Did you know that Bette Davis cut a record in 1962? In a promotional move by Warner Brothers, Bette teamed up with singer Debbie Burton for the upbeat rock n' roll version of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" that was released shortly before the premiere of the titular film. This was not Ms. Davis' first recording but it certainly is her most memorable.
The song made the charts, but Bette was not asked to do any follow up teenage songs. Indeed, the Frank DeVol tune is very likable and has a catchy rhythm that's hard to get out of your head. The lyrics, by screenwriter Lukas Heller, are also clever but it's Debbie Burton's husky voice and Bette's inimitable "sprechgesang" that really makes it memorable. Have a listen to the song on Youtube and notice how the edges of your mouth naturally curl up when Bette makes her entrance with "Here's what happened to Baby Jane....." Good stuff. If you want to follow up with another goodie, watch Bette perform this on The Andy Williams Show.
