What's a Matter Baby: RPM Rounds Up Timi Yuro Rarities

The late Rosemary “Timi” Yuro, a.k.a. “the little girl with the big voice,” is still fondly remembered today by music aficionados for her full-throated rendition of “Hurt,” a No. 4 Pop/No. 2 Easy Listening hit in 1961. Signed at first to Liberty Records, Timi went on to record a number of other hits including Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “The Love of a Boy” (No. 44 Pop, 1962) and producer Clyde Otis and Joy Byers’ "What's a Matter Baby (Is It Hurting You?)” (No. 12 Pop, 1962). Through two stints at the label as well as at Mercury, Ariola and other labels, Yuro built up a relatively small but beloved discography through 1982. Cherry Red’s RPM label has just added to the Yuro catalogue with the essential release of I’m a Star Now: Rarities 1956-1982, containing 25 tracks from the late singer’s archives – 22 of which are previously unreleased. These illuminating demos and other rarities trace Yuro's career from before “Hurt” all the way up through 1982, the year she teamed with Willie Nelson and his band for what would become her final album.

Despite her young age – Yuro was still in her teenage years when signed to Liberty in 1959 - the Chicago-born vocalist’s style was deeply soulful, influenced by R&B and jazz vocal greats. The earliest track on the set, from 1957, features Yuro singing Jodie Sands’ then-contemporary hit “With All My Heart,” accompanied by her vocal coach Dr. Lillian Goodman on piano. The other pre-stardom tracks include a trio of demos circa 1959. The liner notes from Yuro’s friend Mike Iannarelli – also the compiler of this set – point out that though Yuro was signed by Liberty that year, she was relegated to recording demos for nearly two years of her contract. You’ll hear “Drive-In Movie” (also recorded by Connie Francis and Patti Page, whose version was the first to be released), “The First Hurt” and “Bye Bye Little Boy” in demo form.

Timi took a break from Liberty between 1964 and 1968, recording at Mercury with luminaries such as Jack Nitzsche. I’m a Star Now picks up with recordings made in 1967 in the Philippines, where Yuro had amassed a large fan base. (She even played a role in the Filipino comedy film Buhay Marino (Life of a Sailor) opposite a comedy team, Dolphy and Panchito.) Though Yuro’s work in the Philippines was curtailed when she grew uncomfortable with a senior politician’s “growing obsession with her,” per the liner notes, she salvaged some tracks recorded there including swinging big-band covers of Charlie Chaplin’s “This is My Song” – popularized by Petula Clark - and Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway’s Fortunes hit “You’ve Got Your Troubles.” From the same year, this collection includes three more demos recorded with former Teddy Bear Marshall Leib, intended to earn Yuro a new contract following her departure from Mercury. She, of course, ended up back at Liberty for another brief stint. (Timi’s complete singles from both Liberty tenures have been collected by Real Gone Music.)

From around the period she left Liberty for the second and last time, there’s the song that became the title track of this compilation plus songs originally recorded by Clyde McPhatter (“I’ll Belong to You”) and soul chanteuse Betty Everett (“Until You Were Gone”). I’m a Star Now premieres more interesting cover recordings from 1972, again intended to be shopped around to various labels: The Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody,” Traffic’s “Feelin’ Alright,” and Clarence “Frogman” Henry’s oldie but goodie, “I Don’t Know Why (But I Do).”

The lone three tracks here to have been previously released are a group produced by the great Chips Moman (Elvis Presley, B.J. Thomas). Moman produced Yuro in Memphis on three sides only released in Holland: “It’s Only a Daydream,” “Two Different Worlds” and “Wings of Inspiration.” Yuro clearly had inspiration as she continued to record in the 1970s even without benefit of a record contract; from this period, the set includes songs from 1977-1978 such as a reunion with “Hurt” producer Clyde Otis via his song “Let’s Write a Love Song.”

Yuro enjoyed a comeback in Europe in the early 1980s, recording three more albums including a studio farewell with her longtime fan Willie Nelson. (She had been recording Willie’s songs as far back as the early 1960s at Liberty, and recorded an entire album of country and blues favorites, Make the World Go Away.) The final tracks on I’m a Star Now harken back to this period, including the outtake “Words.” The set rounds out with an invite into the studio: multiple takes of Yuro working on “Gone.”

The full-color booklet includes track-by-tracks note from Iannarelli in tribute to his late friend. Simon Murphy at Another Planet Music has remastered all songs. (The booklet truthfully notes that sound quality isn't optimal on a number of these tracks due to the condition of the original sources.) Timi Yuro’s I’m a Star Now: Rarities 1956-1982, celebrating the diminutive vocalist with the big, powerful voice - is available now from RPM Records and can be ordered at the links below!

Timi Yuro, I’m a Star Now: Rarities 1956-1982 (RPM Retro 955, 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. )