Diana Dors - Swinging Dors

Open your perception of Dors

Diana Dors has always been much beloved for a special sort of collector. She was an icon. At the time she was the youngest owner of a Rolls Royce, at 20, and later was there, larger than life, on the front of Sgt Pepper. Swinging Dors, orchestrated by Wally Stott, came out in 1960 at the zenith of Dors’ success and it has been long sought-after by aficionados in its original red-vinyl fold-out. Dors certainly swung (just read Bob Monkhouse’s fantastic Crying With Laughter for detail) and this record is a frivolous reminder of simpler times. Dors seems to want to spend the entire time wanting to fall in love and pleasure a man, especially on Rollercoaster Blues, where she purrs froth such as, “Your mouth’s a rollercoaster, I wanna take a ride.” For those who’ve never had the pleasure, it’s just how you’d expect it: well-played swing, ever so blue, with Dors singing exactly how you’d expect. More West London than Julie London, but fascinating nonetheless.

Sanctuary CMFCD 1554 | (also limited vinyl CMXLP 1555)

Reviewed by Daryl Easlea
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