Joanie Sommers
Joanie Sommers scored her biggest chart success with "Johnny Get Angry" in 1962. The single, her second solo release, peaked at the number seven spot and charted for more than two months. Her first solo record, "One Boy," was a number from the musical Bye Bye Birdie and only hit number 54 in 1960. She continued to record through the decade, but never had another winner that rose as high on the charts as "Johnny Get Angry." She later achieved a different kind of success in commercials with several different jingles that she sang for Pepsi during the '60s and again two decades later. (The title of one of her later albums, Come Alive, was even derived from one of the Pepsi ad campaigns.)
Sommers, whose real name is Joan Drost, was born in New York but grew up in California. During her high school and college years, she sang in school bands. She was 18 years old when Warner Bros. signed her to a contract in 1959 and paired her with Edd Byrnes on one of his singles. She also had a small role in 77 Sunset Strip, the television series that featured Byrnes in the role of Kookie. In addition, she sang on Byrnes' "I Don't Dig You" and "Hot Rock," which appeared on one of his albums. Sommers released an album of her own, the jazz-oriented Positively the Most, and it helped establish her presence in easy listening and adult circles. Fans and critics often cite her 1965 album, Softly the Brazilian Sound, as one of her best efforts.
In 1966, the singer signed with Columbia Records. One of her following recordings was a version of "Alfie," which both Cher and Dionne Warwick also covered it. While Sommers' version didn't get the notice that the other two did, she had the satisfaction of placing in the Top Ten in the easy listening category. She also appeared in On the Flip Side, a television special that starred Rick Nelson. The show's soundtrack contains two versions of "Try to See It My Way," one of which is a duet with Nelson while the other is a Sommers solo. The singer, married with three children, stepped out of the spotlight as the '70s approached. Before retiring, she made numerous television appearances on the shows of Johnny Carson, Dinah Shore, Dean Martin, Mike Douglas, Bobby Darin, and others. Sommers started singing and making appearances again during the '80s.
© Linda Seida /TiVo
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Let's Talk About Love
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Perennial on 14 Apr 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Just at the Turn of the Tide
Jazz - Released by turn of the tide on 2 May 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Positively the Most
Miscellaneous - Released by Foggy Milan Records on 14 Apr 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
There's No Business Like Show Business with Joanie Sommers
Jazz - Released by Past Heroes on 24 Oct 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Remastered Hits, Vol. 3 (All Tracks Remastered 2022)
Pop - Released by jjjedizionimusicali on 1 Jul 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Johnny Get Angry
Pop - Released by Jasmine Records on 1 Jan 1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Very Best Of Joanie Sommers
Pop - Released by Rhino - Warner Records on 25 Jul 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Positively The Most
International Pop - Released by Trunk Records on 1 Apr 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Very Best of
Rock - Released by Rolled Gold Classics on 4 Sep 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Little Girl Bad! A Collection
Pop - Released by Poppydisc on 9 Jun 1963
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Johnny Get Angry
Pop - Released by Black Sheep Music on 14 May 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Jazz 4 Life (Digitally Remastered)
Jazz - Released by The Blue Mile Records on 19 Jul 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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For Those Who Think Young
Pop - Released by Perennial on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Joanie Sommers - Music History
Pop - Released by Vintage Jukebox on 28 May 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
For Those Who Think Young
Pop - Released by Poppydisc on 2 Jun 1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
'Round Midnight
Vocal Jazz - Released by JazzCutter on 14 Sep 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Giants of Jazz
Jazz - Released by School of Jazz Records on 29 Sep 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo