Cliff Richard & The Shadows – Living Doll

“Living Doll” is a song written by Lionel Bart made popular by Cliff Richard and the Shadows (then still ‘the Drifters’) in 1959. It was the top selling single in the UK in 1959. It has topped the UK charts twice: in its original version in 1959 (their first number 1 single) and a new version recorded in 1986 in aid of Comic Relief. It is one of the few songs released by an English singer to chart on the American Billboard charts before the British Invasion occurred.

This song was from the soundtrack to the film Serious Charge, which was Cliff Richard’s movie debut. It was written by Lionel Bart who also wrote the West End and Broadway musical Oliver. It was originally intended for the singer Duffy Power before it was included in Serious Charge.

This was originally a rock song, and as both Cliff and his backing band thought that a song about a blow-up doll was uncool, they originally weren’t planning to record it. One of his backing musicians, Bruce Welch, suggested a slower tempo like a country song would work better, so they rearranged it into the now familiar form.

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Cliff Richard & The Shadows - Living Doll

Cliff Richard & The Shadows - Living Doll01:19

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