The Pearls
English 1970s duo with the UK Top 10 hit 'Guilty'.
The Pearls were a vocal duo from Liverpool, England, active in the 1970s. The group consisted of Lyn Cornell and Ann Simmons (born O'Brien). Over their career, they put out twelve singles. Their biggest hit, "Guilty," climbed to number 10 on the UK Singles Chart in June 1974. Their records appeared in many countries, including Europe, the Far East, the United States, Canada, South Africa, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia, often with different catalogue numbers and on various labels.
Cornell and Simmons first sang together in The Vernons Girls. With help from producer Phil Swern, they formed The Pearls in 1972. Before that, Cornell had a brief solo career—she dated Adam Faith and had minor chart success with "Never on a Sunday" (which reached No. 30 in 1960) and a Christmas song, "The Angel and the Stranger." The Pearls' early singles were covers: "Third Finger Left Hand" (originally a B-side to Martha and the Vandellas' "Jimmy Mack"), The Ronettes' "You Came, You Saw, You Conquered," and The Stylistics' "You Are Everything." All three made the UK top 50. Their next single, "Yo Yo" (a fast pop song written and previously recorded by Chris Andrews), came out in 1973. These records were on Bell Records. Notably, the first Pearls single, "Third Finger Left Hand," was actually sung by the duo Sue and Sunny (Sue Glover and Sunny Leslie), not Cornell and Simmons, because Sue and Sunny had prior contractual obligations and couldn't front the group when the record was released. This fact is noted on The Pearls' compilation album. In total, Bell issued seven Pearls singles.
The Pearls also recorded original songs, including "Let's Make Love Again" and "Wizard of Love," but none of these reached the UK Top 50. Their only original to chart was "Guilty," co-written by Ron Roker, which became a Top 10 hit in 1974. A previously unreleased cover of The Everly Brothers' "Bye Bye Love" later appeared on their compilation album, *A String of Pearls*.
In 1975, The Pearls switched to the Private Stock label, releasing three singles over the next two years. The first, "Lead Us Not into Temptation," was an original.
Quick Facts
- Background
- group_or_band
- Origin
- England
- Genre
- Pop
- Years Active
- 1972–1978
- Label
- Bell, Private Stock, Handkerchief, Ebony
- Past Members
- Lyn Cornell / Ann Simmons
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Cornell and Simmons were originally part of The Vernons Girls and with assistance from the record producer Phil Swern formed The Pearls in 1972. Cornell had previously been a solo singer with minor success including 'Never on a Sunday' (No. 30 in 1960). The Pearls' first records were cover versions of 1960s songs, though the vocal on their debut single 'Third Finger Left Hand' was not performed by Cornell and Simmons but by the duo Sue and Sunny due to contractual obligations. Their early singles on Bell Records included covers of The Ronettes and The Stylistics, all making the UK top 50.
The Pearls' original songs included 'Let's Make Love Again' and 'Wizard of Love', though they all just failed to make the UK Top 50.
Reader's Guide
The Pearls represent a notable but modestly successful act of the 1970s UK pop scene, emerging from the Vernons Girls tradition. Their biggest achievement was the Top 10 single 'Guilty' in 1974, which remains their most recognized work. The duo's career illustrates the transition from session and backing singing to fronting their own act, with both members maintaining parallel careers as session vocalists. Their discography includes a mix of covers and original material, with several singles finding success on the Northern soul circuit. The 2005 compilation 'A String of Pearls' and the 2023 US compilation 'Anthology' have preserved their work, though with noted errors in track listing. Their legacy is that of a hardworking duo who achieved a brief moment of chart prominence while contributing to the broader tapestry of 1970s British pop and soul.
Did You Know?
- The vocal on The Pearls' first single 'Third Finger Left Hand' was actually performed by the duo Sue and Sunny, not by Lyn Cornell and Ann Simmons.
- Lyn Cornell sang and toured with the James Last Orchestra during her entire time as a member of The Pearls and for many years afterwards.
- The 2023 compilation 'Anthology' contains 22 songs, all featured on the 2005 CD, but omits 'Bye Bye Love' and 'Let's Make Love Again'.
- Cornell married session musician Andy White, who was the drummer on the album version of The Beatles' first hit 'Love Me Do'.
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