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Unreleased & Rare Petula Recordings

A curated archival overview of recordings that remain officially unreleased, partially issued, withdrawn, or otherwise inaccessible to the public.

Across a career that spans continents, genres, languages, and decades, Petula has recorded far more than the world has ever officially heard. Studio demos, rehearsal tapes, withdrawn singles, private workshop recordings, concert captures, advertising commissions, and developmental material for stage musicals, all of these form a parallel history running alongside her celebrated catalogue.

Much of this work was never intended for commercial release. Some pieces were stepping stones in the creation of larger projects. Others were recorded for reference, for workshops, for collaborators, or for moments that passed too quickly to be preserved publicly. Yet each one offers a glimpse into Petula's artistry at its most intimate.

This A-Z series brings together these lesser-known recordings in a structured, archival format, not to suggest ownership or circulation, but to document their existence, context, and significance. Each week, a new letter will explore a curated selection of unreleased or rarely heard material, drawing on production notes, historical references, and the creative partnerships that shaped them.

The aim is simple: to celebrate the depth of Petula's creative life, to honour the collaborators who worked alongside her, and to shine a light on the extraordinary body of work that remains outside the official discography.

Whether you're a long-time collector, a musical-theatre devotee, or simply someone who loves discovering hidden corners of Petula's legacy, this series offers a guided journey through the recordings that tell the fuller story, the story behind the story.

And so, with great pleasure, we begin at the beginning:

A is for...

A Sign of the Times
Writers: Tony Hatch / Jackie Trent
Recording: Live at the Copacabana, New York
Date: October 1966
Duration: 02:52

A vibrant, previously unheard performance captured during Petula's two-week Copacabana engagement. Four complete shows were recorded for reference, and only one commercially issued. This particular take of A Sign of the Times is one of the standout moments: crisp, confident, and delivered with the electric polish of her peak American period. A rare surviving document of a legendary nightclub run.

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All That Matters to Me
Writers: Petula Clark / Dee Shipman
Recording: Studio demo
Date: Written 2012; recorded 2014
Duration: 01:56

Composed for J'Accuse…! The Passions of Emile Zola, this emotionally charged piece showcases a commanding lead vocal by Dave Willetts. Recorded in 2014, the song reflects the mature, dramatic writing partnership between Petula and Dee Shipman during their later creative period. Despite its significance within the Zola material, the track remains unreleased.

This entry is included to recognise Petula's authorship and to ensure the song's place within the broader record of her compositional work, even though the recording itself features another performer.

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All Through the Years
Writers: Petula Clark / Dee Shipman
Recording: Rehearsal tapes, writing tapes, and pit recordings
Date: 1989
Duration: Various

A key showstopper from the developmental period of Someone Like You, All Through the Years exists in multiple forms. Surviving materials include early writing‑session tapes, rehearsal recordings, and a version performed by Kenny Clayton during 1989 rehearsals (it was then called The Preacher's Wife). Additional pit recordings captured by Kenny document the song's development as the musical moved toward its first staging. None of these recordings have been commercially released, making this one of the most intriguing archival pieces from the show's creation.

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Amen
Writers: Petula Clark / Dee Shipman / Kenny Clayton

Amen (Early Rehearsal Draft)
Recording: Private rehearsal
Date: 1985
Duration: 06:05

A fascinating glimpse into the earliest shaping of Amen, featuring Petula working through the song with Kenny Clayton at the piano while lyricist Dee Shipman offers guidance. Raw, exploratory, and historically important for understanding the birth of Someone Like You.

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Amen (Redwood Studios Session)
Recording: Redwood Studios, London
Date: 1985
Duration: 05:54

A full-ensemble studio run-through capturing the song as it began to take its theatrical form. This session reflects the musical's development and Petula's increasingly assured vocal interpretation.

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Amen (Chichester Festival Theatre Tryout)
Recording: Live in concert
Date: 1986
Duration: 07:18

Performed publicly for the first time during Petula's Chichester concert, this rendition is notable for the audience's enthusiastic response. The tape reveals that Amen was so warmly received that Petula encored it on the spot. One of only two Someone Like You songs previewed that evening, making it a key milestone in the musical's development.

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Amen II
Writers: Petula Clark / Dee Shipman
Recording: Redwood Studios, London
Date: 1985
Duration: 06:05

A companion piece to the primary Amen demo, recorded during the same Redwood sessions. This version explores alternate structural ideas and vocal phrasing, offering insight into the creative experimentation behind the score.

