Little Peggy March - I WILL FOLLOW HIM (1963)

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED - (RCA Victor 8139) When fourteen year old Peggy March (Margaret Annemarie Battavio) walked into New York City's RCA Victor Recording Studios in early January 1963, little did she know that she was making musical history. Just three months later when her recording of 'I Will Follow Him' hit the top of the charts for three weeks in a row, she achieved the title of being the youngest female to have a #1 hit record. What many people do not know is that the tune was originally composed in 1961 by Frank Pourcel and Paul Mauriat who used the pseudonyms, J.W. Stole and Del Roma. Entitled, 'Chariot', Pourcel recorded an orchestral version in 1961. Then in 1962 with French lyrics written by Jacques Plante, singer Petula Clark recorded a version which garnered her a gold record in Europe. Later that year, the song was adapted by Arthur Altman with new English lyrics by Norman Gimbel. It would eventually make its way to producers, Hugo & Luigi at RCA Victor Records where young Miss March was signed to a recording contract and the rest was history. While Peggy March recorded at RCA Victor for seven years until 1969, her hit making momentum was apparently much more lucrative when she picked up and moved to Germany selling millions of records in Europe. Later relocating back to the United States, Peggy March is still performing today.

[robertdoherty]

Originally an instrumental called “Chariot” released by Franck Pourcel in 1961, Petula Clark released a vocal version……in French! Before ‘’Downtown’’ she had a busy European career recording many records in French.

[mistery-ed]

One of those songs that literally jumped off the radio when I was a kid. Loved it from first hearing it.

[kevingoins]

Powerful voice! Her later works (Soul Coaxing).are gems

[countrypaul]

How time changes things - I couldn't stand this when new, but find it interesting now. Thanks for the stereo copy!

[stanleye.]

Thank you, Mr. Anthony Reichardt... one of the *best* video-photo montages of this particular song... likewise, much appreciate of the effort you put into the recording details, etc., in the description... and a *really* big thank you for *not* plastering any next-up, preview links, website addresses and/or subscribe prompts before the video/song had completely finished. Again -- excellent production on this one. 🎬📽

I like to know when & where certain events (live, etc.) took place... and this saved me a lot of time from having to go to Wikipedia, etc. 🤓

[seansweeney]

truly a masterwork... and probably one of the best sounding masters I've ever heard... just a moment that can't be matched... I can't figure out what they're doing to her voice... it sounds double tracked, but I don’t think it is... with a LOT of punchy mids... it literally sounds like she's pegging the meters singing this... but there's some subtle filtration, Maybe courtesy of a very subtle tape echo, that is also being pegged, by little Peggy's BIG voice. I'd give $100 to know what tricks are being used on this one... it's pure awesome... better than other masters from the same gear... someone knew the board really well... or what passed for a board back then. lol

[rebeccafriedrichwilhelm]

Thank you so much for upload. You make allways a great job. Thanks

[oddmanout]

Very clean find of this track. Great work Anthony. I remember another channel had this, but this recording is seldom found on youtube.

[stevehoffman]

I'd sure love to hear the "single voice" version some day.

[seansweeney]

ok I figured out why her voice sounds like that. the music was done live on the fly... I'm guessing they had a three track... done in a large studio live, she was positioned in the middle of the orchestra in a small glass isolation booth. the sound is the short regeneration of her voice in that booth. recorded live in stereo, all except for the operatic vocals, which were dubbed on the remaining track the next day. no chance to mess up the mix, all done live, that's why the master glows... no generational losses as with the overdubs that a lot of groups did... just that one take in that ambient big room, with little peggy in a glass bubble in the middle. and a little plate reverb for flavor.