Talk:Petula Clark

Tony

Tony Hatch? Is that the same guy who wrote the theme for Crossroads? Mike H 18:19, 26 July 2004 (UTC)

Yes, it is . . . user:SFTVLGUY2 — Preceding undated comment added 00:52, 9 November 2004 (UTC)

Revert

I've reverted a bunch of recent changes made by user:SFTVLGUY2. It looks like a complete rewrite, with some new material added, but all links and formatting lost in the process. Please feel free to re-incorporate the added information, but please don't destroy the hard work of others with your edits. Jgm 18:52, 8 November 2004 (UTC)

It was not my intention to "destroy" anyone's work. As a first-time visitor to Wikipedia, I thought I was properly editing the entry for Petula Clark by adding considerably more than "some" new material. If anyone is guilt of "destroying" someone's hard work, it's Jgm, who removed everything I added by reverting the entry to its original and less-than-comprehensive form! User:SFTVLGUY2 — Preceding undated comment added 23:02, 8 November 2004 (UTC)

Thank you for restoring the links and formatting to the article, and for your expansion. Jgm 11:47, 9 November 2004 (UTC)

Your article is wonderful, Tom. — Preceding unsigned comment added by TrottieTrue (talk • contribs) 12:31, 22 November 2004 (UTC)

Gay Icon Project

In my effort to merge the now-deleted list from the article Gay icon to the Gay icons category, I have added this page to the category. I engaged in this effort as a "human script", adding everyone from the list to the category, bypassing the fact-checking stage. That is what I am relying on you to do. Please check the article Gay icon and make a judgment as to whether this person or group fits the category. By distributing this task from the regular editors of one article to the regular editors of several articles, I believe that the task of fact-checking this information can be expedited. Thank you very much. Philwelch 20:20, 24 March 2005 (UTC)

I do not see anything to support the notion of Petula Clark is a "gay icon". Can anyone else provide a link or any other source to support this contention? If not, I recommend the category be removed. 23skidoo 16:11, 5 September 2005 (UTC)

I DO NOT think Petula Clark is a GAY ICON at all. SHe is not a diva-type person either privately or as a performer and is a wholesome, charming very much family orientated performer . You only have to see her movies and hear her songs to recognise this. Unlike the flamboyant Dame Shirley Bassey or the 'racked with a horrendous private life' Liza Minelli, Petula is down to earth and very normal. She should be removed from this list. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.133.11.62 (talk) 02:54, 26 January 2006 (UTC)

Since everyone who has commented here seems to be in agreement, I've removed the category from the article. Graham/pianoman87 talk 05:01, 26 January 2006 (UTC)

Clark and Belafonte

" During a duet of an anti-war song she had composed, "On the Path of Glory," with guest Harry Belafonte, Clark innocently touched his arm, much to the dismay of a representative from Chrysler, the show's sponsor. When he insisted they substitute a different take, with Clark and Belafonte standing well away from each other, she and husband Woolf, producer of the show, refused and delivered the finished program to NBC with the touch intact. It aired to high ratings and much critical acclaim, and marked the first time a man and woman of different races touched on American television." I just had to add that I was so surprised to read that Clark's touch of Belofonte's arm was disapproved and the first ever seen on American televison between people of different racial backgrounds as late as 1968 --especially since they were also singing an Anti-War song. Great that Petula Clark and Harry Belafonte refused a more 'acceptable' take. At least most of the American viewers didn't share the same absurdity of the unwarranted dismay of the Chrysler company. Tari 22:09, 4 April 2005 (UTC)

Is that what that was about? I came here wondering what on earth the article was talking about, i.e. why this innocent touch of the arm was significant. That it was a racial thing didn't even occur to me.

