It was the latter brief diversion that got the boy labeled the Singing Milkman at the outset of his career. At 16, his mother entered him in a local talent contest and he won by singing "Love Letters in the Sand." He got to a final round, where he specifically avoided doing the standard Elvis Presley imitations that his competitors presented. This led to an appearance at a variety show on the island, where he was seen by London agent Bunny Lewis, whose wife was performing on the same bill. She, in turn, was impressed with the boy's poise and professionalism. Lewis arranged for singing lessons for the 16-year-old and began grooming him for a career on the stage in London. Lewis gave him the name Craig Douglas after seeing it outside a house in Scotland.
His breakthrough came on The Six-Five Special, then the only real showcase for rock & roll on British television. Douglas was booked on the show the same week that Cliff Richard and Joe Brown appeared, but he made an impression even in their company: A few days later, he was presented with two huge sacks of fan mail from the performance. The Six-Five Special led Douglas to a recording contract and a string of successes. Much of Douglas' career was spent at EMI, for which he had a number one hit with his version of "Only Sixteen," but also charted very high with "A Teenager in Love," "The Heart of a Teenage Girl," "Pretty Blue Eyes," and "When My Little Girl Is Smiling." Douglas wasn't really a rock & roll singer, his diction being too good and his delivery too straight-ahead for that designation.
His early records call up images of Ricky Nelson but, like a lot of young British singers of his era, he quickly aimed for a more mature audience. His singing was very emotive but also very clean. He was obviously more comfortable with dignified pop music, such as "Time," than with the more rocking numbers like "Ring-A-Ding" that he was occasionally called upon to record, with its slurred lyrics, honking saxes, and loud electric guitars (although Douglas acquitted himself well in that setting). He made the usual moves, appearing on film soundtracks (Two and Two Make Six) and in movies (It's Trad, Dad; A Painted Smile), as well as numerous television shows. Douglas' appearance alongside his EMI stablemate Helen Shapiro in It's Trad, Dad (which was Richard Lester's first feature and a dry run for A Hard Day's Night) showed off his strengths and weaknesses. He was charismatic simply based on his good looks, but was rather a stiff on camera as an actor, especially next to the vivacious Shapiro (who was also about five years younger than the then 21-year-old Douglas).
Rock & roll was just another musical genre to Douglas, which is not to say he was wrong, it's just that antique numbers like "It All Depends on You" or "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue" done straight will never resonate the same way "Dream Lover" or "Rainbows" will to listeners born after 1945. Douglas' time on the English charts ended in 1962 and his major recording career came to a halt a year later with the advent of the Liverpool sound, but he continues to perform regularly in clubs, on cruises, and in cabarets, as well as international tours. Indeed, well into the 1990s, he had an annual month-long booking in Hong Kong. He's a fondly remembered and talented exponent of England's early flirtation with rock & roll. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
When My Little Girl is Smiling
Craig Douglas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I swear I won't give in
Then my baby starts to smile at me
And I know, I know I just can't win
When my little girl is smiling
There's nothing more I can say
I see those big bright eyes
That girl is gonna get her way
When my little girl is smiling
I can't stay mad at her for long
Why should I want to fight
When I can hold her tight
I just don't care who's right or wrong
When my little girl is smiling
It's the greatest thrill there can be
She gets her way it's true
But I know I won't be blue
As long as she just smiles for me
Craig Douglas's song "When My Little Girl is Smiling" is a tender love song about a man's relationship with his partner. The song is about the power of a woman's smile to resolve any conflict between lovers. Every time the singer argues with his partner, he finds himself unable to resist her charms once she begins to smile. The song's lyrics strongly suggest that the power of love can overcome all obstacles, and that the simple act of smiling can bring two people back together after a quarrel.
The first verse of the song sets up the story. The singer swears that he won't give in during an argument with his lover, but her smile weakens his resolve. In the chorus, the singer notes that when his little girl is smiling, there's nothing more he can say. He sees her big, bright eyes and realizes that she's going to get her way. The song's second verse highlights why the singer loves his little girl's smile so much: He can't stay mad at her for long, and he'd rather hold her close than argue with her. In the final chorus, the singer affirms that his little girl's smile is the greatest thrill there can be, and that he won't be blue as long as she smiles for him.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time my baby and I have a quarrel
During an argument with my significant other,
I swear I won't give in
I promise myself that I won't yield,
Then my baby starts to smile at me
But when my lover smiles at me,
And I know, I know I just can't win
I realize that I'm immediately defeated,
When my little girl is smiling
When my sweetheart grins,
There's nothing more I can say
Anything I say is irrelevant,
I see those big bright eyes
I notice her beautiful eyes,
And then I realize
It occurs to me,
That girl is gonna get her way
She will obtain what she desires,
When my little girl is smiling
When my darling is happy,
I can't stay mad at her for long
I am incapable of remaining upset with her,
Why should I want to fight
I have no reason to argue,
When I can hold her tight
When I can embrace her warmly,
I just don't care who's right or wrong
It doesn't matter who is correct or not,
When my little girl is smiling
When my beloved is beaming,
It's the greatest thrill there can be
It's the most thrilling feeling one can experience,
She gets her way it's true
It's true that she gets her way,
But I know I won't be blue
But I am aware that I won't be unhappy,
As long as she just smiles for me
As long as she continues to appear happy for me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING, GERRY GOFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
London Girl
Great voice. On a par with Bobby Rydell, Johnny Tillotson, Bobby Vee and many of that era.
wideawakenow
When I bought and played this record at 10 years old it didn't sound like this. Stereo players didn't even exist; this sound that you are uploading is stunning. I can't get enougn.
Daniel Russell
Well maybe hacker and dynatron players would have got near
We have a hacker sovereign made in 1964 and sounds better than my modern DAB
Renato Ferreira
You need to hear it in the brazilian singer's version " Diana - Quero te ver sorrindo." I love it.
wideawakenow
probably the first record that I ever bought....what else is there to say?
Tim Webb
Loved this record kept playing it ...mum and dad weren't happy ...lol
Garbagebandit DayZ
Every time I hear this song I picture a 1960 DeSoto Adventurer parked on the curb of a brand new suburban street with mid century homes on either side.
Daniel Russell
Or in the UK a Vauxhall cresta in candy pink and white
PMA Judge
ANYONE HERE IN 2021 !!!! THE 1960'S THE VERY BEST ERA !!! ------ FROM U.K.
Acoustic Stu & Go To Gus
Love the different song refrain from Jimmy Justice's version.