Truly Smith was born Josephine Taylor in 1950, in Dallam in Warrington, in the North West of England, and her interest in music began when she worked behind the counter in Dawson's Record Shop. She also sang at the Club del Sol in Manchester, impressing the club's owner Harvey Livingstone, and in 1966 she auditioned for Noel Walker, who was an A&R man for Decca Records. Decca offered her a contract, and chose the name Truly Smith for her first recording with them, Tony Hatch's 'Love Is Me, Love Is You', which was backed with 'My Smile Is Just A Frown Turned Upside Down'. In June 1966 she released the Les Reed/Barry Mason ballad 'I Love Him', with the traditional 'Buttermilk Hill' on the flip, and this was followed by another ballad, this time from Italy, with 'You Are The Love Of My Life'/'The Merry-go-round Is Slowing You Down'. In 1966, the French Decca label decided to issue an E.P. of four songs, including both sides of her debut single, plus 'You Are The Love Of My Life' and 'He Belongs To Me'. This French release coincided with Smith having more exposure across Europe, including an appearance on 'The Dave Berry Show', which was screened on Belgian T.V. Her next UK single was in 1967, with Bacharach/David's 'Windows And Doors', coupled with 'Take A Broken Heart', and this was followed by another Motown song, 'I Wanna Go Back There Again', which was one of her finest records. Her final release on Decca was 'The Boy From Chelsea', with Goffin/King's 'Little Man With A Stick' on the b-side. Despite recording some fine records for the label, Decca didn't renew her contract, and so she signed to MGM Records for one final single in 1968, the Flett/Fletcher song 'This Is The First Time', backed with Mike Hurst's 'Taking Time Off'. This was to be her last single, after which she left the music industry to move into teaching, later becoming Headmistress of a school in Alnwick, Northumberland. As there isn't currently a comprehensive collection of the work of Truly Smith, then here it is.
Track listing
01 Love Is Me, Love Is You (Single 1966)
02 My Smile Is Just A Frown (Turned Upside Down) (b-side of 'Love Is Me, Love Is You')
03 I Love Him (single 1966)
04 Buttermilk Hill (b-side of 'I Love Him')
05 Windows And Doors (single 1967)
06 Take A Broken Heart (b-side of 'Windows And Doors')
07 You Are The Love Of My Life (single 1967)
08 The Merry-Go-Round Is Slowing You Down (b-side of 'You Are The Love Of My Life')
09 Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (single 1967)
10 I Wanna Go Back There Again (single 1967)
11 He Belongs To Me (b-side of 'Love Is Me, Love Is You' French EP 1967)
12 The Boy From Chelsea (single 1967)
13 Little Man With A Stick (b-side of 'The Boy From Chelsea')
14 This Is The First Time (single 1968)
15 Taking Time Off (b-side of 'This Is The First Time')
For more information on the career of Truly Smith then check out this great site trulysmith.webs.com
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