I think it might be advisable to mention what the issue was in the text. This is especially true for non-American readers, who may have no idea what race relations were like in the U.S. in the 1960s. --Saforrest 00:47, 31 January 2006 (UTC)

When was the first interracial kiss (on Star Trek?)--MartinUK (talk) 15:54, 10 January 2008 (UTC)

The Kirk/Uhuru kiss aired in Nvember 1968. Wkharrisjr (talk) 02:37, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

The first on-screen interracial kiss was in A Taste of Honey in 1961.[User:Alberich4|Alberich4]] (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 22:33, 30 July 2020 (UTC)

References

I've put a tag there at the top of the article to see if someone can supply a reputable source for 'over 70 million albums sold'. If a proper reference can be located, please remove the tag from the top of the article. Proto t c 15:23, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

I can't give a source for the 75 million records sold, but it is a figure which has been used for well over 20 years in articles about Petula. Since then her entire catalogue has been released on cd, and she has made more recordings. Recently her discs have made the charts in France, UK, Belgium, and possibly elsewhere; she has toured extensively, and been involved in the promotion of some of the discs. Clearly as the figures say "over 75 million", they are still correct, but i can't imagine that the wouldn't be over 80 Million by now... does anyone else agree? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.167.58.198 (talk) 18:46, 16 November 2009 (UTC)

Clark and the Carpenters

The information about Petula Clark discovering the Carpenters appears to be apochryphal. According to the duo's biographer, Ray Coleman, the Carpenters were already signed to A&M (and had released an album) when the label arranged for their appearance at the premiere of Goodbye, Mr. Chips in late 1969. They certainly weren't well known then, however, and Clark may have believed that she was hearing undiscovered talent. RBrown 09:39, 16 January 2006 (UTC)

I have removed the information: that seems to be a reliable source. Graham/pianoman87 talk 13:47, 16 January 2006 (UTC)

Thanks. I've edited the information in the Carpenters article as well. RBrown 15:55, 16 January 2006 (UTC)

On January 11, 2002, I attended a concert by Clark at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach, CA. She was introduced by Richard Carpenter who, in his opening remarks, stated that he and his sister owed her a debt of gratitude for having brought them to the attention of Herb Alpert. I assume when info like this comes straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak, it can be accepted as accurate. SFTVLGUY2 — Preceding undated comment added 13:10, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

I am not doubting your account of the 2002 concert, but even first person accounts such as you describe can be faulty when removed by more than 30 years from an event. If the Goodbye, Mr. Chips premiere occurred in late 1969 and if that was where Clark first heard the Carpenters perform, then no, she would not have been the one to bring them to Alpert's attention. They had already been signed to Alpert's label earlier that year and had already released the Offering LP by then. RBrown 03:59, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

The early years

Isn't it more likely that the mention of the U.S. Army should really be the British Army at El Alamein? She was very famous in the U.K., not very famous in the U.S.A., and the U.S. Army wasn't at El Alamein (certainly not in force) SteveCrook 01:33, 31 January 2006 (UTC)

Reference to the U.S. Army is accurate, as documented in "This is My Song: A Biography of Petula Clark" by Andrea Kon, published by W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd., 1983 SFTVLGUY2 — Preceding undated comment added 14:21, 17 March 2006 (UTC)

OK, thanks. My wrong assumption. SteveCrook 00:32, 18 March 2006 (UTC)

Nevertheless, the U.S. Army has never fought at El Alamein or anywhere else in Egypt. Just because you have a reference that says "U.S. Army" means that that reference is incorrect. There is no reason for swallowing fallacious references whole.

There were two major battles fought in and around El Alamein during World War II during 1940 - 42, and the Allied Armies there included parts of the British Army, the Australian Army, the army of New Zealand, the Indian Army, and the South African Army. Their opponents were part of the Italian Army and the Afrika Korps of Germany.

In North Africa, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Air Forces fought in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, with occasionally some long-range bombers that went to Libya to be able to bomb oilfields in Romania. The U.S. Navy also went to the western Mediterranean Sea to support American troops ashore, including in Italy and southern France, too, but never to the eastern Mediterranean. The whole idea of U.S. Army combat troops being in Egypt is very illogical, historically.
98.67.96.230 (talk) 02:30, 19 September 2012 (UTC)

Few things in this world are so unreliable as a celebrity’s biography. Such works are merely publicity aimed at fans, who want thrills, not facts. They are generally confected by journalists, whose credo is always ‘Don’t get it right, just get it written.’

