Popular Post Ady Potts Posted October 31, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) Thought I'd share this, some might find it interesting ? Years ago I was fortunate enough to end up with Billy Arnells copy of Tough Girl. This was via a third party so unfortunately I didn't get to meet him. Anyway, with the record came an interesting news paper cutting that he'd kept since the records release. Billy (real name Smith) was only 17 when Tough Girl came out. According to the news paper cutting the record was to be released as "Little Willie and the Sparkles" - Tough Girl B/W Little Baby. I can't do scans at the moment so I've attached a photo, hopefully it will enlarge when you click on it. Edited October 31, 2014 by pottsy 15 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Paul U Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Great post mate! Always liked this tune, not because of its stand out brilliance but, because of the first time I heard back in the '70s the memories that it evokes - but that's another story ;-) Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
John A Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) I wonder what happened to him? What with the overthrow of the Beatles not quite going to plan I always found that scrap of newspaper fascinating Ady. Hope ya well mate? Edited October 31, 2014 by John A 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Adey- Great post & info shared Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Godzilla Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 I wonder what happened to him? What with the overthrow of the Beatles not quite going to plan He wrote, produced and presumably played organ on this psych-funker. 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Pete S Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 I've seen that article before, someone else must have cut it out of the paper because I'm sure I saw it on Ebay, years ago Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Tony Turner Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 There is an alternate version of Tough Girl (rubbish), and the Little Baby side on emusic.com Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Winsford Soul Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Nice one Adey. Hope your well Steve Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
MrsWoodsrules Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) I loved this at Wigan, tried to buy a copy of Richard, he'd let it go the week before, that killed me at the time. To be honest, it's dated now, sounds like something by Russ Conway played an Blackpool tower organ now, still, it was a great atmospheric tune in the main hall, it was of its time. Anyone remember the horrible vocal? Was it Sammy Davis Jr or was that a cover up name, I seem to remember? Edited October 31, 2014 by MrsWoodsrules Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Popular Post Andy Rix Posted October 31, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 31, 2014 There are always interesting back stories to these 45s ….. Billy Smith changed his surname to Arnell for the 45 release as he thought it sounded more showbiz ! … he was actually only 14 at the time but as the band were gigging in bars he had to pretend he was much older Billy and Lou started the group together .. they lived less than a block apart in Fair Lawn NJ. Later they added friends: Eddie Hoffman (organ) and Jack Gullone (drums). Eddie became a teacher somewhere in Long Island. Jack ended up living in Northern NJ. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Massachusetts. The group played all over locally and by chance, meet Joe Martin of Apex-Martin Distributors in Newark, NJ. That meeting led to the "Tough Girl" recording session. When they did the first version of Tough Girl, the producer (the original one) wasn't happy - nor was Joe Martin. So he fired that producer and brought in George Kerr. George didn't like the band, so they redid the entire thing without the Sparkels, only with Billy singing and Lou on guitar. George brought in Eric Gale on guitar, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie on drums, Bobbie Banks on Organ, and a forgotten bass player. In addition they used the studio horn section that Lou arranged for plus two trumpets, two saxes and two vibes players. Billy ended up starting a record company and a recording studio in NY with a partner named Steve Loeb Lou went on to have a very impressive career in the music industry which you can see here https://www.louhemsey.com/About_Lou_Hemsey.html Andy 14 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Peter99 Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 There are always interesting back stories to these 45s ….. Billy Smith changed his surname to Arnell for the 45 release as he thought it sounded more showbiz ! … he was actually only 14 at the time but as the band were gigging in bars he had to pretend he was much older Billy and Lou started the group together .. they lived less than a block apart in Fair Lawn NJ. Later they added friends: Eddie Hoffman (organ) and Jack Gullone (drums). Eddie became a teacher somewhere in Long Island. Jack ended up living in Northern NJ. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Massachusetts. The group played all over locally and by chance, meet Joe Martin of Apex-Martin Distributors in Newark, NJ. That meeting led to the "Tough Girl" recording session. When they did the first version of Tough Girl, the producer (the original one) wasn't happy - nor was Joe Martin. So he fired that producer and brought in George Kerr. George didn't like the band, so they redid the entire thing without the Sparkels, only with Billy singing and Lou on guitar. George brought in Eric Gale on guitar, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie on drums, Bobbie Banks on Organ, and a forgotten bass player. In addition they used the studio horn section that Lou arranged for plus two trumpets, two saxes and two vibes players. Billy ended up starting a record company and a recording studio in NY with a partner named Steve Loeb Lou went on to have a very impressive career in the music industry which you can see here https://www.louhemsey.com/About_Lou_Hemsey.html Andy Great stuff Andy. Peter Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Jamesh Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Thanks Andy, fascinating read Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Only Dreaming Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Cheers for the info Andy. I never knew there were so many big names involved in the record. Dave Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Frankie Crocker Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Good post Ady and well enhanced by Andy's contribution. Great record and one that I dream of owning one day. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Prophonics 2029 Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 I never would have thought this was a 14 year old boys lyrics or a one singing...ever. