Mona Carol - "(Always A Bridesmaid) Never A Bride" b/w "What Happens Now?" (1956)

Mona Carol is a Philadelphia singer about which nothing has been documented.  I'm not certain if that is her given name or if she is even still with us.  What I do know is that she had a total of 8 songs released from 1955 through 1957 on 3 different labels.  My introduction to her was through today's featured 45.  I found my copy in a box of records that were mostly trash given to me about 15 years ago.  After playing the b-side and personal favorite, "What Happens Now?" for a prominent Philadelphia disc-jockey who will remain unnamed, I was granted the opportunity to speak with one of the song's writers, Bob Marcucci, on the telephone.  Unfortunately Bob was only able to remember that she was very beautiful, had an excellent voice and that she was one of the first people for which he ever wrote and produced a song.  He also claimed to have had quite the crush on her when he and writing partner Pete DeAngelis discovered Carol.  Marcucci admitted that he hadn't thought of her in years and was thankful that someone could jog his memory.  For those of you who are unaware, Bob & Pete would go on to start the Chancellor record label and propel the likes of Frankie Avalon, Fabian and countless others into the international spotlight during the first generation of rock and roll.  Sadly, Mona Carol was not one of those lucky folks.

Carol's first two releases were on the Casino imprint, the first in July 1955 and the second, which Bob & Pete wrote and produced, in March 1956.  Her third record, and today's featured 45, was released twice in 1956.  It appeared for the first time on the local Kent label and was picked up for national distribution by ABC-Paramount.  ABC must have really liked what they heard because they scooped her up from Marcucci and DeAngelis and gave her another release under their watch in February 1957.  That was the last time the musical world would hear from Mona Carol.  To add insult to injury, all of her releases, sans today's feature, were sent out for review by Billboard magazine and every time were deemed nice but average.  I think you'll disagree, however, after you give "What Happens Now?" a solid listen through.  Mona Carol had a great voice and it should've been heard.

-Jimmy DePre

KENT RECORDS #5001

ABC-PARAMOUNT RECORDS #9741

Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Peter DeAngelis

1956

A - Side

"(Always A Bridesmaid) Never A Bride"

(DeAngelis - Marcucci)

B - Side

"What Happens Now?"

(DeAngelis - Marcucci)