The International Petula Clark Forum

[1] This is a great, friendly and very active place for fans of Petula Clark to discuss the career and music of the great lady. The forum is administated by someone who has been running the long-standing Original PetulaClark-Listserver at Yahoo Groups for nearly nine years and has been operating this forum since 2005. It would be so nice to see a link included on Petula's Wikipedia page for this wonderful Forum Almil 12:50, 2 February 2007 (UTC)Al

Use of International Dating format

Petula Clark is British. Using U.S. format (month/day/year) dates for this article is inappropriate under WP:DATE, which says:

If the topic itself concerns a specific country, editors may choose to use the date format used in that country. This is useful even if the dates are linked, because new users and users without a Wikipedia account do not have any date preferences set, and so they see whatever format was typed. See Wikipedia:Manual of Style#National varieties of English for more guidance.

Insisting that the article must use U.S. Dating format because the subject has American listeners and owns a house in Miami Beach is just bizarre. --Pete 23:45, 21 March 2007 (UTC)

As the dates have the month in words, both November 15 and 15 November are commonly found in use in Britain. If you stick to the Wikipedia standard then you can choose how to have the date displayed -- SteveCrook 23:58, 21 March 2007 (UTC)

As the reference indicates, users without an account (which is most users, being readers rather than editors) don't have date preferences set, and therefore see the raw format. --Pete 00:14, 22 March 2007 (UTC)

And as they use the month in words, it doesn't really matter. You don't get the same confusion you do with 11/12/06, not being sure if it's December 11th or November 12th -- SteveCrook 01:12, 22 March 2007 (UTC)

It matters to readers who otherwise get the impression that Wikipedia is an American product, when in fact the focus is on internationalisation. Using the same logic, you could argue that using American spellings in a British article is fine, because everyone knows what is meant. --Pete 03:49, 22 March 2007 (UTC)

But as I said before, when the month is spelt out, both forms are in common use in Britain -- SteveCrook 03:55, 22 March 2007 (UTC)

Feel free to amend the Manual of Style accordingly. Be prepared for a lot of resistance. I shall watch with interest. In the meantime, I shall continue to use International Dating format as per WP:DATE. --Pete 13:37, 22 March 2007 (UTC)

Story behind "The Little Shoemaker"

About 10-15 years ago I read a biography of Clark that mentioned that some incident occurred just before she was to record "The Little Shoemaker" in 1952 (I believe it was a minor automobile accident) and she didn't want to go through with it. She was basically forced to and, despite the happy tone of the record, recorded it while glaring at her producer. Of course it then became a big hit, anyway. I think it would be interesting to add this bit of information to either this article or to the article on the song, but I can't do so without a source. Does anyone with a more complete library of Clark resources have a book or magazine article that can be used to cite this? The same article I read so many years ago also mentioned something about Clark not liking "My Love" and not wanting to record it, and that Charlie Chaplin did not approve of Clark singing a version of his composition "This is My Song" (that or he just didn't like the arrangement. 68.146.47.196 04:08, 29 July 2007 (UTC)

The story is sourced from Andrea Kon's biography of her — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.143.56.39 (talk) 22:35, 20 October 2011 (UTC)

Fair use problems

User:Ssilvers asked me to review the fair use of non-free images in this article. I'm afraid there are several problems which must be resolved. I'll try to fix things up, starting tomorrow, but I'll probably have to remove a lot of images to bring the article up to standard. Specifically:

• Image:PetulaParisOlympia.JPG - violates WP:NFCC#1: There is a free alternative (Image:PetulaClark2006.JPG) which can identify the artist.
• Image:Petula Clark London Town.jpg, Image:YaYaTwist.jpg, Image:MaChanson.jpg, Image:PetClark.jpg, Image:Petulamemphis.jpg, Image:ClarkSteele.jpg, Image:ASignOfTheTimes.jpg, Image:HitParade.jpg - violates WP:NFCC#10: There is no fair use rationale for them to appear in article.
• Image:DontEverLeaveMe.JPG - violates WP:NFCC#3: Resolution in maximum dimension should be 300-400px. Also, fair use rationale is not very good.
• Non-free images must also never be used just to illustrate lists like discographies or filmographies.

