Mrs Mills
Gladys Mills Mrs Mills | |
|---|---|
_Album_Cover.jpg) Mrs Mills album cover | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gladys Jordan |
| Born | 29 August 1918 Beckton, London, England |
| Died | 24 February 1978 (aged 59) London, England |
| Genres | Sing-along |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Years active | 1960s & 1970s |
| Labels | Parlophone Capitol (Canada) |
Gladys Mills, née Gladys Jordan (29 August 1918 – 24 February 1978),[1] known as Mrs Mills, was an English pianist who was active in the 1960s and 1970s, and who released many records. Her repertoire included many sing-along and party tunes made popular in the music hall.
Early life
She was born in Beckton, East London, England.[1] Her uncle Henry was a harp player and her mother was a main influence in developing her musical ability. She took piano lessons from the age of 3½ to the age of seven.
While working as the superintendent of the typing pool in the office of the Paymaster General in London,[1] she was spotted by a talent scout at a Woodford Golf Club dance near her home in Loughton, Essex (where she lived most of her life). In December 1961, she made her first television appearance on The Billy Cotton Show. By the end of January 1962, she would be a household name.
Career
She shot to fame during the same period as her stable-mates The Beatles, with whom she shared space at Abbey Road Studios (as mentioned in the Beatles Anthology DVD bonus materials).
Mills was signed to a management contract by Eric Easton who later went on to manage The Dave Clark Five and The Rolling Stones. After signing to Parlophone, she released her first record – the "Mrs Mills Medley" single – which entered the Top Twenty of the UK Singles Chart,[2] and her career as an entertainer began – a career that would last well into the 1970s. She toured the UK, making many appearances on TV and radio throughout this period. Mills was also a successful recording artist overseas in territories where there were large numbers of expatriates from the UK including Australia, Canada and Hong Kong.
Her oeuvre consisted of standards (British and international), plus cover versions of contemporary hits. A 2003 release (The Very Best of Mrs Mills, on EMI Gold) includes such hits as "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend", "Hello, Dolly!", "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" and "Yellow Submarine".
She appeared on two episodes of The Morecambe and Wise Show in 1971 and 1974, where she performed a medley of favourites with the studio orchestra.[3] Another satirical example of Mills' style of performance came in an edition of the BBC TV's The Two Ronnies. The sketch ("Family Entertainment – John & Mrs Mills") occupied the end-of-the-show musical slot, with Ronnie Barker as the silk-laden Mrs Mills at piano, and Ronnie Corbett as a uniformed Sir John Mills (who was no relation). They performed a medley of Mills-style classics (on the theme of Mills's character in the 1969 film Oh! What a Lovely War). The show (series 4; episode 4) was originally broadcast on BBC Two on 23 January 1975. In 1973, she appeared in an episode of The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club.
In December 1974, she appeared as the subject of This Is Your Life, hosted by Eamonn Andrews, when it was revealed that the first record she had recorded was "The Girl in Calico", cut in a make-your-own-record booth on Southend Pier, for a half-crown, with her girlhood pal Lily Dormer.
Little was seen of Mills on television in her final years and she died of a heart attack on 24 February 1978 in London.[1]
Legacy
Loughton Town Council commissioned a blue plaque to her memory on the house at 43, Barncroft Close, her home for many years.[4]
Although Mills's musical legacy had been largely forgotten in recent times, June 2012 saw the emergence of London-based tribute band The Mrs Mills Experience[5] with a debut at The Vintage Festival at Boughton House in Northamptonshire.[6] On 13 July they were filmed playing live at The Prince Albert pub in Brixton, London Borough of Lambeth by the BBC.[7] On 23 September 2012 BBC Four broadcast the 60-minute documentary Let's Have a Party! The Piano Genius of Mrs Mills on the life of Mills, which included footage of the band and contributions from Rick Wakeman, Rowland Rivron and Pete Murray, amongst others.[8]
Discography
