When she was just eighteen years old in 1961, attending her first year at university in Nashville, when Carla Thomas recorded "Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes)" (Carla Thomas) in just one take. The single from her album of the same name hit number five R&B and number two on the Top One Hundred. Carla is the daughter of Rufus Thomas.

From her 1980 self-titled debut LP Bernadette Peters (Lazzara) covered "Gee Whiz" and peaked at number three on the Adult Contemporary chart while reaching thirty-one pop. The working title for the album was "Decades" and included cover art by Alberto Vargas. The Broadway musical star is on my short list of fantasies. I doubt that I am alone.