I hope we can save a few of these from deletion, but I'll have to start tagging them tomorrow, when I have time. Papa November 00:40, 18 September 2007 (UTC)

Disputed "fact"

She also holds the distinction of having the longest span on the international pop charts of any artist — 51 years — from 1954, when "The Little Shoemaker" made the UK Top Twenty, to 2005, when her CD L'essentiel - 20 Succès Inoubliables charted in Belgium.

Sure, Petula's had a long career, but the above claim is utterly ludicrous. Off the top of my head, what about Bing Crosby, who was hitting the top of the US charts as a vocalist in the late 1920s, and had a #3 UK hit with David Bowie in 1993 with "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy"? Or Louis Armstrong, who hit the US charts in the 1930s, and the UK charts as late as 1994 with "We Have All The Time In The World"? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.132.69.28 (talk) 21:07, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

What are you talking about? There weren't any US charts in the 1920s and 1930s. Sales of sheet music were tracked, but not individual recordings. The fact above has been cited in several places. 209.247.22.166 (talk) 13:18, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

I added two reliable references supporting this fact. 209.247.22.166 (talk) 13:37, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

The Billboard singles chart officially debuted in 1940, and Bing Crosby was on it the first year with several tracks (The Singing Hills, April Played the Fiddle, Sierra Sue, That's For Me, Trade Winds and Only Forever). He was on the UK charts as recently as 1998 with White Christmas -- http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=1003 -- and the U.S. chart in 2007 -- http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4791ED84FAB7620D6803C159BE723D208D14FB48D112D5651D6B66311DF5E6AB513ACC6CFB1FA7DF878A5FD2FAE5808C3BB93&searchlink=BING%7CCROSBY&samples=1&sql=11:hifoxqw5ld6e~T5 -- nothing against Petula, but this far surpasses her chart run. From KathMurillo —Preceding unsigned comment added by KathMurillo (talk • contribs) 05:23, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

Given Crosby has been dead since 1977, it's obvious anything charting in 1998 or 2007 wasn't newly recorded material! Clark holds the record of the longest span on the international pop charts of any artist, a fact supported by the two references cited. MovieMadness (talk) 19:15, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

Just because you cite references doesn't make it accurate -- do the math yourself. The Crosby span is longer. What you write in her entry says nothing about charting with new material. And besides -- she charted with a hits package. Also, Doris Day -- first charted in '48 under her own name (Love Somebody) and reached the UK album chart in 2007. http://www.dorisdaytribute.com/news-sonybmg_the_magic_of_doris_day.htm -- this also beats the 51-year run. KathMurillo (talk) 00:17, 23 April 2008 (UTC) --

Also, Frank Sinatra first charted in 1942 ("Night and Day") and hit the Billboard Album Chart this year with "Nothing But the Best" -- this 66-year run also beats Petula's run. Both the Sinatra and Day recording include previously unreleased material, so if you are sticking to your charting with new/unreleased material fact, they both surpass it. Why try to include something that is obviously not true? I love Petula, but this is just inaccurate. KathMurillo (talk) 22:00, 3 June 2008 (UTC)

Just because you say something is so doesn't make it a fact. You need to prove what you're claiming by providing references. Two sources back up the statement in the opening paragraph in this article. You haven't provided any sources proving your claims about Crosby, Sinatra, or Day. If you can, then the statement about Clark can be removed. Until then, it should stand as a fact substantiated by two different sources. 209.247.22.164 (talk) 14:46, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

Included above are links for Doris Day and Bing Crosby chart achievements. For Frank Sinatra: http://www.livedaily.com/artists/5242.html -- and for the current charting album, http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/albums_index.jsp

Chart positions pre 1955 can be found in Joel Whitburn's Pop Hits 1940-1954, published by Record Research In. (copyright 1994) -- at least that's my edition. I'm sure it's been republished since.

