DOROTHY BAKER

Dorothy Baker grew up in Footscray, totally unaware that she could sing, until an aunt pushed her into performing and she found almost instant success! After winning a radio talent competition, she was offered other appearances and at the age of 17 found herself to be a professional singer! One of her early contracts was with a chain of Melbourne's leading hotels and she found herself appearing in five on the one night on many occasions! Dorothy was a very popular cabaret and TV artist during the late fifties and early sixties, performing regularly on Melbourne variety shows like Sunnyside Up and Graeme Kennedy's In Melbourne Tonight. She was first heard on record sharing an EP with Frankie Davidson titled 'Dancing At The Ziegfeld Palais'. It was released in 1956 on the Danceland label. Dorothy recorded her first album on the Planet label with the Max Bostock Orchestra. The album titled 'Songs We Sang Then' was released in 1959. 

Her first chart success was with a cover version of Jo Ann Campbell's ''I'm The Girl From Wolverton Mountain''. Kevin Shegog had already successfully recorded ''Wolverton Mountain'' (a hit for Claude King), and when the powers that be at W&G Records heard that the sequel was due to be released in Australia, they decided to cover it also. They had to act swiftly, and they produced what must be one of this country's fastest single releases. Dorothy was contacted on a Tuesday, the song was recorded on the Wednesday, at the radio stations by Friday and in the shops the following Monday. Soon after her second album 'Dorothy Baker' was released. She was backed on this album by guitarists Jack Varney and the Hawking Brothers, bassist Bill May and drummer Jack Banston. Dorothy's next chart success was ''Darling'', written by Kevin Shegog. In April 1963 she signed with Parlophone in the UK for releases there. Although she did not achieve high overseas record sales and had only one more local hit ''A Little Like Lovin'' she still made regular TV appearances. Dorothy Baker died in 2020.

SINGLES

''I'm The Girl From Wolverton Mountain (#16) / My Achin' Heart'' 1962 W&G
''Darling (#57) / It's Over Now'' 1963 W&G
''There's No One In The Whole Wide World / If You Were Losing Him To Me'' 1963 W&G
''Try Being Nice To Me / A Little Like Lovin' (#63) 1963 Parlophone
''Just Like Taking Candy From A Baby / The First Thing Ev'ry Morning (And The Last Thing Ev'ry Night)'' 1966 W&G

EPs

'Dancing At The Ziegfeld Palais' [with Frankie Davidson and The Max Bostock Orchestra] Danceland 1956

'To Mother' [with Bill McCormack] 1965 Golden Fleece

ALBUMS
'Songs We Sang Then' 1959 Planet
'Dorothy Baker' 1962 W&G

References

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/