Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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LULU

(b Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie, 3 Nov. '48, Glasgow) Scottish pop singer. Led band the Glen Eagles in clubs at 15; changed name to Lulu and the Luvvers; the first Scottish hit of the 'beat' era was their cover of the Isley Bros' 'Shout', no. 7 in May '64. 'Leave A Little Love' was no. 8 the following year; she might have become a significant singer but went solo early '66 to become a popular if mediocre entertainer instead. Four more top ten hits '67--9 incl. 'Boom Bang-A-Bang' at no. 2 '69; she was a TV personality in the '70s and was mostly absent from the charts; only top ten was David Bowie song 'The Man Who Sold The World', no. 3 '74. In the USA she went straight to no. 1 '67 with title song from film To Sir With Love, which she sang in the soundtrack and which did not chart at home. Her only other top 40 items in the USA were 'Best Of Both Worlds' '67, which also did not chart in UK; 'Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool For You Baby)' '69 from LP New Routes on Atco, made in Muscle Shoals, prod. by all of Atlantic's talent: Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin. It reached no. 88 USA, did not chart in UK, where the single did not reach the top 40. She was married '69--73 to Bee Gee Maurice Gibb. She made LPs Don't Take Love For Granted on Rocket '79, Lulu on Alfa '81.