A Best of CD was released by the EMI Gold imprint, and another CD (The Mrs Mills Collection) appeared on the HMV Easy label. A list of her UK output (according to a vast, now lost Parlophone listing from the web) is as follows:
EMI/Parlophone Records — singles (all mono) with the Geoff Love Orchestra
| Catalogue Number | Issue Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| R 4856 | 1961 | "Mrs Mills Medley" parts 1&2 |
| R 4863 | 1962 | "Popcorn"/”Bobbikins" |
| R 4933 | 1962 | "Entry of the Tradiators"/”South Rampart Street Parade” |
| R 4975 | 1963 | "Mrs Mills Hoe-Down Party" parts 1&2 |
| R 5008 | 1963 | "Bubblin' Over"/”The First Waltz" |
| R 5214 | 1964 | "We're Gonna Throw A Little Party (Y' All Come)"/”Ten Green Bottles" |
| R 5238 | 1964 | "Mrs Mills' Minstrel Medley" parts 1&2 |
| R 5367 | November 1965 | "Mrs Mills' Party Medley" parts 1&2 |
| R 5399 | January 1966 | "Newsboy"/”Someone Like You" |
| R 5549 | December 1966 | "Glad Today Medley"/”Glad Yesterday Medley" |
| R 5599 | April 1967 | "I Was Queen Victoria's Chambermaid"/”Thank You Everybody" |
| R 5653 | November 1967 | "Party Hit Parade" parts 1&2 |
| R 5678 | 1968 | "Candy Floss"/”Indian Summer” |
| R 5748 | 1968 | "Glad's Party" parts 1&2 |
| R 5822 | November 1969 | "Battle of Britain Medley"/"A Wee Drop of Scotch" |
| R 5834 | 1970 | "The Champs Elysees"/”Kiss Curl Caper" (listed as Mrs Mills And Her Happy Piano) |
| R 5877 | November 1970 | "Mrs Mills' Minstrel Medley" parts 1&2 |
| R 5950 | April 1972 | "Sunshine"/”Bobbikins" |
EMI/Parlophone Records – EPs (all mono)
| Catalogue Number | Issue Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| GEP 8861 | 1962 | "The Happy Piano Player" (released in NZ as MGEP 8861) |
| GEP 8865 | 1962 | "Mrs Mills Plays The Roaring Twenties” |
| GEP 8918 | 1964 | "Everybody's Welcome at Mrs Mills' Party” |
| GEP 8935 | 1963 | "Any Time's Party Time With Mrs Mills" |
| GEP 8943 | 1965 | "It's Party Time!” |
| GEP 8958 | 1966 | "Mrs Mills' Party” |
EMI/Parlophone Records – LPs (PMC: mono, PCS: stereo)
| Catalogue Number | Issue Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| PMC 1178 | 1962 | "Mrs Mills Plays The Roaring Twenties", also released in 1962 by The World Record Club in Great Britain, on their label, number ST994, showing a portrait cover art |
| PMC 1212 | November 1963 | "Everybody's Welcome at Mrs Mills' Party" |
| PMC 1234 | 1964 | "It's Party Time!" |
| PMC 1254 | September 1964 | "Music For Anytime" |
| PMC 1264 | November 1965 | "Mrs Mills' Party" |
| PCS 3030 | 1962 | "Mrs Mills Plays The Roaring Twenties" |
| PCS 3049 | November 1963 | "Everybody's Welcome at Mrs Mills' Party" |
| PCS 3070 | September 1965 | "Music For Anytime" |
| PCS 3074 | November 1965 | "Mrs Mills' Party" |
| PMC/PCS 7002 | April 1966 | "Especially For You" |
| PMC/PCS 7010 | 1966 | "Come to my Party" |
| PMC/PCS 7020 | April 1967 | "Look Mum – No Hands!" |
| PCS 7035 | December 1967 | "Let's Have Another Party" |
| PCS 7046 | April 1968 | "Summer Party" |
| PCS 7066 | November 1968 | "Party Pieces" |
| PCS 7080 | July 1969 | "Back to the Roaring Twenties" |
| PCS 7087 | January 1970 | "Party Mixture" |
| PCS 7117 | November 1970 | "Bumper Bundle Party" |
| PCS 7129 | July 1971 | "More Music For Anytime" |
| PCS 7143 | January 1972 | "Music Hall Party" |
| PCS 7152 | July 1972 | "Anytime Is Party Time" |
| PCS 7153 | October 1972 | "Another Flippin' Party" |
| PCS 7166 | June 1974 | "Hollywood Party" |
| PCS 7167 | November 1974 | "It's Party Time Again" |
EMI/Music For Pleasure Records – LPs (all stereo)
| Catalogue Number | Issue Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| MFP 5225 | 1966 | "I'm Mighty Glad" |
| MFP 1406 | 1967 | "Your One and Only Mrs Mills" |
| MFP 50009 | 1974 | "Piano Singalong" (released in Australia on Axis label, featuring a Straube player-piano as the album art) |
| MFP 50220 | 1975 | "Glad with Love" (Mrs Mills and Geoff Love Singalong Together) |
| MFP 50230 | 1975 | "Mrs Mills Knees-Up Party" |
Other recordings (all stereo)
| Record Label | Catalogue Number | Issue Date | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regal Starline Records | SRS 5029 | 1970 | Party Sing-Along (released in Australia on EMI Parlophone label) |
| Regal Starline Records | SRS 5089 | 1971 | All Time Party Dances (released in Australia on EMI Parlophone label) |
| EMI/Encore Records | ONCR 508 | 1971 | All Time Party Dances and Other Favourites (released in Australia on Axis label, comprising All Time Party Dances LP, plus selected tracks from other Parlophone albums) |
