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Posted

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?

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Guest TONY ROUNCE
Posted

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...)

Posted

...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?

:thumbsup:

Posted

Had no idea P J Proby had done a version. Who did the first version ?

Guest TONY ROUNCE
Posted

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 :thumbsup:

Posted

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 :thumbsup:

HearingAidGuide.jpg

Guest TONY ROUNCE
Posted

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...

Posted

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

Guest TONY ROUNCE
Posted

Got you a present Tone

dropper.gif

Can we say 'bastard' on here? :thumbsup:

Guest TONY ROUNCE
Posted (edited)

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 by TONY ROUNCE
Posted

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 :thumbsup:

Paul

Posted

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...

:thumbsup:


Guest TONY ROUNCE
Posted

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 :thumbsup:

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...)

Posted

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 :thumbsup:

Posted

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...

Posted

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"??

Posted

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

Posted

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 :thumbup:

Posted

Well, if anyone was going to disagree with me I suppose it was inevitable that it was going to be you, Smith :yes:

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 :thumbup:

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? biggrin.gif

Best,

Ian D

Posted (edited)

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? :thumbup:

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 by Bogue
Guest TONY ROUNCE
Posted

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...)

Posted

...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. :thumbup:

Thank God we all enjoy somthing different :yes:

Posted (edited)

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. :D

Edited by spot
Posted

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..

Guest TONY ROUNCE
Posted

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. :D

Well, there used to be, but they shut down and knocked down the Casino a few years back, I hear :D:lol:laugh.gif

Posted (edited)

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. :lol:

Nikki Nakki Nukki,

Spot. :unsure:

p.s. Whats the backing track from on "Such Misery", I know it & it's driving me made.

Edited by spot
Posted

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.


Posted

What about PJs version of "to make a big man cry" better than Tom or Gil,i think.

Guest biggray1
Posted

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 :lol:

Guest TONY ROUNCE
Posted

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'!

Guest TONY ROUNCE
Posted

Me???

Actually, I've just remembered that P.J.'s real name is Jim Smith. You're not related, by any chance? :lol:

Posted

Actually, I've just remembered that P.J.'s real name is Jim Smith. You're not related, by any chance? :no:

Surprisingly not, despite the unusual surname we both share :lol:

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