Tammy St. John - Dark Shadows and Empty Hallways

This song was written by Fangette Willett.

From "No Rainbows For Me - The Fangette Willett Story" by Phil Milstein:

"A girl named Tammy St. John did the first version of "Dark Shadows And Empty Hallways". She was from London, and 14 years old at the time. I was in shock when I heard her version, because I didn't picture the song the way she was doing it. They made the arrangements so very heavy, where I had made them very light. I don't know what I was thinking, but I knew that I wasn't ready for her version. I got used to it, though, and then wrote to Tammy St. John - not knowing that she was 14 years old - and said, "I don't know who you are, but I want to thank you for the lovely version that you did." She wrote back, thinking that I was a man, of all things. I was too embarrassed to tell her that she had made a terrible mistake. I thought she was older, and she thought I was a man!"

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  Music

[terrymod]

This might have been 1964. I played drums in Tammy's band when she first started out and knew her and her family who lived not too far from me in Elm Park, Essex. I thought she might be another Lulu she had a really powerful voice,a great range and she was as cute as could be....We were both 14 and I was really sweet on her. I would have loved to have gone on the road with her band but parents and O levels got in the way.Thank you for the memories Tammy,

Terryxx

[libraquaricorn]

Wow..great story! Thank you for sharing it.

[terrymod]

you are very welcome...how did you manage to gig this old gem out ?

I also had Tammy's other recording of Hey Hey Hey with the Beatle's "Boys" on the B side...

I wonder what happened to this record ?

[libraquaricorn]

It's been available on various compilations over the years, among them a brilliant compilation compiled by the British pop band Saint Etienne: "Songs for Mario's Cafe". It's packed with rare gems like "Can't See For Looking" by the Bobcats, "Music Box" by Ruth Copeland and "She's Not Like Any Girl" by the Rockin' Berries. Highly recommended! I've been trying to find the b-side for Dark Shadows.., a gentle and sad little song called "I Mustn't Cry", but I've had no luck with that so far.

[jameycruz]

Marvelous,do you know the year? This is a lost masterpiece.Great post no one should forget this gem.

[libraquaricorn]

Thank you! The year was 1965. In my opinion

this performance is so powerfull it should have made her famous. It did not. This was in fact her third single. The other singles were very different in style - like they were searching for her thing or whatever - but none of the other tracks that I have heard have made an impression on me. Dark Shadows and Emty Hallways, however, made the world stop the first time I heard it. And it still does.

[SilentlySuffocating]

I wonder if Bernard Butler found inspiration for writing Duffy's material here, great song. :-)

[timewind76]

If Mr. Harris is truly head of Disney music it is a bitter irony that he could craft such delightful magic here and now be in charge of such utter banality.

[boogiejuice]

Johnny Harris.

[mpjd1955]

This is one hell of a song for a 14 year old to sing. It was released in 1964 & was arranged by a man who would later be a much sought after arranger, working with every big named artist on both sides of the pond, Johnny Harris, who from what I understand, lives in America & heads the music division of Disney

[Pete Cresswell]

First time that I have heard this song, in fact to my shame it is the first time that I have heard of Tammy. Really enjoyed it and I will again, I love stories like this about artists from the 60s, why didn't they make it big, what happened to them and are they still going?? Anyone got any answers I would love to hear about Tammy.

[Vic Armitechea]

The Bird ,is a Wonderful, (USA) and I Made her voice, Alive. she s Jill St Jonn @ 15 or So. Pls Eat Yvor hearts out.

[teak43]

FYI, Boyd Rice turned this into a great song called "Solitude".

[Vic Armitechea]

Amazing . Im 49 L.A. Man. At the time remember , the album, here come the Girls ;-British Lovelies . I just love her Song and I found it Now., sweet. and Real nice Pals....Enjoy , close your eyes.

[formsofthingsunknown]

Wow oh wow I never heard this till now. I wonder if Wally Stott did the arrangement, it reminds me of Scott Walker's early solo records that Stott worked on. Great song!

[Christian Gale]

This really should be recognised as a 60's classic. Its a travesty its not widely known. I only found it on St Ettiennes 'Songs from Marios Cafe' - >They brought me here!