Cilla Black

Born Priscilla Maria Veronica White, on the 27th May 1943, she grew up in a very musically oriented household in Scotland Road  one of the toughest parts of Liverpool. Living with her parents and three brothers she was often encouraged to practice her innate singing talent by performing to the rest of her family. 

During her late teens a sheer drive to become famous made her adamant that she would not be labeled as just another girl "suitable for office work". Understandably, she wanted more from life and could regularly be found escaping to the trendy haunts of the Cavern club where she'd hang coats earning five bob an hour. Perfectly placed amongst the up-and-coming stars of the day she wowed them with her singing and confidently convinced the powers that be to let her share the spotlight on stage! She also served coffee at the Zodiac (Duke Street) another clubbers' haven, where, incidentally, she met her husband to be, Bobby Willis.

Thanks to a lot of support from her friends she quickly became a mini-celebrity in her own neighbourhood, performing alongside so many legendary acts that were fundamental in establishing the Mersey Sound, such as The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Fourmost and Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.

Then, due to a twist of fate, Priscilla, known to friends as Cilla, almost overnight received a new stage name, when the music paper the "Mersey Beat" misprinted it. So, as if by magic, she became Cilla Black, a name that she favoured and happily kept.

It wasn't long until Cilla came to the attention of Brian Epstein, a local talent scout and manager of The Beatles. Epstein was introduced to her by none other than John Lennon, who persuaded him to arrange an audition at The Majestic Ballroom in Birkenhead. Unfortunately, the combination of nerves and singing to The Beatles, who played in their key, made the audition a flop. No matter, all was not lost, as to her surprise she was later spotted by Epstein while singing "Bye, Bye Blackbird" in the jazzy surroundings of the Blue Angel club. This performance finally convinced him to sign her, so on the 6th September 1963, she became his only female vocalist!

There was an immediate bond between Cilla and Epstein. From the moment he met his starlet he wanted to nurture the 'Judy Garland' qualities he believed she possessed, having high aspirations of creating a British icon who, in his prophetic words, would be "...one of the biggest stars in this country for thirty or forty years". His faith, combined with Cilla's talent, effortlessly convinced George Martin, the renowned producer of Matt Monro, Shirley Bassey and The Beatles, that she was worthy of signing to Parlophone Records (a subsidiary label of the EMI Group).

Shortly afterwards, Cilla Black made her debut on the British singles charts with one of the first of many songs given to her by her peers John Lennon and Paul McCartney. "Love of the Loved", a song she'd often heard The Beatles perform at the Cavern, made a modest impression on the British charts when it was released on the 27th September 1963.

This was soon to be overshadowed by her next release, which Epstein discovered on a trip to the USA. "Anyone Who Had a Heart", a song by Burt Bacharach, had already proved to be a massive hit for Dionne Warwick which Cilla, as a keen follower of the US Top 100, had already admired prior to it being suggested. Her knockout rendition recorded in January 1964 went on to become not only her first #1 but still, to this day, the biggest selling single of all time by a British female recording artist.

