Una Valli

Legend Of South African Pop & Soul

Sometimes styled as Una Vali

Biography

Una Valli was a South African pop and soul singer who rose to prominence in the 1960s, known for her youthful charisma and dynamic vocal style. Born in Johannesburg on 29 April 1950, she grew up in Turffontein and attended Forest High School. Her musical journey began at age 12 through talent contests, and by 15 she was discovered by announcer John Walker, who invited her to perform on Springbok Radio’s Stars of Tomorrow. Valli made her professional debut with The Hustlers and soon joined Dan Hill’s band, recording her first full-length album in 1964. She also collaborated with The Tempos, The Valiants, The Flames, The Peanut Butter Conspiracy, and others, becoming a familiar voice on South African airwaves.

Her early success was fuelled by covers of international hits, including “Do-Wah-Diddy”, which helped cement her popularity. Valli’s discography spans a range of singles released on labels like CBS, Philips, Fontana, and Troubadour, often backed by prominent local bands and orchestras. She appeared in the film Africa Shakes, further showcasing her versatility as a performer. Though her recording career tapered off by the early 1970s, Una Valli remains a notable figure in South African music history, representing a generation of artists who localized global pop trends with distinctive flair.

Discography

Singles

KEY:
A-Side / B-Side (Year, Label, Catalogue number)

• My Dream / Dreamboat (Year unknown¹, Troubadour, TRS-E-9007) with The Tempos
• I Want To Be Loved / Tweedle-Dee Twist (Year unknown², Troubadour, TRS-E-9012)
• On My Birthday / Hey Lover (1963³, CBS, SSC 462)
• Do-Wah-Diddy / I Know (You Don’t Love Me Anymore) (1963⁴, CBS, SSC 463)
• Just So Bobby Can See / Really Gonna Shake (1964, CBS, SSC 488) with Dan Hill And His Orchestra⁵
• Maybe I Know / Here He Comes Now (1964, CBS, SSC 504) with Dan Hill And His Orchestra
• There Goes The Boy I Love With Mary / Let It Happen To Me (1965, CBS SSC 565) with The Valiants
• Send It With A Kiss / Red Letter Day (1965, CBS, SSC.622) with The Valiants
• Here I Stand / Love Is You, Love Is Me (1966, CBS, SSC 668) with The Valiants
• I’ll Come Running Over / Not In This World (June 1966, Philips, SSP 928)
• Why Don’t I Run Away From You? / Try To Understand (January 1967, Philips, SSP 940)
• Stop Thief with The Flames / Yum Yum⁶ with The Peanut Butter Conspiracy (1968⁷, Fontana, 384 443⁸)
• Satisfaction with The Flames / Tell Mama with The Flames (1968, Philips, P 313.751 F⁹)

Albums

Dan Hill At The Grove – Dan Hill, Dana Valery & Una Valli

Release info: 1964, CBS, ALD 6721

Tracks

1. From Russia With Love [3:15] vocal – Dana Valery
2. Theme From “El Cid” [2:52] instrumental
3. Really Gonna Shake [1:56] vocal – Una Valli & Chorus
4. Acapulco [2:15] instrumental
5. Al Di La [2:25] vocal – Dana Valery
6. Fly Me To The Moon [2:45] instrumental
7. Java [1:59] instrumental
8. Medley: [3:15]
   1. Erev Shel Shoshanim (vocal – Dana Valery)
   2. Oranges From Jaffa (instrumental)
   3. Do Di Li (vocal – Dana Valery)
9. Medley: [2:58]
   1. Fado de Villa Franca (instrumental)
   2. Fora de Portas (instrumental)
10. Guarda Che Luna [2:18] vocal – Dana Valery
11. Dominique [2:28] instrumental
12. Just So Bobby Can See [2:10] vocal – Una Valli

Una Valli sings on tracks 3 & 12, which appear to be the same versions that were released as a single and on the “Teenage Sensation!” album.

Despite the album title this is not a live album.

Based on the catalogue numbers, this album was released before “Teenage Sensation!“

Teenage Sensation!

Release info: 1964, CBS, ALD 6758

Tracks

1. Do-Wah-Diddy [2:12]
2. Everybody Loves A Lover [2:30]
3. On My Birthday [1:45]
4. Maybe I Know [2:30]
5. Too Young [2:50]
6. Just So Bobby Can See [2:10]
7. Really Gonna Shake [1:56]
8. Some Of These Days [2:30]
9. Hey Lover [2:00]
10. You Made Me Love You [2:15]
11. I Know [2:03]
12. Here He Comes Now [2:10]

Sleeve notes

Teenage Sensation is the title of this LP and describes but perfectly the young lady who is responsible for the twelve tremendous tracks on this platter. Una Valli is just fourteen years old. Now take a look at the front of this disc – what do you see? That’s right, a sensational teenager. This young lady looks like a dream and she has a voice to match. What a wonderful combination!!!