Again, simply do the math: All their chart debuts are earlier, and they have charted recently enough to give them longer spans on the chart. —Preceding unsigned comment added by KathMurillo (talk • contribs) 17:15, 9 June 2008 (UTC) KathMurillo (talk) 17:18, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

Petula is currently in the Irish chart in collaboration with the Saw Doctors, (verifiable by looking at the Irish chart http://irma.ie/aucharts.asp). Newly recorded material too. 57 years. Are these other people's records newly recorded? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Trispw (talk • contribs) 00:13, 26 December 2011 (UTC)

Doris Day is currently in the U.S. charts with unreleased material with "My Heart," so yes, she surpasses Petula's run. http://www.billboard.com/column/chartbeat/weekly-chart-notes-doris-day-gloria-estefan-1005731952.story#/column/chartbeat/weekly-chart-notes-doris-day-gloria-estefan-1005731952.story --Tclpups (talk) 17:21, 27 December 2011 (UTC)

Petula's chart career is now even longer. She appeared in the Belgian charts in 2012 with a download single 'Cut Copy Me', a new recording from her French Album "Petula" released in February 2012. Her chart career is now 1954-2012 ie 58 years. The unreleased material referred to in the above comment about Doris Day is around 15 years old, unless I am mistaken. Petula's is fresh out of the studio. (Trispw) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.146.63.121 (talk) 22:51, 14 December 2012 (UTC)

Biography project priority rating

Obviously whoever ranked Petula Clark as being "low" priority in the Biography project is unfamiliar with Petula Clark. I have rectified this! 23skidoo (talk) 17:29, 12 January 2008 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:PetClark.jpg

Image:PetClark.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 07:03, 15 January 2008 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:YaYaTwist.jpg

Thanks for uploading or contributing to Image:YaYaTwist.jpg. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is not a suitable explanation or rationale as to why each specific use in Wikipedia constitutes fair use. Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale.

If you have uploaded other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on those pages too. You can find a list of 'image' pages you have edited by clicking on the "my contributions" link (it is located at the very top of any Wikipedia page when you are logged in), and then selecting "Image" from the dropdown box. Note that any non-free media lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you. Papa November (talk) 00:22, 17 May 2008 (UTC)

Non-free images

Please read WP:NFC for details of the non-free content policy. Non-free content needs a separate fair use rationale for every article it appears in. At the moment, there are too many fair use violations for the article to reach good article standard, so something needs to be done! Papa November (talk) 17:54, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

How do you suggest editors provide a separate fair use rationale for every article an image appears in when Wikipedia uploading procedures allow only ONE article to be cited????? This article has been damaged severely because most of the images, including the one in the infobox, were removed! 209.247.22.166 (talk) 14:21, 18 June 2008 (UTC)

1. There's nothing stopping you from adding multiple fair use rationales to a non-free image if it's irreplaceable, and essential for the reader's understanding of more than one subject. I'm not sure where you got the idea that only one article may be cited - that's simply incorrect. See Image:KISS logo.png for an example of how to do it. There are two rationales provided, each of which explains why the image is necessary in the respective article. Note that in neither case is it used just to decorate the article - it is the subject of extensive, detailed commentary.
2. Non-free images in the discography section are explicitly forbidden by policy. There's no way around this, I'm afraid. See WP:NFC for details.
3. Non-free images to show what a living person looks like are also explicitly forbidden by the same policy unless the person's notability relies on their visual appearance when younger. As Petula Clark is still alive, and still actively performing, you simply cannot justify having a non-free picture of her. Surely, one of the editors here must have taken a photograph of her and be prepared to release it under a free license?
4. As nice as it is to have lots of pictures in the article, if you ever want it to reach good article standard, let alone featured article status, you have to play by the rules of the project! Papa November (talk) 14:35, 18 June 2008 (UTC)

WP:NFC states, "It is a generally accepted standard that editors should follow, though it should be treated with common sense and the occasional exception. This contradicts your belief that "Non-free images in the discography section are explicitly forbidden by policy." Please be advised that nothing in Wikipedia is "explicitly forbidden." 209.247.22.166 (talk) 18:14, 18 June 2008 (UTC)

