F-1005) 1957 
17. ANCIENT HISTORY Cathy Carr (From the album "Ivory Tower" Fraternity F-1005) 1957 
18. IT'S NO MYSTERY Cathy Carr (From the album "Ivory Tower" Fraternity F-1005) 1957 
19. I'M NOBODY'S BABY Cathy Carr (From the album "Shy" Roulette R/SR25077) 1959 
20. FIND ME Cathy Carr (From the album "Shy" Roulette R/SR25077) 1959 
21. SO NEAR YET SO FAR Cathy Carr (From the album "Shy" Roulette R/SR25077) 1959 
22. MY YOUNG AND FOOLISH HEART Cathy Carr (From the album "Shy" Roulette R/SR25077) 1959 
23. BLAME IT ON MY YOUTH Cathy Carr (From the album "Shy" Roulette R/SR25077) 1959 
24. PLEASE BE KIND Cathy Carr (From the album "Shy" Roulette R/SR25077) 1959 
25. KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR Cathy Carr (From the album "Shy" Roulette R/SR25077) 1959 
26. FOR THE FIRST TIME (I'VE FALLEN IN LOVE) Cathy Carr (From the album "Shy" Roulette R/SR25077) 1959 
27. TEACH ME TONIGHT Cathy Carr (From the album "Shy" Roulette R/SR25077) 1959 
28. I'M BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT Cathy Carr (From the album "Shy" Roulette R/SR25077) 1959