Posted October 23, 200717 yr As PJ Proby is making a comeback, I thought we could celebrate it by someone posting up his version of the Idle Few's classic. PJ had a good voice for a white boy. Does he do it justice?
October 23, 200717 yr As PJ Proby is making a comeback, I thought we could celebrate it by someone posting up his version of the Idle Few's classic. PJ had a good voice for a white boy. Does he do it justice? ...Much better than the Idle Few's version. The guy who wrote the song is a pal of mine, and he thinks so, too... PJ is great, and the LP that this comes from has tons of superb cuts, including his monumental and unbeatable version of "You Make Me Feel Like Someone" (sorry, Chris, but it IS unbeatable in my book...)
October 23, 200717 yr ...Much better than the Idle Few's version. The guy who wrote the song is a pal of mine, and he thinks so, too... PJ is great, and the LP that this comes from has tons of superb cuts, including his monumental and unbeatable version of "You Make Me Feel Like Someone" (sorry, Chris, but it IS unbeatable in my book...) I'm not sure I've heard the PJ version - has anyone got a sound clip?
October 23, 200717 yr PJ Proby's version is okay but very "pub singer-ish", it's not within a million miles of the Idle Few version
October 23, 200717 yr PJ Proby's version is okay but very "pub singer-ish", it's not within a million miles of the Idle Few version Well, if anyone was going to disagree with me I suppose it was inevitable that it was going to be you, Smith And I do agree with you that the Proby version is not within a million miles of the Idle Few cut, just the other way round is all
October 23, 200717 yr Well, if anyone was going to disagree with me I suppose it was inevitable that it was going to be you, Smith And I do agree with you that the Proby version is not within a million miles of the Idle Few cut, just the other way round is all
October 23, 200717 yr Had no idea P J Proby had done a version. Who did the first version ? PJ did it first - in 1966. The Idle Few did it in 1969. Until I gave him my spare pressing, the writer and my pal Billy Vera had no idea that anyone other than PJ had recorded it...
October 23, 200717 yr PJ did it first - in 1966. The Idle Few did it in 1969. Until I gave him my spare pressing, the writer and my pal Billy Vera had no idea that anyone other than PJ had recorded it... Take that's the same Billy Vera who recorded with Judy Clay one of my favs -Reaching For The Moon ????? ATB Tony
October 23, 200717 yr my pal Billy Vera Got you a present Tone Edited October 23, 200717 yr by Pete S
October 23, 200717 yr Take that's the same Billy Vera who recorded with Judy Clay one of my favs -Reaching For The Moon ????? ATB Tony## ...same fella, yes. I didn't mean to name drop, really I didn't.... Edited October 23, 200717 yr by TONY ROUNCE
October 23, 200717 yr As PJ Proby is making a comeback, I thought we could celebrate it by someone posting up his version of the Idle Few's classic. PJ had a good voice for a white boy. Does he do it justice? Played it out once at 45rpm covered up as Pinky & Perky! great stompin version, if a bit short. Oh! and it was for a laugh, at a local soul night down in Plymouth in the '70s Paul
October 23, 200717 yr While we're on about PJ Proby , how 'bout his version of That's The Tune ! Sound clip anyone ?
October 23, 200717 yr PJ did it first - in 1966. The Idle Few did it in 1969. Until I gave him my spare pressing, the writer and my pal Billy Vera had no idea that anyone other than PJ had recorded it...
October 23, 200717 yr While we're on about PJ Proby , how 'bout his version of That's The Tune ! Sound clip anyone ? Name that fooking tune.
October 23, 200717 yr Played it out once at 45rpm covered up as Pinky & Perky! great stompin version, if a bit short. Oh! and it was for a laugh, at a local soul night down in Plymouth in the '70s Paul I can think of funnier records that have been played out - and not covered up - in the name of soul music (cue Muriel Day, Joan Regan, Don Ray, Curtis Lee et al...)
October 23, 200717 yr I can think of funnier records that have been played out - and not covered up - in the name of soul music (cue Muriel Day, Joan Regan, Don Ray, Curtis Lee et al...) Don Ray is brilliant, what are you talking about
October 23, 200717 yr Author nice to see some interest in PJP. van morrison had a song about him on one of his recent albums. I think his big UK hit Hold Me is crap, but the guy certainly had a voice. Who can deny the infectiousness of Nikki Hoekky. 1500+ Torch dancers couldn't be wrong... :-) soundclip por favor...
October 23, 200717 yr PJ did it first - in 1966. The Idle Few did it in 1969. Until I gave him my spare pressing, the writer and my pal Billy Vera had no idea that anyone other than PJ had recorded it... Billy Vera as in "Good Morning Blues"??
