An occasional series of articles, reviewing Jackie’s work as a songwriter, and looking at the many hundreds of recordings that have been made of her songs. This time we look at one of Jackie’s most recorded works, many people’s all-time Number 1 DeShannon song, When You Walk In the Room, Part 2.

This article takes the form of a transatlantic conversation between Peter Lerner, in England, who owns the vinyl and CDs, and William George, in the United States, who is hearing many of the version for the first time. The records are rated from 1-10, 10 being a perfect score.

PL: Here’s a familiar voice to us oldies, on a Liberty album from the 60s. It’s Del Shannon. A bit of a chugging beat and quite nice harmonies, but not a lot of imagination. Sounds as if Del’s just giving it a walk through, without a great deal of excitement. Doesn’t do much for me. 4 points maximum.
WG: Well, I like Del’s voice, and it’s a good, solid arrangement. But you’re right, it does sound like a great song used as album filler. 6 points.

PL: Ah, this is good. Rumbling start, confident voice. And whose is that unmistakable vocal doing the backings? Good feel, good arrangement. It’s Karla Bonoff on a 1979 Columbia album, with one Jackie DeShannon providing back-up vocals. Jackie would approve of this one. So do I. 8 points.
WG: Great track, featuring the best L.A. session players of the day. But I find Karla a little bland (Linda Ronstadt could’ve had a huge hit singing to this same track), and what’s the point of having Jackie sing backup if she’s mixed so low no one can tell? 7 points.

PL: Now who’s this tough guy? He’s the winner of England’s Melody Maker Award for Brightest Newcomer of 1963, that’s who. Billy J. Kramer, with the Dakotas. Nice Liverpool accent, Billy, but you’ve not made much of an effort to master the words. The guys are trying to do a sort of Latin beat behind the vocal, bit it’s neither one thing nor the other. 5 points.
WG: Very garage-y, but not enough to make it really rock. Would have been better if it was taken at a faster tempo. Pretty standard. 5 points.

PL: Lisa Burns. She looks like one of Charlie’s Angels on this late 1970s album cover, but she’s got a piercing voice. Sounds like she’s singing through clenched teeth. Gets a bit soulful as it goes on, with a few unexpected high notes. More fun than most. 6 points I’d say.
WG: She reminds me of what I call “70s New York tough-chick rock” (Ellen Foley, Ellen Shipley, Carolyn Mas.) The arrangement makes me think of Meatloaf for some reason (the singer, not the food). Interesting, but not particularly good. 6 points from me as well.

PL: This is a confident vocal. Nice pace, good sound, a bit familiar, but then again not. The CD says it’s Mike Pender’s Searchers. Now Bill, do you want me to tell you how the Searchers split into two bands and now they both tour England singing the same songs? Mike’s the original lead singer, and you can’t fault this 1990s revival. A good 8 points.
WG: My first impression was “what’s the point?” But it’s grown on me. Really solid rendition. Vintage yet fresh. 7 points.

PL: No, I’m not playing you the same one twice. OK, it is The Searchers, and it is Mike Pender singing, but this is the Pye label original which helped to make our Jackie’s fortune. I’ve heard it so often that it does absolutely nothing for me now, but yes it is a good record. So 7 points.
WG: Well, this is a classic, isn’t it? Copies Jackie’s version note-for-note, so how can it go wrong? 9 points.

PL: This isn’t more Searchers now, is it? Well, I had to check the album cover, which tells me that it’s Ian and the Zodiacs, a somewhat obscure Liverpool band. The sound’s a bit thin and I wouldn’t go out of my way to hear this again, despite the fact that the album’s mega rare. And no, that’s not a trick ending; the needle stuck I’m afraid. 4 points and I’m being generous.
WG: My, these boys sound happy singing this rather sad song. A lightweight Searchers copy. Nothing bad here, but superfluous. The most original aspect is the skips at the end. 5 points.

PL: Getting a bit boring now. Sorry. This is elevator music. Well, actually it’s The Ventures instrumental version. Completely predictable. 3 points.
WG: Maybe so, but I wouldn’t mind getting stuck in an elevator if this was playing. And it makes a great karaoke track! 6 points.

PL: Suddenly bells are ringing. Or as we say in French, “Les Cloches Sonnaient.” This gentilhomme is Claude Francois and he’s obviously enjoying himself. I wonder if Jackie wrote these lyrics? 5 points.
WG: This is great!!!! I wish I could decipher the lyrics better. A traditional but thoroughly enjoyable outing 8 points.

PL: Well Bill, when I saw that one of the former Byrds had tackled our song I thought, “This is it! A great jingly jangly guitar version will ensue.” But it’s the wrong Byrd. We’ve got Chris Hillman here, and not Roger McGuinn. Pleasant on the ear country music. Nothing special I’m afraid. 6 undemanding points.
WG: I happen to think that Hillman is the right Byrd And I think this is a pretty great 90s version of the song. Energetic, faithful arrangement. 8 points.

PL: And finally. This is a bit different. Someone’s thought about an arrangement. Strings and everything. Good voice, good harmonies - a bit theatrical. It’s Child and it was a UK hit version way back when, but nobody seems to remember it. 8 points.
WG: This is nice. Sort of an update of the Phil Spector sound. Smooth and pretty. 8 points again.

So, the winners this issue are The Searchers and Child with 16 points each, followed by Karla Bonoff and Mike Pender’s Searchers with 15 points each.
At the conclusion of this series, the JDSAS hopes to make available to members the versions with the highest scores. Stay tuned for more ratings in the next issue.

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