Happy Birthday to the Late Kirsty MacColl

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by Ken Sumka

Published: 2017-10-10T17:18:14-05:00
Modified: 2017-10-10T17:18:14-05:00

Her name may not ring a bell to everyone but you've almost certainly heard her voice

Kirsty had an early recording career with Stiff Records when she recorded her debut single “They Don’t Know”, which, due to a record distributor’s strike didn’t make it onto the proper charts. Tracey Ullman had a big hit with it in 1983.

Kirsty was married to producer Steve Lillywhite when The Pogues were recording “Fairytale of New York”, in 1987, Steve asked Kirsty to record a ‘guide vocal’ for the song, intended as temporary until Cait O’Riordan was to re-record the female part but her version was so good, they left her version in. “Fairytale” is a perennial hit around Christmastime in the UK.

She released a few more records in the 90’s, enjoying success on both the UK and the States. Sadly, she died in a boating accident while on holiday in Mexico in 2000.

Kirsty MacColl’s “They Don’t Know”

Tracey Ullman’s cover