October 23, 200717 yr nice to see some interest in PJP. van morrison had a song about him on one of his recent albums. I think his big UK hit Hold Me is crap, but the guy certainly had a voice. Who can deny the infectiousness of Nikki Hoekky. 1500+ Torch dancers couldn't be wrong... :-) soundclip por favor... He originally recorded as "Jet Powers" in an Elvis style - once had a bootleg lp with a dynamite rock&roll track by him...lost in the mists of time now
October 23, 200717 yr PJ did it first - in 1966. The Idle Few did it in 1969. Until I gave him my spare pressing, the writer and my pal Billy Vera had no idea that anyone other than PJ had recorded it... I`ve Billy Vera`s unreleased version on a BV promo CD,no i cant post it up
October 24, 200717 yr Well, if anyone was going to disagree with me I suppose it was inevitable that it was going to be you, Smith And I do agree with you that the Proby version is not within a million miles of the Idle Few cut, just the other way round is all Actually I agree with Mr Smith as well Tony. The P.J. Proby version is a little slow for these ears compared with the Idle Few's storming version innit? Best, Ian D
October 24, 200717 yr Actually I agree with Mr Smith as well Tony. The P.J. Proby version is a little slow for these ears compared with the Idle Few's storming version innit? Best, Ian D Like em both personaly, Idle Few is a better dancer but i think P J's version has much more feeling in the delivery as to why he is singing his song . More 'soul' dare i say ? Edited October 24, 200717 yr by Bogue
October 24, 200717 yr Billy Vera as in "Good Morning Blues"?? ...Same one. Beyond his activities as a performing and recording artist (which still continue to this day) Billy has been collecting Soul, R & B, Doo Wop, Rock 'n' Roll and more for his whole life. In fact, some older Sourcers will remember that he used to contribute to the discographies in "Shout" magazine, even while whe was having his hits with Judy Clay and solo, back in the 60s. He's one of the top 'ad voiceover' artists in the USA these days. Oh yes, and if you've even seen the US sitcom 'The King Of Queens', BV wrote and performed the theme song that the show used for most of its long run. If anyone's ever in Los Angeles and Billy's playing, I would urge them to go and see his show, he has a huge band with a great horn section and a good time is always guaranteed. That's 'my pal Billy' (now where's that nice bin that Pete posted up for me...)
October 24, 200717 yr Thats the Tune is on the Soul Club Jukebox here https://the.soulclub.org/cgi-bin/alpha?s=P
October 24, 200717 yr ...Much better than the Idle Few's version. The guy who wrote the song is a pal of mine, and he thinks so, too... PJ is great, and the LP that this comes from has tons of superb cuts, including his monumental and unbeatable version of "You Make Me Feel Like Someone" (sorry, Chris, but it IS unbeatable in my book...) awful version Tony, If I had a copy I'd give it to you AND send free recorded. Thank God we all enjoy somthing different
October 24, 200717 yr Sorry folks but IMVHO the best thing P.J. ever did was split his trousers whilst performing & what a bag of Sh**e "People that's why" is compared to the Idle Few's version, sounds like Vic Reeve's pub singer & "Nikki Hoekky", well words fail me, 1500 at Torch can't be wrong, soz they can & all must have been totally off their heads. Just my opinion & remember, theres a place for dross,somewhere a place for dross, Spot. Edited October 24, 200717 yr by spot
October 24, 200717 yr theres a place for dross,somewhere a place for dross Brilliant punch line Ok PJ has a good voice but does not do our northern soul traxs justice IMHO..
October 24, 200717 yr Sorry folks but IMVHO the best thing P.J. ever did was split his trousers whilst performing & what a bag of Sh**e "People that's why" is compared to the Idle Few's version, sounds like Vic Reeve's pub singer & "Nikki Hoekky", well words fail me, 1500 at Torch can't be wrong, soz they can & all must have been totally off their heads. Just my opinion & remember, theres a place for dross,somewhere a place for dross, Spot. Well, there used to be, but they shut down and knocked down the Casino a few years back, I hear
October 24, 200717 yr Tony can't argue with you on that one but can think of a few extras I'd have liked to leave inside whilst they were demolishing it. Nikki Nakki Nukki, Spot. p.s. Whats the backing track from on "Such Misery", I know it & it's driving me made. Edited October 24, 200717 yr by spot
October 24, 200717 yr Author the idle few's version will always be my favourite. nikki hoekky is a fun r&b record, if that's dross, then I can think of a pile of others that might warrant that description. micky lee lane? bob kuban? the newbeats? john fred & the playboys? the vogues? the outsiders? or any record by b j thomas or the magnificent men? it's all white poop then, innit? we can safely say they played a lot of poop at the torch & yes, they were all off their ferkin' heads. let's not get too serious guys, we might lose our widgets.
October 24, 200717 yr What about PJs version of "to make a big man cry" better than Tom or Gil,i think.
October 24, 200717 yr Top song sung by anyone does the Lirrics credit,this outstanding song is on PJ's Lp called Enigma..search the Bay shops its a must for any Collector...IMHO ofcourse
October 24, 200717 yr the idle few's version will always be my favourite. nikki hoekky is a fun r&b record, if that's dross, then I can think of a pile of others that might warrant that description. micky lee lane? bob kuban? the newbeats? john fred & the playboys? the vogues? the outsiders? or any record by b j thomas or the magnificent men? it's all white poop then, innit? we can safely say they played a lot of poop at the torch & yes, they were all off their ferkin' heads. let's not get too serious guys, we might lose our widgets. .and, of course, you only have to listen to the other side of the Idle Few's 45 to realise that they, too, were actually a white pop band. No kiddin'!
October 24, 200717 yr p.s. Whats the backing track from on "Such Misery", I know it & it's driving me made.
October 25, 200717 yr Me??? Actually, I've just remembered that P.J.'s real name is Jim Smith. You're not related, by any chance?
October 25, 200717 yr Actually, I've just remembered that P.J.'s real name is Jim Smith. You're not related, by any chance? Surprisingly not, despite the unusual surname we both share
As PJ Proby is making a comeback, I thought we could celebrate it by someone posting up his version of the Idle Few's classic. PJ had a good voice for a white boy. Does he do it justice?