Claudine Clark - Party Lights

Claudine Clark was the one-hit wonder responsible for the 1962 smash "Party Lights," and she was more responsible for it than most other female singers would have been: she also wrote the music and lyrics herself. Born in Macon, GA, Clark grew up in Philadelphia and received formal musical training at the local Coombs College. She recorded her first single, "Angel of Happiness," in 1958 for the Herald label, but it failed to attract much attention, as did a brief stint at Gotham. Clark subsequently caught on with Chancellor, a label best known for teen idols like Fabian and Frankie Avalon. Her first single, "Disappointed," initially flopped, but when DJs started playing the Clark-penned flip side, "Party Lights," it became a huge hit. Sung from the point of view of a teenage girl ordered to her room while her friends were out having a good time, "Party Lights" struck a chord and shot into the Top Five on both the pop and R&B charts. Bizarrely, Chancellor followed it with the morbid "Walkin' Through a Cemetery," which stalled Clark's commercial momentum; by the time "Walk Me Home From the Party" appeared to continue the story line, the moment had passed, and neither it nor "The Telephone Game" could recapture the public's attention. Clark later attempted to compose a rock & roll operetta, and also recorded for Swan under the alias Joy Dawn, all to little avail. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Category:

Education

Tags:

• 1962
• pop
• rock

[Tigermoon1950]

I always like this song. Claudine had a kick ass voice...great shots of the kids dancing (American Bandstand?)

[74sodapop]

Love Party Lights the soul of 62. Amazing.Sounds like the later Girl Groups,  probably an influence.

[JimmieBWaycross]

They are swinging.

[luvureally]

@SuperHAMILTON91 Looks like they're doing the slop.(George Jefferson dance)

[SuperHAMILTON91]

Do anybody know the dance that the couples were on this video? I remember my brother

dance to this song. Help! 1962

[whsrocknroll]

Great Recording. the voice, the mix, the song itselt,.was awsome. One of those 45's that stood apart from all the others..

[HollywoodCreeper]

Sounds a little like the monster mash.

[pita040849]

THIS IS THE GREATEST - THANKS FOR DOWNLOADING

[kavedog]

Love this and the memories :)

[snowsbeau]

Awesome song!!

[trollymay]

this may be my favorite song of all time and the alternate version that has since surfaced is a triple gas!

[LOCKED121]

I see the lights. I see the party lights! Betty and Sue! Fantastic- give me another drink!