I’m not kidding you when I say that my mom’s box of 45 records changed my life and ingrained in me a love of music (especially girl groups and 60’s) that remains to this day. 

One of those records was “Party Lights” by Claudine Clark.  One of the best one-hit wonders of the 60’s and a classic girl group sound about a teenager lamenting that her mom won’t let her go to the party across the street.  Similar to the oddity of a 60+ year old Madonna singing "Like a Virgin", my friend Tony V. has pointed out "What about Claudine Clark singing in her 50's that her mom won't let her go to a party!?!" HA!!!

You can see my obsession with mom’s record collection on how I had painstakingly looked up the chart positions (IN A BOOK) back in the day, graded the record and put it in the white sleeve as a keepsake. 

LITERALLY, a one-hit wonder, Claudine charted only one time: #5 Pop and #3 R&B with “Party Lights” in 1962.  She had exactly one LP, which is fun and fluffy, but nothing on it compares to “Party Lights”.  And then there was a follow up single “Walkin’ Through a Cemetery” – interesting growling vocals from Claudine but it went nowhere. 

For having such a huge hit, I find it interesting that there is zero footage of Claudine performing on any of the numerous music shows in the 60’s.  I wonder why? 

Take a listen to this rare double-tracked version of “Party Lights” where you can hear Claudine singing lead AND background on the main vocals