In London, Hollywood and Paris

There's much more to 's career than most people realize. She got her start on the BBC way back in 1942, long before "Downtown" made her an international star in 1964, and while her biggest hits were written by other composers, she has done much more than just dabble in writing and composing on her own, and had definite depth and skill as a songwriter. She also was quite a star in France after being invited by the French label to record in the language. She had several hits sung in French, beginning in 1957, and in some ways, her French output represented an alternative career to her English one. was already in her thirties when "Downtown" struck gold internationally, and she had been singing with success in the U.K. for some time before that (and she kept singing well after the hit parade days ended). When all was said and done, she ended up the biggest-selling female singer in British history. This four-disc set includes some of her French recordings, along with every one of her '50s chart hits in the U.K. prior to 1964's "Downtown." ~ Steve Leggett