At the age of seven, she was already singing and playing the guitar on stage.[1] When she and her family moved out west to San Jose, she appeared on the Hometown Hayride TV program. During World War II, she worked at a defense plant. She married when she was 17, and had a daughter at 20, but the marriage failed and she and her husband split up after three years. To keep supporting herself after her divorce, she returned to the nightclub scene in California. In San Jose, she won a talent contest, thus catching the attention of bandleader and radio/TV host Dude Martin. Martin invited Thompson to sing with his band, and this eventually led to their marriage. They recorded some duets together, including "If You Want Some Lovin'", which helped her get her own solo contract from Mercury Records in 1950.
Within only a year, she had divorced Martin to marry Hank Penny, a comedian and singer. Penny and Thompson hosted a TV show in Los Angeles together before eventually moving to Las Vegas. Thompson recorded separately and also with her husband for Decca Records. However, none of their songs ever gained any real success. In 1960, Thompson signed on with Hickory Records. In 1961, "Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)" became a #5 hit on the pop charts, and she followed this up successfully with "Norman", which reached #3. Both of these hit singles were written by songwriter John D. Loudermilk. They both sold over one million copies, and were awarded with gold discs.[2]
In 1962, "Have a Good Time" was a Top 40 hit and in 1963, "Willie Can" was a minor hit. With her lighthearted and breathy voice, Thompson became a favorite among the teenage crowd of the time, even though she was in her late thirties. Two further hits, also written by Loudermilk, were "James (Hold the Ladder Steady)" and "Paper Tiger".
The sleeve notes accompanying this album, released in 1965 by Hickory Records, written by Joe Lucas, give a little more detail of Thompson's early life and recording career as follows: 'Looking at lovely Sue Thompson today, it's hard to visualise her as a child—a freckle-faced tomboy, more at home on a horse than playing with dolls and doing the little things small girls are credited with doing. Yet this is the picture of Sue Thompson during her childhood in Nevada, Missouri. Sue, an only child, startled her family when she showed a flair for singing and show business. No one in her family was remotely connected with this type of business in any way. Sue was given a guitar for her seventh birthday, and with the aid of a cousin, soon began to learn a few chords. This was it! From that time on Sue and the guitar became one. She entertained every chance she had at school, church and social functions. Sue's mother became ill, so the family moved to Sheridan, California, where Sue entered high school and once again began to entertain at every opportunity. She went to San Jose, California for her last two years of school and it was here that her first real break came. She entered a contest at San Jose theater—won—and was awarded a two week engagement on the stage and a movie part.'
Joe Lucas's notes continued 'After school Sue worked at other jobs, but kept busy with radio, TV and personal appearances. She decided to devote her full time to entertainment and has played successfully at the Golden Nugget and Show Boat Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada and the Riverside and Golden Nugget Hotels in Reno, Nevada and many, many others. Statistics wise, Sue stands five feet one inch, weighs 106 pounds and has red-blonde hair. Early in 1961, she signed an exclusive recording contract with Hickory Records, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee. Her first release "Angel, Angel" did very well, but it was her second release "Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)" that spiraled into the top five best sellers in America and established her as a top rank recording artiste. If a clincher was needed, it was achieved when her third record came out called "Norman" which even surpassed "Sad Movies". Summing it all up, Sue Thompson is a great person with a wonderful future in view.'
"Paper Tiger" in 1965 was her last Top 30 hit. In the late 1960s, she went back to country music and released the album This Is Sue Thompson Country in 1969. In 1971 she worked with country music singer Don Gibson on some albums, and they had minor hits with "I Think They Call It Love", "Good Old Fashioned Country Love" and "Oh, How Love Changes". She recorded further solo singles for the country charts, like "Big Mable Murphy", which made the Top 50 in 1975 and "Never Naughty Rosie", her last chart single in 1976. She also performed mainly at the Las Vegas casinos and at clubs in Hollywood, like the Palomino Club. In the 1990s she settled in Las Vegas, and continues to perform from time to time.
Norman
Sue Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Norman, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Norman, Norman, my love
Jimmy called me on the phone but I was gone, not at home
'Cause I was out parked all alone with darlin' Norman
Bill invited me to a show but I said no, cannot go
There's a dress that I've got to sew and wear for Norman
Norman holds me close to him, Norman kisses me and then
Norman, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ohh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Norman, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ohh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Norman, Norman, my love
Joey asked me for a date, he wanted to take me out to skate
But I told Joey he would have to make arrangements with Norman
Norman is my only love, Norman's all I'm thinking of
Norman gives me all his lovin' kissin' huggin' lovey-dovin'
Sue Thompson's "Norman" tells the story of a woman who is deeply in love with a man named Norman. She turns down other men's advances because her heart belongs to him and him only. She spends her time with Norman, even sacrificing other plans such as going to a show or going out on a date with someone else just to be with him.