No one is telling you that you can't use non-free images, but the fair use rationales on the deleted images were weak at best. Weak fair use rationales are sometimes acceptable if the images are clear-cut fair use cases, but the ones deleted from this article were not (reasons specified above). If you're going to go against the accepted standards, you need to provide a good justification for your actions. No attempt was made to do so for this article. For example, no explanation was given for why the non-free image in the infobox should have been considered as one of the "occasional exceptions". Personally, I don't see why it's any different from the thousands of other articles about living musicians, which follow the accepted standards. If you really think that this article is a special case, then you need to explain why. Papa November (talk) 23:42, 18 June 2008 (UTC)

Birth

Petula Clark's year of birth here is stated as 1932 . In my Guinness chart book under her entry it states 1931 . On one of her LP's the only one I have it says 1933 ?? !!! Atleast the 15 Nov bit is constant on all three versions but which year is correct ? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.137.11.54 (talk) 13:38, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

1932 is accurate — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.136.53.138 (talk) 21:43, 20 June 2014 (UTC)

Record Sales

Main article states that with 70 million record sales she is UK's most successful female recording artist. Wiki for Shirley Bassey quotes 135 million record sales nthe same accolade. Both cannot be right. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.104.82.156 (talk) 15:17, 10 July 2009 (UTC)

• To be honest no one knows how many records Petula has sold. They have been talking about 70 million for at least 30 years, and meanwhile she has been selling millions of CDs. Additionally Petula was releasing records all over the world and many countries did not collect data on discs sold. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.143.56.39 (talk) 22:40, 20 October 2011 (UTC)

Record Sales

I sent this before but it seems to have disappeared. This Wiki entry says that with 70 million record sales PC is the UK's best selling female artist. However similar Wiki entry for Shirley Bassey quoting 135 million sales gives her the same accolade. Both cannot be right!! 124.104.81.66 (talk) 11:42, 15 July 2009 (UTC)

The figure for Petula has been used for over 20 years, probably lifted from a biogrpahy of her put out about that time. As all her workhas been put out on cd since then and she has had secveral chart entries, including a silver disc album, I suspect these figures are hugely out of date. Dave —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.167.58.198 (talk) 18:56, 16 November 2009 (UTC)

Even if the original 70 million amount was correct (and that is questionable itself since none of Petula's albums ever made the UK Top 10), putting her work onto CD will most certainly not double her sales to beyond 135 million! She may have once been the biggest selling British female artist but that was a long time ago. 80.47.67.114 (talk) 16:27, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

• Petula was far more successful chart wise in most other record buying countries than she was in the UK, but it is fair to say that she has been recording for a very very long time (62 years) and figures mount up over the years and over maybe 100 countries +. Virtually everything that she ever recorded in 5 languages has been transferred to cd, some from shellac. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.143.56.39 (talk) 22:50, 20 October 2011 (UTC)

Petula surpassed by Vera Lynn

The claim that Petula has the longest chart run of any British female artist is no longer valid, as Vera Lynn (who was charting in the 1940s) had an album debut at #1 on the UK charts in Sept 2009. Accordingly I've removed this reference. 172.131.180.228 (talk) 20:35, 21 September 2009 (UTC)

As far as I'm aware, the only UK charts that existed in the 1940s were for sheet music, and the record charts didn't commence until November 1952- unless you have a source that says differently? Rodhullandemu 20:39, 21 September 2009 (UTC)

Vera Lynn was actually on the very first UK chart issued in 1952, predating Petula Clark by over a year. 172.135.69.172 (talk) 00:34, 22 September 2009 (UTC)

You are correct on that. My Guinness shows Vera Lynn on the UK chart for November 1952, and Petula Clark not charting until June 1954. It helps if you cite a source, because it saves time for the rest of us. Rodhullandemu 00:45, 22 September 2009 (UTC)

1. 1. Is it not that Petula keeps getting into the charts with NEW material, as opposed to the Vera Lynn material that was recorded in the 1940s and 50s and has been re released. Petula's albbums include newly recorded material. Her lastest recorded in New York in 2009. Dave —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.167.58.198 (talk) 18:54, 16 November 2009 (UTC)