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Jerry Hipkiss Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Informative stuff as always Mr Rix...but can anyone remember what it was covered up as? I have a long running (good natured) argument with Flynn-san of Tokyo, who was far too young to be there :-) , but I can remember charging up to the stage at St Ives and yelling "what's this?"...and the answer came "The Sparkles - New Jersey Pike"...anyone confirm please? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Tfk Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 He wrote, produced and presumably played organ on this psych-funker. the-second-thought-slingshot-briteleaf.jpg Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Tfk Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 (edited) He wrote, produced and presumably played organ on this psych-funker. the-second-thought-slingshot-briteleaf.jpg Billy Arnell with The Brothers ? NYC / NJ session on Zanzee... BA On guitar as per his Sparkles group ? Edited November 1, 2014 by tfk Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Pete S Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Informative stuff as always Mr Rix...but can anyone remember what it was covered up as? I have a long running (good natured) argument with Flynn-san of Tokyo, who was far too young to be there :-) , but I can remember charging up to the stage at St Ives and yelling "what's this?"...and the answer came "The Sparkles - New Jersey Pike"...anyone confirm please? Never heard that before Jerry, so must have been a different c/u name...or was not covered at all at Wigan 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
macca Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Martyn Smith from Bedford, who has an extraordinary memory regarding all things St. Ives, claims that this, along with many other sounds, were St.Ives firsts. I only did a Wigan twice that year (77) and fore end and back end of the year and remember St. Ives really giving Wigan a run for its money, both in terms of the crowds and quality of sounds. It was a long time ago, so my memory may be "spiked". :-) Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest gordon russell Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 great info.........but still a pop record.....not really soul Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Billywhizz Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Martyn Smith from Bedford, who has an extraordinary memory regarding all things St. Ives, claims that this, along with many other sounds, were St.Ives firsts. I only did a Wigan twice that year (77) and fore end and back end of the year and remember St. Ives really giving Wigan a run for its money, both in terms of the crowds and quality of sounds. It was a long time ago, so my memory may be "spiked". :-) spot on and clees macca, billy 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
macca Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Why would George Kerr have been draughted in on this? Did he do Pop stuff as well the more obvious sounds he's associated with? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Jordirip Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 (edited) Why would George Kerr have been draughted in on this? Did he do Pop stuff as well the more obvious sounds he's associated with? I was thinking that too macca. I thought George Kerr was pretty much a black artistes only producer, or was Billy Arnell black? I've never heard one of his productions sound as poppy as the Billy Arnell record. Edited November 1, 2014 by jordirip 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest soultanforreal Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 It was and is a fantastic sound black, white whatever colour its soul was in brilliant dancer inerpretation out on the floor and yes it was never better than at st ives 77 maybe someone should do a film on those other venues might be a tadge gentler than the one just done Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
purist Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 I was thinking that too macca. I thought George Kerr was pretty much a black artistes only producer, or was Billy Arnell black? I've never heard one of his productions sound as poppy as the Billy Arnell record. Presumably thats him in the photo of the album sleeve holding the guitar, looks pretty much like a black man to me although he could be one of the other 8 black men in the photo (yes I counted up, nine members named in The Brothers and nine men in the photo. Would these be the same 'The Brothers' who recorded the anthemic "Are You Ready For This" on RCA?) btw - Am I alone in thinking a lot of black artists were trying their best to sound white enough for plays on the white pop radio of the day (think of the many Drifters sound-a-like bands there were, for example) after all they were all trying to make hit records.... weren't they ? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
macca Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 (edited) Billy appears on the far right of this photo with Riot, a heavy metal outfit he and Steve Loeb signed in 1975. It's the only pic of him I can find. https://books.google.es/books?id=ZyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT13&lpg=PT13&dq=billy+arnell+fire+sign&source=bl&ots=E_KBBecY8p&sig=ZfeMwy61mcRMELnSAH7C8x1NcNc&hl=es&sa=X&ei=qh1VVOnvEJDjasSmgZAD&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false Edited November 1, 2014 by macca Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Godzilla Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Billy appears on the far left of this photo with Riot, a heavy metal outfit he and Steve Loeb signed in 1975. It's the only pic of him I can find. https://books.google.es/books?id=ZyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT13&lpg=PT13&dq=billy+arnell+fire+sign&source=bl&ots=E_KBBecY8p&sig=ZfeMwy61mcRMELnSAH7C8x1NcNc&hl=es&sa=X&ei=qh1VVOnvEJDjasSmgZAD&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false Well here's another (at least I think it's him) - all their names are helpfully written on and arrowed in marker pen Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Jordirip Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Presumably thats him in the photo of the album sleeve holding the guitar, looks pretty much like a black man to me although he could be one of the other 8 black men in the photo (yes I counted up, nine members named in The Brothers and nine men in the photo. Would these be the same 'The Brothers' who recorded the anthemic "Are You Ready For This" on RCA?) btw - Am I alone in thinking a lot of black artists were trying their best to sound white enough for plays on the white pop radio of the day (think of the many Drifters sound-a-like bands there were, for example) after all they were all trying to make hit records.... weren't they ? For some reason I always thought he was white John. