Barbara Eden – Miss Barbara Eden
Original Release: August 1967 (Dot)
Re-release: 14 February 2020 (Real Gone Music)
This release caught my eye today – a re-issue of the 1967 album, “Miss Barbara Eden.”
It just so happens that I own an original vinyl copy – in Stereo, no less, culled from the throw-aways at a radio station that changed its format from what was then “Middle of the Road” to “Top 40.”
Dot Records thought they had a winner with Ms. Eden. They dragged her along to the big National Association of Record Merchandisers convention. “Real Gone Music,” which is releasing this one notes:
“…she got her start performing while singing in the church choir and studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music long before the camera found her. She subsequently headlined on stage in Las Vegas and appeared in TV music-variety shows and specials as well. So, “Miss Barbara Eden” is not just a highly sought-after curio from the long career of a TV icon but an irresistible pop platter in its own right!”
The first single from the album was “Pledge Of Love,” which went nowhere. The second single release was “Bend It,” about which Billboard Magazine gushed:
“The star of TV’s ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ makes her recording debut with an excitement-filled treatment of Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, and Tich’s British hit. Could be the version to make it on this side of the Atlantic.”
That one featured a funky sitar, but no luck.
The album dropped later that year, and also went nowhere, despite Billboard branding it, “Pop Special Merit.”
That said, it is a hard-to-find collector’s item – with good copies on eBay going for more than $200.
My copy – not so good, although I did my best to clean it up when I digitized it a few years ago.
It’s in my record rack right next to Michelle Lee and “L. David Sloane.”
But that’s a review for another day.
“Real Gone Music” is releasing the set both in vinyl and as a CD, noting that the CD “…includes copious photos and notes by Joe Marchese with fresh quotes from Barbara herself, while our LP reissue comes in pink vinyl limited to 1000 copies. One more note on the LP: we’re releasing it at 45 r.p.m. to ensure maximum fidelity to ‘the master’ (wink, wink). “
Recommended if you’re a collector – otherwise, you can listen to a few of the tracks at YouTube.