Chart entered : 14 November 1952
Chart peak : 8
Number of hits : 15
It's interesting to note that the sleeve and the label have the credits the opposite way round from each other. Perhaps that was part of the agreement ? Doris is the first female to qualify and would do so even if her duets weren't counted. She's also the first person we've looked at who's still alive at the time of writing.
At this point the former Doris Kappelhoff was known primarily as a singer. She was already appearing in films but her breakout role in Calamity Jane was still a year away. She'd been having hits in the States since "Sentimental Journey" which she recorded as the 23 year old front woman of Les Brown's Band of Renown became the unofficial anthem for the end of World War Two.
This song originates as a folk song from South Africa nailed down by composer Fred Michel in 1930. The duet came about because Doris and Frankie were both signed to Columbia. To say that these two titans between them occupied the UK number one spot for 37 weeks over the next two years "Sugar Bush" is distinctly underwhelming. Doris's biographer Tom Santopietro gives it short shrift saying "One has to hear this nonsense to fully believe it " and draws attention to the contrast in styles between the singers. Doris is perky enough but Frankie sounds dry and disinterested - and weirdly like washed-up football manager Ron Atkinson - singing this fluff. The title suggests something slightly saucy but no such luck. The only interesting thing about it is the jolly little xylophone riff that pops up from time to time.
Doris checks out in 1964.
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