Louise Cordet born 8 February 1945

Louise Cordet (born 8 February 1945) is an English pop singer who also sang in French, best known as a one-hit wonder for her 1962 single, "I'm Just a Baby".

Louise Cordet was born Louise Boisot on in Berkshire, west of London. Her parents were French pilot Marcel Boisot and actress Hélène Cordet. Cordet had been a presenter on the BBC’s Café continental TV series in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Louise grew up in London and was schooled at the French Lycée in South Kensington. In her teens, she transferred to a convent in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 1953, to her great excitement, she took a bit part in the film The limping man.

In late 1961, together with her mother and brother, Louise recorded several songs that were put onto a disc and given to friends as Christmas presents. One of the recipients was Decca Records boss Marcel Stellman, who was charmed by Louise’s take on Connie Francis’ Who’s sorry now and invited the teenager for an audition.The singer passed with flying colours, and on signing to the label, she took her mother’s name professionally, becoming Louise Cordet.

                             

She was handed to former Shadow turned producer Tony Meehan, who brought in the help of songwriter Jerry Lordan. Between them, the two men would become responsible for much of Louise’s recording career. She was launched with the catchy I’m just a baby, a song that Lordan had written with Brenda Lee in mind. Issued 
in June 1962, the record sailed into the charts, reaching number 13 that summer. Louise was holidaying with her family in Italy at the time of its release, and her absence prevented her from promoting the record.

The record’s success, coupled with Louise’s fluent French, made it perhaps inevitable that Decca would attempt to launch the singer in France. Her UK hit was duly translated and released as Je n’suis qu’un baby. Back at home, the similar-sounding Sweet enough became her follow-up.

In February 1963, record buyers on both sides of the Channel were treated to the release of an EP that led with the excellent Lordan/Meehan composition She’s got you. After appearing in the film Just for fun in 1963, Louise set out on promotional tours of both France and Britain. This guaranteed the singer exceptional exposure – appearing before huge crowds as she supported first the French king of rock ‘n’ roll, Johnny Hallyday, and then at home, The Beatles & Roy Orbison. To coincide with her British tour she released a version of Lonnie Jay and the Jaynes’ Around and around in May 1963.

Gerry and the Pacemakers also appeared on the bill of the Beatles tour and Louise struck up a friendship with Gerry Marsden. The Liverpudlian star offered her the song Don’t let the sun catch you crying, which became Louise’s fourth British 45, in February 1964. (When it failed to trouble chart compilers, Marsden issued his own version and was rewarded with a top ten hit.)

Louise also cut the song in French as Laisse le soleil sécher tes larmes for what would prove her final French EP. The disc, issued in March 1964, led with the strong Pour toi (a version of the Joe Burke-penned For you) and also included J’aime trop Johnny (a take on Ted Lewis’ 1930s hit Have you ever been lonely) and the French original Dix mille fois.

By mid-1964 Louise was duly dispatched into the studio to record a version of Don’t make me over, originally an American hit for Dionne Warwick. John Lennon recommended a song to go on the B-side of the single, Mary Wells’ Motown hit Two lovers. Both recordings feature future Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, plus backing vocals from The Breakaways, but the single failed to chart. For many girl pop aficionados, however, it is this, Louise’s final UK 45, that is the finest of her short career.

Disappointed at her lack of success, Louise enrolled at secretarial college, before taking a job with a photographic agency. Through connections she made there, she began working for Marianne Faithfull and provided linguistic coaching for the latter’s French recording sessions. Louise left the world of pop altogether shortly afterwards.

She would go on to marry a Greek man and have three children. Her eldest son is the singer Alexi Murdoch. She now lives in Greece, but also has a home in London.

(Edited mainly from ReadySteadyGirls)

Here’s Louise singing “Which Way The Wind Blows.” Taken from the film “ Just For Fun.” Many onlookers at the time regarded this as the best music clip in the movie and the highlight of the entire film. And i think they were definitely right. Filmed in February 1963 when Louise was just 18 years old.