Vi Velasco – “The Vi Velasco Álbum” (complete LP) (stereo) (VJ) 1965

Arranged by Charlie Calello and produced by Al Kasha.

Track list:
A1 I Don't Wanna Go On
Written-By – Al Kasha, Larry Kusik and Ritchie Adams
A2 Oh No, Not My Baby
Written-By – Gerry Goffin-Carole King
A3 What Am I Supposed To Do?
Written-By – * Al Kasha and Maddy Slatoff
A4 Follow My Heart
Written-By – Big Dee Irwin and J B Wellington
A5 Never Less Than Yesterday
Written-By – Larry Kusik and Richard Ahlert
A6 You Are My Sunshine
Written-By – Charles Mitchell and Jimmie Davis
B1 Tokyo Melody
Written-By – Helmut Zacharias, Heinz Hellmer and Lionel Bart
B2 Benefit Of the Doubt
Written-By – Al Kasha, Larry Kusik and Ritchie Adams
B3 I'll Come A Little Bit Closer
Written-By – Tommy Boyce and Wes Farrell
B4 If You Must Break A Heart
Written-By – Buddy Kaye and Phil Springer
B5 That's Not The Answer
Written-By – Burt Bacharach and Hal David
B6 Reach Out For Me
Written-By – Burt Bacharach and Hal David

Hailing from San Diego, Vi Velasco broke into the entertainment business after winning a talent contest on a TV show and there followed a career as a stage actress and nightclub singer. By 1962, she was with Colpix Records and released the album, “Cantando Bossa Nova” with Zoot Sims & His Orchestra. VJ signed her in 1965, where she recorded this album with Charlie Calello arranging, The style seemed to follow that of Dionne Warwick and Nancy Wilson.

1965 was a busy year for Charlie. He arranged six hits for the 4 Seasons and “A Lover’s Concerto” for the Toys among others. He was also drafted into the 4 Seasons following the departure of Nick Massi.

Two singles were released form Vi’s album, “You Are My Sunshine”/”I Don’t Wanna Go On” and “That’s Not The Answer”/”If You Must Break A Heart”, but neither charted.

The track list includes:

“Oh No, Not My Baby”, a 1964 hit for Maxine Brown and later covered by the UK’s Manfred Mann. Later versions followed from Rod Stewart and Cher.

“Follow My Heart” was originally recorded by the song’s composer, Big Dee Irwin. It was one of a number of quality songs written by him and J B Wellington. As a singer, Big Dee charted with “Swinging On A Star” in 1963.

“Never Less Than Yesterday” was also recorded by Nancy Wilson. It was the b-side of her 1964 hit, “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am”.

“Tokyo Melody” was used by the BBC as the theme song for the 1964 Olympics.

“I’ll Come A Little Bit Closer” was an answer record to Jay & The Americans’ 1964 hit, “Come A Little Bit Closer”.

Vi closed with two Bacharach-David songs, both previously recorded by Dionne Warwick, “That’s Not The Answer” and “Reach Out For Me”. Lou Johnson also cut a version of the latter.

As neither of Vi’s albums charted, her recording career wound down in the mid-60s.