1955 Ruby Murray: Softly, Softly

And as if to neatly provide a stark contrast to 'Mambo Italiano', here's a song that clocks in at almost precisely the same length yet is resolutely free of that 'leave them wanting more' aura. 'Softly Softly' lives up to its title insofar as the angelic 'ahhhs' on the backing go, but Murray's vocal is too overcooked and the combination of the two creates a treacly sludge of lumpy gravy that's not half as appetising as it likes to think it is and seems to drag on for twice as long than it actually does. And that's a shame because it's a good tune with an evocative lyric ("Softly, softly turn the key and open up my heart") which makes it a double pity that this particular ball was fumbled.