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Godzilla Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Presumably thats him in the photo of the album sleeve holding the guitar, looks pretty much like a black man to me although he could be one of the other 8 black men in the photo (yes I counted up, nine members named in The Brothers and nine men in the photo. Would these be the same 'The Brothers' who recorded the anthemic "Are You Ready For This" on RCA?) btw - Am I alone in thinking a lot of black artists were trying their best to sound white enough for plays on the white pop radio of the day (think of the many Drifters sound-a-like bands there were, for example) after all they were all trying to make hit records.... weren't they ? The singer of the vocal version of Tough Girl is black? I'd take a lot of convincing... Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 (edited) The Instrumental was the Big sound in the 70's, not the vocal.It's a great instrumental, and when played loud in a venue it does sound atmospheric! Trouble is when ever it's played now it's always the vocal that's played.Not a record for the deep soul fans!The newspaper cutting is a great piece of lost music history, enjoyed reading it. Edited November 1, 2014 by Guest Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
macca Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Well here's another (at least I think it's him) - all their names are helpfully written on and arrowed in marker pen 1975.jpg I'd seen that photo but wasn't sure that it was the same Billy Arnell, unlike the one with his partner at Fire Sign, Steve Loeb. The Billy Arnell featured in the group shot are of a west coast band called the Stumpbreakers. Could be him though. Apart from them recording hard rock acts like Riot he and Loeb recorded many of the nascent NYC Hip Hop acts of the early 80s. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
macca Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 (edited) There's another Billy Arnell who died in 2012 and was known on Youtube as BM_MIDI. He was based in NYC and well respected musician and contributor the Cakewalk forum. Not sure if it's "our" Billy boy though. Edited November 1, 2014 by macca Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Mick Holdsworth Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 (edited) Seem to remember Billy Arnell features on the credits of some of the Drifters Bell recordings from early 70's. Can't remember which ones though (Or was it on the Fantastics recording credits, same time same label ?) Edited November 2, 2014 by Mick Holdsworth Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Theothertosspot Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Informative stuff as always Mr Rix...but can anyone remember what it was covered up as? I have a long running (good natured) argument with Flynn-san of Tokyo, who was far too young to be there :-) , but I can remember charging up to the stage at St Ives and yelling "what's this?"...and the answer came "The Sparkles - New Jersey Pike"...anyone confirm please? The Sprinkles - New Jersey Connection Ref Shades of Soul Issue 11 (article by Andy Rix/Richard Domar) Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
tosspot Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 (edited) Edited November 2, 2014 by tosspot Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Jerry Hipkiss Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 The Sprinkles - New Jersey Connection Ref Shades of Soul Issue 11 (article by Andy Rix/Richard Domar) Ho hum...Oh well, I'm pretty sure my memory is correct, but I'll just have to roll with it...for now...;-) Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
macca Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Might it have been New Jersey Turnpike, Jerry? Do the residents of NJ refer to their famous freeway as 'the pike' by any chance? This is probably stretching chin-stroking to unbearable limits, I know. 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Theothertosspot Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Ho hum...Oh well, I'm pretty sure my memory is correct, but I'll just have to roll with it...for now...;-) You may well be right, I was just going on what I read in Shades. The cover up names could have been regional Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest gordon russell Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 It was and is a fantastic sound black, white whatever colour its soul was in brilliant dancer inerpretation out on the floor and yes it was never better than at st ives 77 maybe someone should do a film on those other venues might be a tadge gentler than the one just done nope..........just a pop tune....nothing more nothing less Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
macca Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Like the Dalton Boys, Gordon? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Mark R Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 It might be a pop record, and I'm all for maintaining the soul content, but accepting that the Northern scene hasn't always concerned itself too much with that I have always thought of this record as a NS dancers dream of a record.......atmospheric, the drum rolls, break down etc. Love it.....of its time.... Cheers, Mark R 1 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Mark R Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Like I say....atmospheric.......43:30 here......Clive Jones...... https://www.mixcloud.com/soulboymark/hinckley-leisure-centre-all-niter-live-december-1983/ Cheers, Mark R 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
El Corol Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) Post modified. Edited November 3, 2014 by El Corol Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Sean Hampsey Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Unreleased Album - Acetate. Sean Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
jimmy clitheroe Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 The burley sound must not contain any blue eyed soul I suppose? great record IMHO , always got me on the floor at the casino....Paul 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Pete S Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 The Instrumental was the Big sound in the 70's, not the vocal. Spot on, vocal was never played, yet when booted they put the vocal on both sides! 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
SteveM Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) It was reactivated late seventies Pete. Certainly around South Yorks. Vocal rather than Inst. Edited November 3, 2014 by SteveM Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Pete S Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 It was reactivated late seventies Pete. Certainly around South Yorks. Vocal rather than Inst. Don't know about late 70's Steve, neither version was played until end of 77 start of 78 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
SteveM Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Inst played 77 Pete. Vocal version played after that, around here and at Notts Palais all dayers Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
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