"Living Doll" is a song written by Lionel Bart made popular by Cliff Richard and the Shadows (then still The Drifters) in 1959. It has topped the UK charts twice; in its original version in 1959 (their first number 1 single) and a new version recorded in 1986 in aid of Comic Relief.
Worldwide Sales
1959 version: 1.86 million
1986 version: 1.50 million
Background and Composition
"Living Doll" was written for the film Serious Charge. Lionel Bart had been approached by film producer Mickey Delamar to write songs for the film. The idea for the song came on a Sunday morning in October 1958 while reading a newspaper and seeing an advert for a child's doll. The doll was said to "kneel, walk, sit and sing". Bart recounted, "I was looking at the back pages and there was a small advert for a doll which could apparently do everything. I wrote the song in ten minutes." The song was written as an up-tempo light rock and roll song (rather than a ballad), and this is how Cliff Richard performs the song in the film.
Annabelle buys her young daughter, Christie, a talking doll named "Talky Tina" in order to comfort Christie. Annabelle has recently remarried to a man named Erich Streator, who is hostile toward the child. Erich begins to transfer this hostility to the new doll.
When Erich finds himself alone with the doll, it tells Erich she hates him and warns him to be nice to it. At first, Erich thinks Annabelle is playing a trick on him. He places the doll in a trash can in the garage, but then receives a phone call and hears the doll's voice threatening to kill him. Erich attempts to destroy the doll using a vise, a blow torch and a saw, but fails each time. Erich then places the doll in a burlap sack and returns it to the trash can weighing the lid with bricks.
He returns to his bedroom to find Annabelle packing to leave, unable to tolerate his hostility and irrational behavior any longer. She insists that Erich should see a psychiatrist. Erich maintains that the doll was talking to him, but offers to return it to Christie if Annabelle will stay. He returns to the garage and finds the doll still in the trash can. It says "My name is Talky Tina and I don't forgive you!" Erich desperately urges it to be quiet, and reluctantly returns the doll to Christie.
Provided to YouTube by Zebralution GmbH
Living Doll (Digitally Remastered) · Cliff Richard
The Great Cliff Richard
℗ 1960 Columbia DB 4306
Released on: 2017-08-13
Composer: Bart
Lyricist: Bart
Music Publisher: Copyright Control
Auto-generated by YouTube.
published: 18 Jun 2018
Cliff Richard & The Young Ones - Living Doll
Great music video featuring the young ones.
published: 25 Oct 2007
Cliff Richard / The Shadows - Living Doll (Together 1984)
Cliff & The Shadows performing 'Living Doll' live at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on the 10th of July 1984.
Footage licensed from Warner Music UK. All rights reserved.
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published: 15 Oct 2020
Cliff Richard - Living Doll (Stereo DES Mix)
Stereo DES Mix by Monotostereoking.
The song was written by Lionel Bart.
It was recorded on April 28, 1959 at EMI Studios in London by Cliff Richard and The Shadows (then still called 'The Drifters'), produced by Norrie Paramor.
"Living Doll" was written for the film Serious Charge. It was written as an up-tempo light rock and roll song (rather than a ballad), and this is how Cliff Richard performs the song in the film.
It was first released in the UK in May 1959 on the Serious Charge (EP) soundtrack.
Then, it was released as a single on July 10, 1959.
The song was #1 on the UK Singles Chart for 6 weeks from July, becoming the biggest selling single of 1959 in the UK with sales of 770,000.
Cliff Richard was awarded a Silver Disc on November 1, 1959, on the television show Sunday Night ...
published: 19 Jun 2020
Cliff Richard & The Shadows - Living Doll (The Royal Variety Performance, 22.05.1960)
Cliff Richard & The Shadows performing the hit single "Living Doll" live at "The Royal Variety Performance" in May 1960.
This video has been sourced from historical archive footage. Sound and picture have been restored to ensure best possible viewing quality.
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published: 25 Aug 2018
Cliff Richard Living Doll Lyrics
Original version subject to copyright
published: 20 Nov 2021
Cliff Richard & The Young Ones - Livin' Doll
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Cliff Richard and The Young Ones (Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ryan) perform their number one single at the Shaftesbury Avenue Theatre for the first ever Comic Relief in April 1986.
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Our mission is to drive positive change through the power of entertainment.
published: 24 Jun 2014
Cliff Richard - Living Doll (Cliff in London 1980)
Cliff performing 'Living Doll' live at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London at the 29th September 1980.