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Amen, Which One Is Really Me?
Writers: Petula Clark / Dee Shipman
Full Studio Demo (Snake Ranch Studios)
Recording: Snake Ranch Studios, London
Date: December 1985
Duration: 04:16

A complete ensemble demo featuring Petula alongside Steve Barton, Marjorie Barnes, and Paul Jones. This polished recording captures the dramatic interplay of the characters and represents one of the most fully realised demos from the Someone Like You workshop period.

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Anger
Writers: Petula Clark / Dee Shipman
Recording: Demo recording
Date: 1989
Duration: 03:50

Written for Dave Willetts' solo album On and Off Stage (Silva Screen, 1990), Anger was demoed in 1989 but ultimately not included on the final release. The song explores the emotional volatility of its title subject, crafted specifically to showcase Willetts' ability to shift between his "big" and "little" vocal registers. The arrangement for the demo was created by Kenny Clayton.

Lyricist Dee Shipman later reflected on the inspiration behind the piece, recalling a childhood poem about not spoiling the world with anger and a moment of clarity from her young god-daughter, Chiara, who observed: "I don't think that the world is a bad place. I think it's a beautiful place. It's just that some people don't know how to behave properly." This simple but poignant insight became the emotional core of the lyric.

This entry is included to recognise Petula's authorship and to ensure the song's place within the broader record of her compositional work, even though the recording itself features another performer.

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An Ordinary Man
Writers: Petula Clark / Dee Shipman
Recording: Studio demo
Date: Written 2012; recorded 2014
Duration: 04:40

An evocative later collaboration between Petula and Dee Shipman, performed by West End star Dave Willetts. The introduction features Willetts as "Zola" and Jacinta Mulcahy as "Sandrine," setting the dramatic tone before Willetts' stirring lead vocal. Accompanied by Greg Arrowsmith on piano, this recording forms part of the developmental material for the musical Zola.

This entry is included to recognise Petula's authorship and to ensure the song's place within the broader record of her compositional work, even though the recording itself features another performer.

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Another Major Tragedy
Writer: Wine
Recording: Studio
Date: 1975
Duration: 03:28

A long-rumoured mid-70s track that briefly surfaced in 2023 as a digital release as part of the Blue Lady album which was placed on digital platforms before being withdrawn within hours. Although technically "released," its near-instant removal meant only a tiny handful of listeners ever accessed it. For all practical and archival purposes, it remains an unreleased rarity.

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Avon Christmas Feelings
Writers: Greenaway / Reginald
Recording: Promotional recording for Avon Cosmetics
Date: 1982
Duration: 02:34

Recorded as part of Avon's UK Christmas campaign, this festive track was paired with a promotional film featuring Petula performing against the Avon logo. Despite its professional production, the song was never commercially issued, making it a charming and little-known seasonal curio. You can watch the promotional video that includes the song here>>

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B is for...

Beat Out Dat Rhythm On the Drum
Writers: Oscar Hammerstein II / Georges Bizet / Ludovic Halévy / Henri Meilhac 
Recording: Live at the Royal Albert Hall, London 
Date: 1983 
Duration: 04:05

Captured during Petula's 1983 Royal Albert Hall concert, this dynamic performance of a song from the musical Carmen Jones was one of eight selections omitted from the original MFP album release. The recording showcases Petula's flair for theatrical material and her ability to reinterpret classic repertoire. Its inclusion here acknowledges its place among the unreleased highlights of that celebrated concert.

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C is for...

Colour My World (English-language version)
Writers: Tony Hatch / Jackie Trent 
Recording: Studio 
Date: 2000 
Duration: 05:05

A newly recorded interpretation of the 1960s classic, this 2000 version reflects a contemporary production style while preserving the song's melodic charm. It stands as a rare example of Petula revisiting her signature hits in a modern studio setting, yet it remains unreleased.

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Colour My World (French-language version)
Writers: Tony Hatch / Jackie Trent / Petula Clark 
Recording: Studio 
Date: 2000 
Duration: 05:01

Reimagined in French for a fresh 2000 arrangement, this version features lyrics personally adapted by Petula, earning her a co-writing credit. The performance offers a sophisticated, continental reinterpretation of one of her most enduring songs. Although professionally produced, it has never been commercially issued.

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D is for...

Dear Hearts
Writers: Sammy Fain / Bob Hilliard 
Recording: Live at the Copacabana, New York 
Date: October 1966 
Duration: 03:17

Recorded during Petula's two-week Copacabana engagement, this performance is one of four complete shows captured for reference but never released. Dear Hearts highlights the warmth and intimacy of her nightclub repertoire during a pivotal moment in her American career.

