Bev Harrell - What Am I Doing Here With You (1967)

(P. F. Sloan - Steve Barri)
 Australia
#9 Sydney #10 Melbourne #5 Brisbane #1 Adelaide #3 Perth

Single on HMV, produced by David Mackay, biggest hit for Adelaide singer based in Melbourne. This version apparently substitutes Doing for the Doin' of the original title.

Bev Harrell started singing as a six-year-old on a children's radio talent show in Adelaide. As a teenager she guested with live bands, and joined a new line-up of The Clefs as joint lead singer with Barrie McAskill, with the great Tweed Harris on keyboards. Harrell stayed in Adelaide when the band moved away to Melbourne, but she did eventually go professional and move to Melbourne. By then she was managed by her boyfriend Daryl Sambell who would later manage Johnny Farnham's early career.

After moving to Melbourne, she was seen on the current TV pop shows and was signed to EMI Records. As well as achieving a national hit with her first single What Am I Doing Here With You, she also charted with Come On Over To Our Place / You Don't Love Me No More (1967) and One In A Million. She released her first album This Is Bev in 1967. Bev Harrell's career lasted well beyond the 60s, into the 70s and on to the new century. Follow the links below to fill in the full story.

Further reading: 1. Bev Harrell biography at Milesago which I have drawn on heavily above. 2. Bev Harrell: official site at bevharrell.com.au  3. The Clefs history at  Barrie & Jan McAskill's website. 4. "Won with First Disc": Bev Harrell profile in Australian Women's Weekly, 9 August 1967, archived facsimile at Trove.nla.gov.au