Footage licensed from BBC Studios Distribution. All rights reserved
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published: 15 Oct 2020
Living Doll
Provided to YouTube by Parlophone UK
Living Doll · Cliff Richard And The Drifters
40 Golden Greats
℗ 1959 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Lead Vocals: Cliff Richard
Engineer: Malcolm Addey
Producer: Norrie Paramor
Produced By: Norrie Paramor
Plg Unknown Participant: The Drifters
Second Vocals: The Drifters
Writer: Lionel Bart
Auto-generated by YouTube.
published: 10 Mar 2017
Cliff Richard - Living Doll (The Eddy Go Round Show, 15 Jun 1976)
Cliff performing 'Living Doll' on the Dutch TV special 'Eddy Go Round Show' in June 1976.
Footage licensed from KRO Archive. All rights reserved.
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Provided to YouTube by Zebralution GmbH
Living Doll (Digitally Remastered) · Cliff Richard
The Great Cliff Richard
℗ 1960 Columbia DB 4306
Released on: 2017...
Provided to YouTube by Zebralution GmbH
Living Doll (Digitally Remastered) · Cliff Richard
The Great Cliff Richard
℗ 1960 Columbia DB 4306
Released on: 2017-08-13
Composer: Bart
Lyricist: Bart
Music Publisher: Copyright Control
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Zebralution GmbH
Living Doll (Digitally Remastered) · Cliff Richard
The Great Cliff Richard
℗ 1960 Columbia DB 4306
Released on: 2017-08-13
Composer: Bart
Lyricist: Bart
Music Publisher: Copyright Control
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Cliff & The Shadows performing 'Living Doll' live at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on the 10th of July 1984.
Footage licensed from Warner Music U...
Cliff & The Shadows performing 'Living Doll' live at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on the 10th of July 1984.
Footage licensed from Warner Music UK. All rights reserved.
To stay up to date with all new releases on the channel subscribe here: https://bit.ly/3152uk6
Like Cliff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sircliffrichard
#CliffRichard
Cliff & The Shadows performing 'Living Doll' live at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on the 10th of July 1984.
Footage licensed from Warner Music UK. All rights reserved.
To stay up to date with all new releases on the channel subscribe here: https://bit.ly/3152uk6
Like Cliff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sircliffrichard
#CliffRichard
Stereo DES Mix by Monotostereoking.
The song was written by Lionel Bart.
It was recorded on April 28, 1959 at EMI Studios in London by Cliff Richard and The Sha...
Stereo DES Mix by Monotostereoking.
The song was written by Lionel Bart.
It was recorded on April 28, 1959 at EMI Studios in London by Cliff Richard and The Shadows (then still called 'The Drifters'), produced by Norrie Paramor.
"Living Doll" was written for the film Serious Charge. It was written as an up-tempo light rock and roll song (rather than a ballad), and this is how Cliff Richard performs the song in the film.
It was first released in the UK in May 1959 on the Serious Charge (EP) soundtrack.
Then, it was released as a single on July 10, 1959.
The song was #1 on the UK Singles Chart for 6 weeks from July, becoming the biggest selling single of 1959 in the UK with sales of 770,000.
Cliff Richard was awarded a Silver Disc on November 1, 1959, on the television show Sunday Night at the Palladium.[8]
"Living Doll" was also a #1 hit in several European countries, including Ireland, Norway and Sweden and top ten hit in numerous countries.
In the US, it was Richard's first hit single, reaching number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It was the first #1 in the UK Singles Chart for Cliff Richard and the Drifters.
Although their debut single "Move It", released in 1958, is often cited as their first #1, in fact that peaked at #2.
Stereo DES Mix by Monotostereoking.
The song was written by Lionel Bart.
It was recorded on April 28, 1959 at EMI Studios in London by Cliff Richard and The Shadows (then still called 'The Drifters'), produced by Norrie Paramor.
"Living Doll" was written for the film Serious Charge. It was written as an up-tempo light rock and roll song (rather than a ballad), and this is how Cliff Richard performs the song in the film.
It was first released in the UK in May 1959 on the Serious Charge (EP) soundtrack.
Then, it was released as a single on July 10, 1959.
The song was #1 on the UK Singles Chart for 6 weeks from July, becoming the biggest selling single of 1959 in the UK with sales of 770,000.
Cliff Richard was awarded a Silver Disc on November 1, 1959, on the television show Sunday Night at the Palladium.[8]
"Living Doll" was also a #1 hit in several European countries, including Ireland, Norway and Sweden and top ten hit in numerous countries.