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December Morn
Writers: Richard Carpenter / Frank Oland 
Recording: Capitol Studios, Los Angeles 
Date: 2002

Recorded at the legendary Capitol Studios, this session features Richard Carpenter as pianist, writer, arranger, and producer. The track reflects the elegant, polished sound characteristic of Carpenter's collaborations. Its inclusion here recognises Petula's role as performer within this unreleased studio project.

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Don't Give Up / Tomorrow / Look for the Silver Lining
Writers: Hatch / Trent / Strouse / Charnin / Kern / DeSylva 
Recording: Live at the Royal Albert Hall, London 
Date: 1983 
Duration: 07:50

This medley, performed during the 1983 Royal Albert Hall concert, was among the selections not included on the original MFP album. It brings together material from contemporary musical theatre and classic songwriters, reflecting Petula's ability to link contrasting pieces into a single, coherent performance.

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Downtown
Writer: Tony Hatch 
Recording: Live at the Copacabana, New York 
Date: October 1966 
Duration: 03:40

A rare live nightclub performance of Petula's signature hit, recorded during her Copacabana residency. Although several shows were recorded for reference, only one night has been commercially released. These unpublished rendition captures the immediacy and charisma of her mid-60s stage presence.

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Drive On, Strive On
Writer: Petula Clark 
Recording: Studio 
Date: 1977 
Duration: 03:26

Written and composed by Petula, this 1977 recording features an unused lyric originally intended for A Carousel but ultimately set aside. Its inclusion acknowledges Petula's authorship and preserves the song's place within her broader body of compositional work.

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Driven by Emotion (Original demo)
Writer: Petula Clark 
Recording: Demo 
Date: January 2005 
Duration: 04:45

An original demo recorded in New York under the production of Joseph Baker. The track reflects Petula's continued songwriting activity into the 2000s and her willingness to explore contemporary musical textures. As with other entries, its presence here recognises her authorship and documents its place within her creative output.

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E is for...

Edelweiss
Writers: Richard Rodgers / Oscar Hammerstein II
Recording: Live at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Date: 1983
Duration: 04:08

Performed during Petula's 1983 Royal Albert Hall concert, this gentle rendition was one of eight selections not included on the original MFP album release. Its listing here documents the song's place within the full programme of that concert.

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Elton John Medley
Writers: Elton John / Bernie Taupin / John Osborne
Recording: Live at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Date: 1983
Duration: 07:26

Another of the unreleased items from the 1983 Royal Albert Hall performance, this medley brings together several Elton John titles arranged for Petula's concert set. Its inclusion acknowledges its presence in the original running order, despite its omission from the commercial album.

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Empty Spaces / Green Hill, West Virginia / Empty Spaces
Writers: Petula Clark / Dee Shipman
Recording: Snake Ranch Studios, London
Date: 1985
Duration: 06:42

A full studio demo recorded in 1985 for Petula and Dee Shipman's stage musical Someone Like You. The session features Petula alongside Paul Jones (of Manfred Mann) and Marjorie Barnes, a noted jazz and Broadway vocalist. Developed as part of the show's early workshop material, the piece reflects the musical's evolving structure during this period. Its inclusion here recognises Petula's authorship and documents the song's place within the wider creative development of the project.

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F is for...

Feu De Paille
Writers: Gérald / Payton / Coats
Recording: Studio
Date: 1960s (Chante album era)
Duration: 03:19

An alternate recording of Ce Matin-Là from the Chante album sessions, featuring revised French lyrics and a subtly reshaped vocal line. This version offers a fascinating glimpse into the parallel material prepared during Petula's French-language period, preserved here as part of the broader record of her studio work.

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Flight
Writer: Craig Carnelia
Recording: Studio demo, New York
Date: 1994
Duration: 05:05

Recorded as part of Petula's 1994 "New York Sessions," this demo was produced by Joseph Baker and stands as one of twelve tracks laid down during that creative period. Petula's interpretation brings a theatrical clarity to Carnelia's writing, making this an especially compelling entry among her unreleased 1990s material. Read our full length feature on these sessions here>>

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For All We Know
Writers: Karlin / Wilson / Griffin
Recording: Live at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Date: February 6, 1983
Duration: 02:27

A poignant and deeply felt performance delivered as a tribute to Karen Carpenter, who had passed away just two days earlier. Recorded during Petula's 1983 Royal Albert Hall concert, this moving rendition is one of eight selections not included on the original MFP album release. Its presence here acknowledges both its emotional significance and its place within the surviving concert material.

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This page constitutes a fan-curated, non-commercial historical reconstruction. It is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not endorse, encourage, or facilitate the duplication, exchange, or distribution of unreleased Petula Clark recordings.

Coming next week... G is for...

Questions? Drop us an email: info@petula-archives.co.uk