Softly, Softly: The Singles Collection 1954-62

EDITORIAL REVIEWS
Ruby Murray was a singer from Northern Ireland who became one of the most popular artists in the UK, becoming ubiquitous on television variety shows as she racked up ten UK hits between 1954 and '59, and making chart history when she had five records in the Top 20 in the same week in March 1955. Making her TV debut in Ireland in 1947 at the age of 12, she toured the UK in a revue in 1954, which brought her a regular spot on UK TV, and a recording contract with EMI. This 58-track 2-CD collection comprises most of the A and B sides of her singles during this era on EMI's Columbia label (some B sides were omitted through lack of space). It features all her hits, including the UK No. 1 Softly, Softly and the Top 10 entries Heartbeat, Happy Days And Lonely Nights, Let Me Go Lover, Evermore, I'll Come When You Call and Goodbye Jimmy Goodbye and If Anyone Finds This I Love You on which she duets with Anne Warren. It includes performances with the orchestras of Ray Martin, Norrie Paramor, Eric Jupp and Frank Barber, and recordings alongside Diana Decker, Ray Burns, and Ronnie Harris plus duet recordings with Norman Wisdom and Brendan O'Dowda. It's an entertaining and evocative tribute to an artist who was regarded very much as one of the nation's sweethearts.