Yes, but non of Petula's newly recorded material has actually charted. According to chartstats.com, her last "new" single to chart was in 1972 (and then a reissue of Downtown in 1988) and her last album to chart that wasnt a greatest hits album was in 1968. 80.47.67.114 (talk) 16:38, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

• • • All Petula's charting reissue albums have new material on them. She will record 3, 4 ,5 6 new songs for an album and they will put it with "greatest hits" presumably to maximise appeal. The latest to chart was this year 2011 in France, "Une Baladine" where there was new material recorded at Arthanor studios in Switzerland. She is currently recording in Paris for an album of all new material. It is hope that this will chart too. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.143.56.39 (talk) 22:43, 20 October 2011 (UTC)

Petula has been in the Belgian charts this year, the album charts with her newly recorded French album "Petula", and the singles chart with a download "Cut Copy Me". This makes her chart career 1954 - 2012. Her albums have been charting (with new material) pretty consistently. She got a silver disc for "Then and Now". As the title suggests it was a double album of new and old material. Dave sept 13, 2012. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.138.7.203 (talk) 19:56, 13 September 2012 (UTC)

Appearance on Swiss television

On 21 February 2010 she appeared live singing 'Downtown' on a variety show hosted by Alain Morisod on the first Télévision Suisse Romande chain, with enormous success and a long standing ovation. Not a single note or choreographic movement wrong and an appearance that belies her age by at least 20 years. Certainly the highlight of an otherwise mediocre show. A lady, shall we say of a certain age, who is now a legend. Devilinhell (talk) 12:00, 21 February 2010 (UTC)Devilinhell

Links double standards and dead links

Lordsnootyandhispals (talk) 13:45, 20 March 2010 (UTC) Why are most of the external links to interviews dead links? Yet, when I try to include a link to a new interview with Pet (http://www.retrosellers.com/features149.htm) I am told it is against Wiki rules to include the link and it is deleted. And who allowed these links in the first place if the one I am trying to include is not allowed?

"Wisdom?"

The "Downtown Era" section contained this:

On December 31, 1976, Wisdom performed her hit song Downtown on BBC1's A Jubilee Of Music, celebrating British pop music for Queen Elizabeth II's impending Silver jubilee.

I don't know who "Wisdom" is supposed to be, but the A Jubilee Of Music article states that Pet performed it herself, so I've changed the line accordingly. Rojomoke (talk) 19:11, 26 August 2010 (UTC)

Another Movie

She was also in City After Midnight (1957) - not listed under Filmography — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.118.187.218 (talk) 10:08, 28 November 2012 (UTC)

The Huggets

The Films were not based on a radio series, the radio series, which ran from 1953 to 1962 (and did not include Petula Clark) was based on the films (see separate articles). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.14.219.127 (talk) 16:41, 1 January 2013 (UTC)

So change the article -- SteveCrook (talk) 19:04, 1 January 2013 (UTC)

Nationality

Someone may like to change the "English" in her nationality to English/Welsh. He mum was Welsh and she is rather proud of that, often citing in French or English in concert that "they Welsh are a bit like the Italians..they sing..." Of course when she married Claude Wolfe she technically became French (as at that time one took one's husband's nationality). She actually annotated a photograph of her marriage in French album (Chariot) at the time: "Je deviens francaise". — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.136.53.138 (talk) 21:52, 20 June 2014 (UTC)

Julie Andrews

In the first full paragraph of "Career start" there is a mention of her touring with Julie Andrews. I suspect this is an error. The Julie Andrews page not only doesn't mention it but says she didn't start performing except by getting on stage at her parents' performances and participating in an uncredited way starting in 1944/45 (she's three years younger than Petula Clark).

The reason I think this is an error in the Clark page rather than an omission in the Andrews page is that an opportunity to tour with someone as famous as Clark (back when Andrews was an unknown baby) would really have been significant milestone in Andrews' career. So it's more likely to be an overeager edit.

