4. Tell Laura I Love Her - Ray Peterson/Ricky Valence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HIHdCJA8f8 "Tell Laura I love her. Tell Laura I need her. Tell Laura not to cry, my love for her will never die" Teenage tragedy song that captured the public's imagination back in 1960 with different versions coming from Ray Peterson and Richie Valence. The latter singer's version topped the British chart. Peterson's original version was deemed too vulgar and tasteless for the British public and 20,000 copies of the song were destroyed. It certainly is a morbid little song. The basic premise is - a young teenage couple called Tommy and Laura are deeply in love. Tommy wants to propose to Laura and to get the money for a ring, he enters a car racing competition. However his car crashes, explodes and he dies in the race. Laura is sitting in the chapel hearing the words "Tell Laura I Love Her" - which he uttered before he died. If this song doesn't cheer you up, I don't know what will. The song is probably the best known of the teenage tragedy genre which peaked in the late 1950s and early 1960s. If you like Tell Laura I Love Her, check out Teen Angel by Mark Dinning and Last Kiss by Wayne Cochrane (later covered by Pearl Jam) - they are so morbid, I can't wipe this great big grin off my face.
My first film watched was Carrie aged 2 on my dad's knee. Educated at The University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. Fan of Arthouse, Exploitation, Horror, Euro Trash, Giallo, New French Extremism. Weaned at the bosom of a Russ Meyer starlet. The bleaker, artier or sleazier the better!