Gogi Grant and Songs from 'The Big Beat'

The year 1958 was a busy one for vocalist Gogi Grant. With a new contract from RCA Victor, the talented singer was soon at work on three solo LPs, three musicals in studio versions, various singles, and one film, which resulted in this EP.

The Big Beat was a teen exploitation flick that somehow shoehorned 16 musical acts into its 82-minute running time. I haven't seen the film - copies are apparently scarce - but the plot had something to do with a young fellow trying to convince his record-mogul father to sign new acts that would appeal to the teen market. Despite this premise, the musical acts in view are almost entirely old-school standbys, many of whom would not have been considered hip 20 years before. Hey, kids, want to hear some Russ Morgan and Freddy Martin?

The only quasi-rock acts on hand were Fats Domino, the Del-Vikings and the Diamonds (who were actually a cover group, but let's not quibble). Grant turned up as a well-known vocalist and apparently sang the four tunes on this EP, which may be the only vinyl souvenir of the film.

Gogi Grant in The Big Beat with that old rock-n-roller, Harry James

Grant does well by the songs. While not memorable, all are presentable. The anonymous big-band backing on "Lazy Love" has faux-R&B touches for a more up-to-date sound. "I Waited So Long" is a pretty ballad that elicits an impassioned vocal from Grant. It has a good arrangement, too, which is more than can be said for "Call Me," which employs a chorus to coo "ding-a-ling" as Gogi emotes her plea for telephonic contact. "You've Never Been in Love" is another pleasant pre-fab ballad; Grant's vocal skill makes the most of this material.

As a bonus, I've added Grant's two hit records to the download, made for the small Era label in 1955. Ironically both songs, "The Wayward Wind" and "Suddenly There's a Valley," are superior to the RCA material.

"The Wayward Wind" is a second cousin lyrically to Lerner and Loewe's "Wand'rin' Star" from the Paint Your Wagon score. It was a major hit for Grant. "Suddenly There's a Valley" is one of a number of inspirational songs popular during the period. Here, too, Gogi is effectively impassioned, and Buddy Bregman's backing is good.

Grant sued Era to get out of her contract, went with RCA in 1958, then was on to Liberty a year later, where she completed just one LP. Afterward, there were only a few albums for small labels.

Throughout this period, she had some terrible luck with art departments. The photo above isn't especially flattering, but check out her first Era LP and this monstrosity from Liberty.

By the way, The Big Beat was reportedly released as a double-feature with another teensploitation film. Summer Love. You can find the soundtrack to that epic on my other blog. Also there: a new post with Grant's studio recording of the Kiss Me, Kate songs with Howard Keel and Anne Jeffreys.

Billboard ad from April 1958