| EMI/One-Up Records | OU 2076 | 1970–79 | It's Party Time! (reissue). Also released in Scotland, with album art showing Mrs Mills with various cute puppies. |
| EMI/One-Up Records | OU 2197 | 1977 | Glad Tidings – Mrs Mills' Christmas Party |
| EMI/Sounds Superb Records | SPR 90012 | 1973 | Non-Stop Honky-Tonk Party (blue or purple background) |
| EMI/Double-Up Records | DUO 108 | 1973 | What a Wonderful Party (double album. The cover shows a chimps tea-party). Selections from this double album were released in Australia as Parlophone SPMEO 10164, What a Wonderful Party, with a cartoon-style piano cover. |
| EMI/Double-Up Records | DUO 122 | 1976 | Jumbo-Party (double album – elephant cover). These albums were released separately in Australia as Jumbo Party, Volume 1 and 2, EMI EMB 10383 and 10384 respectively. |
| Liberty Records | LST-7359 | Unknown | My Mother the Ragtime Piano Player – 6-track, 33rpm 7" EP – (consisting of selections from Mrs Mills Plays the Roaring 20s) |
| Liberty Records | LRP-3359 (mono) or LST-7359 (stereo) | Unknown | My Mother the Ragtime Piano Player – 33 rpm 12" album, US release of Mrs Mills Plays the Roaring 20s |
| Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | "Auld Lang Syne / Happy Birthday" (distributed in South Africa) |
| EMI Records | EMC 2228 | Unknown | "Smile Smile Smile" / "Da-Dar Da-Dar" – 7 inch single |
| EMI Records | EMC 3092 | 1975 | For Your Party – Mrs Mills Sings and Plays |
| Music For Pleasure | DL 41 1058 3 | 1984 | Piano Party Time – double album, a re-release of Music for Anytime and Mrs Mills Party |
| Capitol Canada | ST6082 | Unknown | Mrs Mills & Russ Conway – Let's Have a Party – (Mrs Mills content consists of various singles such as "Entry of the Tradiators" and "Ten Green Bottles", plus two tracks from Mrs Mills Plays the Roaring 20s |
| Capitol Canada | ST6151 | Unknown | Another Party with Mrs Mills – (Canadian release of Mrs Mills Party) |
| Deutscher Schallplattenclub | H-044 | Unknown | Mrs Mills – Am Schräger Klavier ("At the Diagonal Piano") – (German release of Mrs Mills Plays the Roaring 20s) |
| Telemark Dance Records | 892 | Unknown | "Candy Floss / Someone Like You" – 7 inch single |
| S*R International Label | 74989-P12 | Unknown | Mrs Mills' Crazy Party – German release, consisting of various selections from Mrs Mills Plays the Roaring 20s interspersed with traditional jazz tunes from The New Orleans Hot Dogs |
| EMI Odeon | O 23 390 | Unknown | "Mrs Mills Klimperkasten Potpourri" – German release of "Glad Today" and "Glad Yesterday" – 7 inch 45rpm single |
| Music For Pleasure | FP 10055 | 1975 Tapetunes | "Chattanooga Choo Choo" & "Little Sir Echo" - listed as a "Piano Singalong with Mrs Mills" 45rpm single |
| EMIMUSIC | EMAJ(M)8504 | 1988 EMI Brigadiers (Johannesburg) | "EMIMUSIC presents Mrs Mills" LP compilation from various other Mrs Mills albums |
Apple iTunes also lists several albums, such as "Knees-Up Roaring 20s Party", "Crazy Rhythm", "Mairzy Doats And Dozy Doats", and "Just Mrs Gladys Mills". Microsoft's Groove Music lists "Welcome To Mrs Mills Honky Tonk Party". These are simply reissued albums, or compilations of tracks, from various EMI Parlophone albums and singles. The cover art on these albums, rather than the content, has been of interest to collectors.
References
- ^ a b c d Sharon Mawer. "Mrs. Mills". Allmusic. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 371. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Petridis, Alexis (7 October 2010). "The bizarre lost world of 1970s cabaret pop | Music". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ Loughton Town Council – Blue Heritage Plaques. Loughton-tc.gov.uk (23 August 1914). Retrieved on 18 December 2012.
- ^ The Mrs Mills Experience, a London based tribute band to the singalong piano thumping genius of Mrs Gladys Mills, pianist extraordinaire. Mrsmills.org. Retrieved on 18 December 2012.
- ^ Festival – The Vintage Nightclubs – The Leisure Lounge – Vintage By Hemingway Celebrating 5 Decades of British Cool. Vintagefestival.co.uk. Retrieved on 18 December 2012.
- ^ "Mrs Mills Experience being filmed by the BBC at the Brixton Offline Club, Prince Albert Coldharbour Lane, London SW9". Mrmills.org. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.. Mrsmills.org (13 July 2012). Retrieved on 18 December 2012.
- ^ BBC Four – Let's Have a Party! The Piano Genius of Mrs Mills. Bbc.co.uk (27 October 2012). Retrieved on 18 December 2012.
External links
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