Does anyone have a reference for this? — Preceding unsigned comment added by G001 (talk • contribs) 16:52, 26 April 2016 (UTC)

Nashville Bombing Reference

Would it be appropriate to add onto the page that one of her songs, Downtown, played in an audio recording made by the 2020 Nashville Christmas Day bomber shortly before his bomb exploded? — Preceding unsigned comment added by RaskBunzzz (talk • contribs) 23:53, 28 December 2020 (UTC)

I would say no, as it seems to have more to do with the song than with Clark herself. It's already mentioned at Downtown (Petula Clark song). GA-RT-22 (talk) 00:22, 29 December 2020 (UTC)

No. Nothing to do with Clark. Ghmyrtle (talk) 08:57, 29 December 2020 (UTC)

References

First publilc appearance

These two statements seem contradictory:

• "Her first ever live audience was at the Colliers' Arms in Abercanaid"
• "Her first public performances were ... in Kingston upon Thames"

The first one seems well sourced to Wales Online, but the second is in Kon, which I don't have a copy of. Can we reconcile this somehow? GA-RT-22 (talk) 16:24, 18 February 2021 (UTC)

Dead ELs

@Itsfullofstars: I suggest we remove the dead ELs, per WP:ELDEAD: "Links to dead URLs in a list of external links are of no use ... In rare cases, such as the official website for a notable political campaign, it may be better to replace the dead link with a link to an archived copy". I don't think we need, for example, an archived copy of an old discography when we've already got a live recent Discogs discography. GA-RT-22 (talk) 21:54, 3 June 2021 (UTC)

You may be correct. Before reading the comment above I spent a little time today cleaning up what links were there (I only added one, to a February 1970 article about her from a Canadian newspaper.) I didn't want to take the extra step to remove any links, although I agree some of them might not be as useful now as they might have been when they were originally added. No hurt feelings if you want to cull the list a bit. Itsfullofstars (talk) 22:27, 3 June 2021 (UTC)

Addendum to my note above. All the links point to something, either an original working page or to an archived copy. They don't go to dead pages anymore, as some did when I started my edits earlier today. Itsfullofstars (talk) 22:35, 3 June 2021 (UTC)

@GA-RT-22 Taking your advice, I removed the two least-useful external links. I also used the one I recently added as a primary source in the main article, so it's now in the References section instead. Itsfullofstars (talk) 21:43, 4 June 2021 (UTC)

Years of birth and first appearance

Why has her birth year been changed from 1932 to 1938? There's no source given, and the main text still talks about her being nine years old in 1942, and twelve years old in 1944. 82.22.141.20 (talk) 15:05, 17 July 2021 (UTC)

I see it's been changed back again. Not sure what's going on here - was she seven or nine years when she first appeared on radio? The article seems to say both. GDBarry (talk) 15:10, 17 July 2021 (UTC)

Pet on radio

Hi,

I've been trying to find confirmation of my belief that Pet Clark was in the cast of Educating Archie, where I'm sure she was playing Archie's girlfriend Pet. I remember listening to the programme regularly as a lad.

I can find no such confirmation either here or in the Wikipedia article about that programme.

Poppa Mintin (talk) 09:58, 29 July 2021 (UTC)

Hello. The BBC says that Julie Andrews played Archie's girlfriend. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/361459.stm Youtube has a recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3sSv8lLcFc Regards, Itsfullofstars (talk) 10:55, 29 July 2021 (UTC)

Birth name

Was "Petula" part of her birth name- as per the infobox- or was it a "stage name" apparently created by her father based on two ex-girlfriends, as per the main body of the article? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.109.205.133 (talk) 04:01, 19 January 2023 (UTC)

Petula Clark

In the paragraph beginning ‘Clark has sold more than 68 million...’ immediately before the section ‘Life and Career’, I think it would be useful to say, ...‘musical films “Finian’s Rainbow” and “Goodbye, Mr Chips”..., which I would say is on a par with ‘Finian’s Rainbow’.

Trevor Willimott

2A00:23C6:3488:5901:1DF9:9F7A:8151:4688 (talk) 14:50, 7 May 2023 (UTC)

UK singles? (or albums)

The article lists French singles, German singles, Italian singles, Complete Spanish recordings, Other noteworthy recordings, but no UK albums or singles. This seems a bit lop-sided? Martinevans123 (talk) 21:02, 8 February 2024 (UTC)