In the US, it was Richard's first hit single, reaching number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It was the first #1 in the UK Singles Chart for Cliff Richard and the Drifters.
Although their debut single "Move It", released in 1958, is often cited as their first #1, in fact that peaked at #2.
Cliff Richard & The Shadows performing the hit single "Living Doll" live at "The Royal Variety Performance" in May 1960.
This video has been sourced from hist...
Cliff Richard & The Shadows performing the hit single "Living Doll" live at "The Royal Variety Performance" in May 1960.
This video has been sourced from historical archive footage. Sound and picture have been restored to ensure best possible viewing quality.
Remember to subscribe to stay up to date with all new releases on the channel.
Subscribe to Cliff Richard's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/cliffricharduk?sub_confirmation=1
Like Cliff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sircliffrichard #CliffRichard
Cliff Richard & The Shadows performing the hit single "Living Doll" live at "The Royal Variety Performance" in May 1960.
This video has been sourced from historical archive footage. Sound and picture have been restored to ensure best possible viewing quality.
Remember to subscribe to stay up to date with all new releases on the channel.
Subscribe to Cliff Richard's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/cliffricharduk?sub_confirmation=1
Like Cliff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sircliffrichard #CliffRichard
subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdF5u0ggeSETozc8fsprjcw
Cliff Richard and The Young Ones (Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ry...
subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdF5u0ggeSETozc8fsprjcw
Cliff Richard and The Young Ones (Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ryan) perform their number one single at the Shaftesbury Avenue Theatre for the first ever Comic Relief in April 1986.
Click to subscribe for more great videos: http://bit.ly/1gXbQkj
Donate: https://secure.donate.comicrelief.com/
Our mission is to drive positive change through the power of entertainment.
subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdF5u0ggeSETozc8fsprjcw
Cliff Richard and The Young Ones (Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ryan) perform their number one single at the Shaftesbury Avenue Theatre for the first ever Comic Relief in April 1986.
Click to subscribe for more great videos: http://bit.ly/1gXbQkj
Donate: https://secure.donate.comicrelief.com/
Our mission is to drive positive change through the power of entertainment.
Cliff performing 'Living Doll' live at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London at the 29th September 1980.
Footage licensed from BBC Studios Distribution. All rig...
Cliff performing 'Living Doll' live at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London at the 29th September 1980.
Footage licensed from BBC Studios Distribution. All rights reserved
To stay up to date with all new releases on the channel subscribe here: https://bit.ly/3152uk6
Like Cliff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sircliffrichard
#CliffRichard
Cliff performing 'Living Doll' live at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London at the 29th September 1980.
Footage licensed from BBC Studios Distribution. All rights reserved
To stay up to date with all new releases on the channel subscribe here: https://bit.ly/3152uk6
Like Cliff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sircliffrichard
#CliffRichard
Provided to YouTube by Parlophone UK
Living Doll · Cliff Richard And The Drifters
40 Golden Greats
℗ 1959 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Compan...
Provided to YouTube by Parlophone UK
Living Doll · Cliff Richard And The Drifters
40 Golden Greats
℗ 1959 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Lead Vocals: Cliff Richard
Engineer: Malcolm Addey
Producer: Norrie Paramor
Produced By: Norrie Paramor
Plg Unknown Participant: The Drifters
Second Vocals: The Drifters
Writer: Lionel Bart
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Parlophone UK
Living Doll · Cliff Richard And The Drifters
40 Golden Greats
℗ 1959 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Lead Vocals: Cliff Richard
Engineer: Malcolm Addey
Producer: Norrie Paramor
Produced By: Norrie Paramor
Plg Unknown Participant: The Drifters
Second Vocals: The Drifters
Writer: Lionel Bart
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Cliff performing 'Living Doll' on the Dutch TV special 'Eddy Go Round Show' in June 1976.
Footage licensed from KRO Archive. All rights reserved.
To stay up to ...
Cliff performing 'Living Doll' on the Dutch TV special 'Eddy Go Round Show' in June 1976.
Footage licensed from KRO Archive. All rights reserved.
To stay up to date with all new releases on the channel subscribe here: https://bit.ly/3152uk6
Like Cliff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sircliffrichard
#CliffRichard
Cliff performing 'Living Doll' on the Dutch TV special 'Eddy Go Round Show' in June 1976.
Footage licensed from KRO Archive. All rights reserved.
