I first came across the song "Hands Across the Sea" as a 'B' side to Shirley Bassey's 1958 UK #1 hit "As I Love You". At the time I was unaware that hers was a cover version of a recording by an American girl I had never heard of but who, within months, would become one of my all-time favourite song stylists. It was the result of a collaboration of three songwriters, each of whom had achieved major success on their own or in other partnerships.
Linz, Austria-born Friedrich Jacobson became a hit songwriter in his home country and, following his emigration to the United States, continued that success under the name of Fred Jay. One of his biggest successes was providing the lyrics to Johnny Mathis' huge seasonal hit "When A Child Is Born".
His lyrics collaborator on "Hands" was Irving Reid, whose work found great favour with Perry Como ("Things I Didn't Do"), Toni Arden (Cry, My Heart"), Don Cornell ("Give Me Your Love"), Johnny Nash ("A Teenager Sings the Blues") and "Tennessee Rock 'n' Roll" by Bobby Helms, which was covered in great fashion by Billy Eckstine.
A third writer employed on "Hands Across the Sea" had, perhaps, the greatest pedigree. That was Ira Kosloff, whose work had been recorded by Elvis Presley ("I Want You, I Need You, I Love You"), Frank Sinatra ("Five Hundred Guys"), Alma Cogan ("Love Me Again"), Connie Francis & Paul Carr ("Who Are We To Say ") and a host of others.
The original version of "Hands Across the Sea" was recorded by Janice Harper, an attractive blonde Capitol Records signee. It formed the 'B' side to her 1958 American chart success "Devotion" and was included on her début album 'With Feeling', released that same year. Surprisingly more strident than the subsequent recording by Dame Shirley, her vocal power is impressive. Unfortunately for Janice her breakthrough occurred at the same time as that for the younger Connie Francis and Brenda Lee. She had several titles just fail to chart, more's the pity, since that would have surely helped promote her catalogue. Sadly, she spent the last few years of her life with Alzheimers before passing away in 2015, forgotten by many, but not by this listener.

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