Singles 27/09/63 LOVE OF THE LOVED (Parlophone R5065) a b/w Shy Of Love #35 31/01/64 ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART (Parlophone R5101) a  b/w Just For You #1 01/05/64 YOU'RE MY WORLD (Parlophone R5133) a  b/w Suffer Now I Must  #1 31/07/64 IT'S FOR YOU (Parlophone R5162) a  b/w He Won't Ask Me #7 08/01/65 YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN' FEELIN' (Parlophone R5225) a  b/w Is It Love? #2 1965 IS IT LOVE ? [US-only release]  (Capitol, USA 5373) a b/w One Little Voice #133 15/04/65 I'VE BEEN WRONG BEFORE (Parlophone R5265) a  b/w I Don't Want To Know #17 07/01/66 LOVE'S JUST A BROKEN HEART (Parlophone R5395) a  b/w Yesterday #5 25/03/66 ALFIE (Parlophone R5427) a  b/w Night Time Is Here #9 03/07/66 DON'T ANSWER ME (Parlophone R5463) a  b/w The Right One Is Left #6 14/10/66 A FOOL AM I (Parlophone R5515) a  b/w For No One #13 02/06/67 WHAT GOOD AM I? (Parlophone R5608) a  b/w Over My Head #24 17/11/67 I ONLY LIVE TO LOVE YOU (Parlophone R5652) a  b/w From Now On #26 09/03/68 STEP INSIDE LOVE (Parlophone R5674) a  b/w I Couldn't Take My Eyes Off You #8 03/68 M'INNAMORO [Italy-only release] "STEP INSIDE LOVE" (SIR Italy SIR200080) a b/w Non C'E Domani "Where Is Tomorrow?" - 07/06/68 WHERE IS TOMORROW ? (Parlophone R5706) a  b/w Work Is A Four-Letter Word #39 07/02/69 SURROUND YOURSELF WITH SORROW (Parlophone R5759) a  b/w London Bridge #3 27/06/69 CONVERSATIONS (Parlophone R5785) a  b/w Liverpool Lullaby #7 21/11/69 IF I THOUGHT YOU'D EVER CHANGE YOUR MIND (Parlophone R5820) a b/w It Feels So Good #20 04/12/70 CHILD OF MINE (Parlophone R5879) a b/w That's Why I Love You - 15/11/71 SOMETHING TELLS ME (SOMETHING'S GONNA HAPPEN TONIGHT) a (Parlophone R5924) b/w La La La lu #3 11/02/72 THE WORLD I WISH FOR YOU (Parlophone R5938) a b/w Down In The City - 17/11/72 YOU YOU YOU (Parlophone R5972) a b/w Silly Wasn't I? - 04/01/74 BABY WE CAN'T GO WRONG (EMI 2107) b  b/w Someone #36 24/05/74 I'LL HAVE TO SAY I LOVE YOU IN A SONG (EMI 2169) b  b/w Never Run Out - 25/10/74 HE WAS A WRITER (EMI 2227) b  b/w Anything You Might Say - 28/03/75 ALFIE DARLING (EMI 2278) b  b/w Little Bit Of Understanding - 25/07/75 I'LL TAKE A TANGO (EMI 2328) b  b/w To Know Him Is To Love Him - 1976 FANTASY [US-only release] (Private Stock, USA PVS45077) b  b/w It's Now - 12/03/76 LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT (EMI 2438) b  b/w It's Now [Theme to series 8 of the BBCtv show "Cilla"] - 09/76 EASY IN YOUR COMPANY (EMI 2532) b  b/w I Believe (When I Fall In Love, It Will Be Forever) - 15/07/77 I WANTED TO CALL IT OFF EMI ENGLAND (#EMI2658) c b/w Keep Your Mind On Love - 12/05/78 SILLY BOY (EMI 2791) c b/w I Couldn't Make My Mind Up - 22/09/78 THE OTHER WOMAN (EMI 2840) c b/w Opening Night - 09/85 THERE'S A NEED IN ME (Towerbell TOW74) b  b/w You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - 12/85 SURPRISE, SURPRISE (Towerbell TOW81) b  b/w Put Your Heart Where Your Love Is - 06/09/93 THROUGH THE YEARS (Columbia 659698 2) d  b/w Through The Years (Orchestral Version), The Feelings Just Get Stronger (Through The Years), Through The Years (Do You Remember?) #54 18/10/93 HEART AND SOUL with Dusty Springfield (Columbia 659856 2) d  b/w Heart and Soul (A Capella Remix), Heart and Soul (Instrumental), A Dream Come True #75 06/12/93 YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE with Barry Manilow (Columbia 660013 2) d  b/w You'll Never Walk Alone (Hope In Your Heart Mix), Through The Years   -   Extended Plays 04/1964 ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART  (Parlophone GEP 8901) a Anyone Who Had A Heart Just For You Love Of The Loved Shy Of Love #5 10/1964 IT'S FOR YOU  (Parlophone GEP 8916) a It's For You He Won't Ask Me You're My World Suffer Now I Must #12 08/1966 CILLA'S HITS  (Parlophone GEP 8954) a Don't Answer Me The Right One Is Left Alfie Night Time Is Here #6 06/1967 TIME FOR CILLA (Parlphone GEP 8967) a Abyssinian Secret Trees And Loneliness There I Go Time