My Boy Lollipop (album)
| My Boy Lollipop | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 1964 (North America) | |||
| Genre | Pop, Ska | |||
| Label | Smash (North America) | |||
| Millie Small chronology | ||||
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| Singles from My Boy Lollipop | ||||
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My Boy Lollipop was the first album for Jamaican singer Millie Small and her only album for Smash Records. The title track has been credited by NME with sparking the popularity of reggae and ska, as well as opening doors for other genres of Jamaican music on the global stage.[1]
The album peaked at No. 132 on the Billboard 200 on Aug. 29, 1964. The album spawned two hits on the Billboard Hot 100 that same year: "My Boy Lollipop," peaked at No. 2 on the on July 4th, and “Sweet William” peaked at No. 40 on Sept. 5th.[2] The single "Don't You Know" did not chart.[citation needed]
Cover Art
[edit]On the front and back of the album, Millie is called "the Blue Beat Girl". Ernest Ranglin is credited for the accompaniment and direction.
The back of the album cover contains an essay about Millie that includes information about her early life in Jamaica. It claims that a talent contest led to a recording career and hit singles in Jamaica, which led to her discovery by British record producer Chris Blackwell. According to the essay, Blackwell then brought her to London to promote her talent and a new type of Jamaican music called "Ska." The essay also mistakenly says that she was born on October 8, 1948; she was actually born on October 6, 1947.[3] The essay's conclusion tells of the success of her 1964 hit "My Boy Lollipop" in the US and how it made her one of the most sought-after performers by producers of television and stage, and adds that Millie had also finished a movie role.
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "My Boy Lollipop" | Johnny Roberts, Robert Spencer | 2:01 |
| 2. | "Oh, Henry" | Millie Small, Johnny Edwards | 1:55 |
| 3. | "Sugar Dandy" | Derrick Harriott | 2:00 |
| 4. | "Since You've Been Gone" | Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield | 2:30 |
| 5. | "He's Mine" | Zola Taylor | 2:00 |
| 6. | "What Am I Living For" | Fred Jay, Art Harris | 2:45 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sweet William" | Buddy Kaye, Philip Springer | 1:45 |
| 2. | "Bluey Louey" | Mike Bradley | 1:50 |
| 3. | "Don't You Know" | Millie Small, Tony Thomas | 1:52 |
| 4. | "Tom Hark" | 1:40 | |
| 5. | "Until You're Mine" | Harry Robinson | 2:15 |
| 6. | "I'm in Love Again" | Fats Domino | 1:55 |
Charts
[edit]Album - Billboard (United States)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Billboard Top LPs | 132 |
Singles - Billboard (United States)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | "My Boy Lollipop" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 2 |
| UK Singles Chart | 2 | ||
| "Sweet William" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 40 | |
| UK Singles Chart | 30 |
References
[edit]- ^ El Hunt (6 May 2020). "How Millie Small's 'My Boy Lollipop' kickstarted reggae and ska (and apparently featured Rod Stewart)". nme.com. NME. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ Gab Ginsberg (6 May 2020). "Millie Small, 'My Boy Lollipop' Singer, Has Died". billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ Chris Salewicz (6 May 2020). "Millie Small obituary". theguardian.com. The Guardian. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
