Lesley Gore

“[Ever Since] is as mature and wistful as her early records were brash and bright.” -New York Times

Lesley Gore was a junior at Englewood, NJ’s Dwight School for Girls when she stepped into a Manhattan recording studio with a young trumpet player who was trying his hand at production. The trumpet player was Quincy Jones, and the song that came out of this session was “It’s My Party (I’ll Cry If I Want To).” Rushed out ahead of schedule, the single was the Number 1 record in the country four short weeks later. The two collaborated for several more sides which made her the most successful solo artist of the “girl group” era: “Judy’s Turn to Cry,” “She’s A Fool,” “Maybe I Know,” and the iconic “You Don’t Own Me.” Suddenly thrust into stardom, Gore chose college over the television and movie contracts she was being offered, limiting her appearances to weekends. Her popularity continued throughout the 1960s, and the next decades saw her outside the recording studio: on television (Catwoman’s sidekick in the 1960s Batman series), as a songwriter (an Oscar nomination for her song on the soundtrack to Fame), and Broadway (cast member of Smokey Joe’s Cafe).

After nearly 30 years, she returned to recording in 2005 with Ever Since, a sparse, organic record which focuses on Gore’s captivating voice and brilliant songwriting. Her voice, burnished with wisdom and experience, illuminates original tunes as well as revised classics in a mesmerizing way.

“Gore is a wonderful singer. Her teenage voice is still readily evident, but again, it has matured exquisitely …..  [read the rest here]” – Rick Mason, City Pages 1/6/2010

• American Jewish World covers Gore’s post-girl group life wonderfully here

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