The lyrics convey a sense of devotion and passion that the woman has for Norman. She describes how she loves the way Norman holds her close and kisses her. She believes that her heart belongs to him, and she is committed to him alone. The repetition of his name throughout the song emphasizes the profound love she feels for him.
The song's simple yet catchy melody, combined with the relatable lyrics, makes it a timeless classic. It has been covered by numerous artists since its release in 1962, including jazz vocalist Blossom Dearie and British rock band The Wedding Present.
Line by Line Meaning
Norman , ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
The singer gets enthusiastic and excited telling his love interest's name- Norman.
Norman, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
With this line, the singer is telling Norman's name to his friends while emphasizing it with humming tones.
Norman, Norman, my love
The singer is lovingly expressing his love for Norman and stating him as his one and only love.
Jimmy called me on the phone but I was gone, not at home
The artist was not available at home to receive a phone call from his friend, Jimmy.
'Cause I was out parked all alone with darlin' Norman
The artist was out somewhere, parked somewhere alone with his beloved, Norman.
Bill invited me to a show but I said no, cannot go
Bill invited the singer for a show, but he had to refuse the invitation since he had to sew a dress for Norman.
There's a dress that I've got to sew and wear for Norman
The singer has got to sew a dress for Norman, which he would wear and showcase his love for him.
Norman holds me close to him, Norman kisses me and then
Norman holds the artist close to him, and they share a passionate kiss, expressing their love for each other.
Norman knows my heart belongs to him and him and only him, oh
The artist affirms that his heart belongs only to Norman and nobody else, and Norman is aware of it.
Norman, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ohh, ooh, ooh, ooh
In this line, the artist can't resist himself from expressing his love for Norman and making some noise of excitement.
Norman, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ohh, ooh, ooh, ooh
The singer repeats the excitement of expressing his love for Norman, making additional noise.
Norman, Norman, my love
The artist ends the song repeating Norman's name while expressing his love for Norman.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LEE PERRY, MAX ROMEO, JOHN LOUDERMILK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sauquoit13456
On this day in 1962 {February 18th} "Norman" by Sue Thompson peaked at #3 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Top 100* chart...
Eight days earlier on February 10th, "Norman" peaked at #4 {for 2 weeks} on the Australian Kent Music Report chart...
Between 1961 and 1964 the Nevada, Missouri native had seven records on the Top 100 chart, two made the Top 10 with the above "Norman" being her biggest hit...
Besides "Norman", her other Top 10 record was "Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)", it peaked at #5 {for 1 week} in October of 1961...
She had one Top 20 record, "James (Hold The Latter Steady)", it reached #17 {for 2 weeks} in November of 1962...
Sue Thompson, born Eva Sue McKee, will celebrate her 96th birthday in five months on July 19th, 2021...
May God Bless Ms. Thompson...
* And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the Billboard's Top 10 on February 18th, 1962:
At #1. "Duke of Earl" by Gene Chandler
#2. "The Wanderer" by Dion
#3. the above "Norman"
#4. "The Twist" by Chubby Checker
#5. "Hey! Baby" by Bruce Channel
#6. "Break It To Me Gently" by Brenda Lee
#7. "Peppermint Twist (Part 1)" by Joey Dee and the Starliters
#8. "Crying In The Rain" by the Everly Brothers
#9. "Dear Lady Twist" by Gary 'U.S.' Bonds
#10. "A Little Bitty Tear" by Burl Ives
Kitty Glitter
This song came out when I was a child, and I liked it because I had a crush on a cute boy named Norman Brown. I just read that Sue Thompson passed away 9/23/21 at the age of 96, so I thought I’d stop by to reminisce and give a listen. RIP, Sue!
Frank Denardo
My prayers and sympathies to her friends and family
Daelyn Nicholls
Just discovered it myself - hence here. My crush was a William Brown!!!! Hell, makes one feel old
ntexas100
So sad. She made me popular in high school.
glenn h Friedman
sorry to hear this news
Richard Skola
Thank you for stopping by.
Robert Telarket
What a great song from my pre-teen years when it first came out!!!
Paul Peers
Unbelievably, the guy that wrote this gorgeous hit also wrote the mighty Tobacco Road - what a songwriter !
Sandra Grandstrand
Are you kidding me!! Talk about being versatile!!
David Dorrell
Was his name Laudermilk?