When I was asked to write the cover notes on this disc, I was knocked out because for one thing, Una goes to my old school. Forest High, and this is the only time I have ever wished that I was back at school.

Una has the kind of voice and style that makes you sit up and take note of what is going on, and she has the most remarkable mature sound that I have ever heard from a fourteen year old singer. You and I have all heard the teeny voices that most of the young girl singers have, you know they do nothing, but Una can belt out a song in a big way, and yet, she has the talent to sing a tender number with a great warmth and sincerity.

One of the most remarkable things about Una is that she first came to the attention of CBS records when she was only twelve, and though they were very impressed they wisely waited a while until developed the beautiful quality that is has today. This is Una’s first LP and it says volumes for the South African recording ability of the people concerned with this disc. The backing on all the tracks is the work of Dan Hill, the man who is responsible for so many of the musical arrangements on disc today, and here he endorses his reputation of being the best M.D. in South Africa.

Now listen to Una singing “Do-Wah-Diddy” and, by the way, she recorded this title long before anyone else in the world. Take note of the way she swings. Now play “Too Young” notice how well she treats this lovely old standard, with all the charm of a singer with far more experience.

Play any track on this great LP and you will be amazed as I was when I first heard her. I really did not believe she was only fourteen until her mother showed me her birth certificate. Don’t get the idea that I don’t believe things people tell me, it’s just that I’ve been in show biz a long time and have never, anywhere in the world, come across talent with such potential at such a tender age.

Dan Hill, her musical director, says that Una is the easiest singer to record. She just walks into the studio, the band starts to play and Una sings. That’s all – no tantrums, no retakes, no fuss. In the words of Dan Hill “If all the singers I record were as easy to work with as Una, my life would be made a lot easier”.

Una made a big impression on thousands of people when she featured with Brian Poole and the Tremeloes. I know, I was compere of that show and Una’s reception was just fantastic. She also makes her film debut in a beat film called “Shakin’ Up Africa” and all the reports I have heard say she comes over on the screen in a big way.

I have listened to this LP very carefully and I think that the title very aptly sums up my opinion of Una Valli ……. A TEENAGE SENSATION.

PETER LOTIS

Soul Meeting!! With The Flames and The Peanut Butter Conspiracy

Release info: April 1968, RAVE, RMG 1233 (South Africa) / Page One, FOR 019 (UK)

Tracks

1. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction* (listed as “Satisfaction”)
2. Tell Mama*
3. I Never Loved A Man The Way I Loved You**
4. Reach Out I’ll Be There*
5. Yesterday**
6. You Are My Sunshine*
7. Respect**
8. Nowhere To Run**
9. My Guy**
10. Take Me For A Little While*
11. Stop Thief*
12. Yum Yum**

* With The Flames, ** With The Peanut Butter Conspiracy

Sleeve notes

Contribution

Wanda Arletti – Love Power!!!

Una Valli provided backing vocals (along with Stevie van Kerken and Judy Page) on Wanda Arletti’s Love Power!! album.

Various Artists Compilations (selected)

• It’s Happening Again Discogs | Spotify

Comments

Do-Wah-Diddy

Written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich and originally released by The Exciters in November 1963. It reached #78 on the US Pop Charts in 1964. According to 45cat.com Una Valli released her single version in 1963 which would have been before Manfred Mann’s version (which was titled as “Do Wah Diddy Diddy”), in July 1964. This is echoed by Peter Lotis in the sleeve notes for the “Teenage Sensation!” album: Now listen to Una singing “Do-Wah-Diddy” and, by the way, she recorded this title long before anyone else in the world. 

Sources

Bas Möllenkramer | Discogs | Soul Safari | Tertius Louw | 45cat | Leon Rossouw | Marq Vas

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Footnotes

1. Year of release is unknown, however based on the Troubadour label catalogue number sequencing, quite possibly released in 1963. ↩︎
2. Year of release is unknown, however based on the Troubadour label catalogue number sequencing, quite possibly released in 1963. ↩︎
3. Year of release listed as 1963 on 45cat.com, 1964 on Spotify and “unknown” on Discogs. ↩︎
4. Year of release listed as 1963 on 45cat.com, 1964 on Spotify and “unknown” on Discogs. ↩︎
5. Credit on a-side label states: Una Valli with Dan Hill Orchestra. B-side says: Una Valli & Chorus with Dan Hill Orchestra. ↩︎
6. “Yum Yum” is incorrectly credited to Una Valli & The Flames on the single label. It should be Una Valli & The Peanut Butter Conspiracy. ↩︎
7. Year of release is unconfirmed. Listed as “unknown” on Discogs. ↩︎
8. Released in Ghana. No information available on whether this single was released in any other countries. ↩︎
9. Jukebox promo single released in France as “Una Valli Accompagnée Par The Flames” ↩︎