To stay up to date with all new releases on the channel subscribe here: https://bit.ly/3152uk6
Like Cliff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sircliffrichard
#CliffRichard
Provided to YouTube by Zebralution GmbH
Living Doll (Digitally Remastered) · Cliff Richard
The Great Cliff Richard
℗ 1960 Columbia DB 4306
Released on: 2017-08-13
Composer: Bart
Lyricist: Bart
Music Publisher: Copyright Control
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Cliff & The Shadows performing 'Living Doll' live at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on the 10th of July 1984.
Footage licensed from Warner Music UK. All rights reserved.
To stay up to date with all new releases on the channel subscribe here: https://bit.ly/3152uk6
Like Cliff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sircliffrichard
#CliffRichard
Stereo DES Mix by Monotostereoking.
The song was written by Lionel Bart.
It was recorded on April 28, 1959 at EMI Studios in London by Cliff Richard and The Shadows (then still called 'The Drifters'), produced by Norrie Paramor.
"Living Doll" was written for the film Serious Charge. It was written as an up-tempo light rock and roll song (rather than a ballad), and this is how Cliff Richard performs the song in the film.
It was first released in the UK in May 1959 on the Serious Charge (EP) soundtrack.
Then, it was released as a single on July 10, 1959.
The song was #1 on the UK Singles Chart for 6 weeks from July, becoming the biggest selling single of 1959 in the UK with sales of 770,000.
Cliff Richard was awarded a Silver Disc on November 1, 1959, on the television show Sunday Night at the Palladium.[8]
"Living Doll" was also a #1 hit in several European countries, including Ireland, Norway and Sweden and top ten hit in numerous countries.
In the US, it was Richard's first hit single, reaching number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It was the first #1 in the UK Singles Chart for Cliff Richard and the Drifters.
Although their debut single "Move It", released in 1958, is often cited as their first #1, in fact that peaked at #2.
Cliff Richard & The Shadows performing the hit single "Living Doll" live at "The Royal Variety Performance" in May 1960.
This video has been sourced from historical archive footage. Sound and picture have been restored to ensure best possible viewing quality.
Remember to subscribe to stay up to date with all new releases on the channel.
Subscribe to Cliff Richard's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/cliffricharduk?sub_confirmation=1
Like Cliff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sircliffrichard #CliffRichard
subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdF5u0ggeSETozc8fsprjcw
Cliff Richard and The Young Ones (Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ryan) perform their number one single at the Shaftesbury Avenue Theatre for the first ever Comic Relief in April 1986.
Click to subscribe for more great videos: http://bit.ly/1gXbQkj
Donate: https://secure.donate.comicrelief.com/
Our mission is to drive positive change through the power of entertainment.
Cliff performing 'Living Doll' live at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London at the 29th September 1980.
Footage licensed from BBC Studios Distribution. All rights reserved
To stay up to date with all new releases on the channel subscribe here: https://bit.ly/3152uk6
Like Cliff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sircliffrichard
#CliffRichard
Provided to YouTube by Parlophone UK
Living Doll · Cliff Richard And The Drifters
40 Golden Greats
℗ 1959 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Lead Vocals: Cliff Richard
Engineer: Malcolm Addey
Producer: Norrie Paramor
Produced By: Norrie Paramor
Plg Unknown Participant: The Drifters
Second Vocals: The Drifters
Writer: Lionel Bart
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Cliff performing 'Living Doll' on the Dutch TV special 'Eddy Go Round Show' in June 1976.
Footage licensed from KRO Archive. All rights reserved.
To stay up to date with all new releases on the channel subscribe here: https://bit.ly/3152uk6
Like Cliff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sircliffrichard
#CliffRichard
Got myself a crying, talking, sleeping, walking, Living Doll. Gotta do my best to please her just ’cos she’s a Living Doll. I gotta roving eye and that is why she satisfies my soul Got my one and only walking, talking, Living Doll. Take look at her hair, it’s real You don’t believe what I say just feel. Gonna lock her up in a trunk, So no big hunk can steal her away from me. Got myself a crying, talking, sleeping, walking, Living Doll. Gotta do my best to please her just ’cos she’s a Living Doll. I gotta roving eye and that is why she satisfies my soul Got my one and only walking, talking, Living Doll. Take look at her hair, it’s real You don’t believe what I say just feel. Gonna lock her up in a trunk, So no big hunk can steal her away from me. Got myself a crying, talking, sleeping, walking, Living Doll. Gotta do my best to please her just ’cos she’s a Living Doll. I gotta roving eye and that is why she satisfys my soul