Billy Fury - Songwriter

Billy Fury - Songwriter

by Pete Clemons

In a recent, and much enjoyed visit to Liverpool, I found time to visit the Billy Fury statue on the Albert Dock.

On the base of it were two plaques. One letting you know that the statue had been unveiled on the 19th April 2003 by the legendary Jack Good and councillor Eddie Clein.

Of course, Billy Fury wasn’t his real name. That was bestowed upon him by his manager Larry Parnes. The second plaque gives you Billy’s actual birth name which was Ronald Wycherley. And along with his name it also gives Billy’s birth date and the day we lost him.

It went on to read that Billy had been a legendary British rock ‘n’ roll star and a major UK chart artist, live performer and songwriter. And that Billy had, primarily, been a songwriter.

And being a singer as well as a songwriter was an unusual thing during the time that Billy began performing in the late 1950s.

So unusual in fact that Billy wrote some of his own songs under the pseudonym of Wilber Wilberforce. Whether that was due to his modesty, or if he just didn’t want the greater public to know, is open to debate.

But Billy, without doubt, went on to create a milestone album in British popular music.

The 'Sound of Fury' was a 10” album release. 10 tracks in total 5 on each side. It was recorded at Percy Phillips studio 38 Kensington in Liverpool. Numerous artists from Liverpool, including the very early manifestations of The Beatles, recorded there. The whole album was recorded in a day and, when released, cost 22 shillings to buy.

Joe Brown played on the album and commented how he initially thought the songs had been written by a R’n’ R / Country player. Not a guy from Liverpool.

Unusually, by the standards of and era, you find that 2 basses appear on the LP. One electric and one slapped.

During the albums production Jack Good was trying to recreate and capture the Sun sessions days of the 1950s. At the same time Jack didn't put his own spin on the album. He retained Billy's original thoughts of the songs. The way that Billy wanted them to sound.

After the 'Sound of Fury', Billy moved away from rock ’n’ roll to crooning and had huge hits such as 'Halfway to Paradise' which, in all honesty, became a style of singing he was more famous for.

The early part of the 1960s had seen Billy appear on the huge package tours that passed through the theatres of Coventry.

However, after the hits dried up, Billy Fury found himself, like many, on cabaret circuit and appearing at clubs such as Mr Georges in the lower precinct.

The working men clubs circuit also beckoned Billy Fury as he also appeared locally at venues like the Walsgrave WMC and the Wyken club.

Sadly, this was to be the fate of many from that era.

Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate

If there was a prize for the band who appeared at Coventry Theatre most times, then my guess would be that Hot Chocolate may well be in contention for top spot. They played the venue numerous times during the 1970s and early 80s. Prior to that, and in their very early days, they also appeared at the Chesford Grange a couple of times.

And when you think Hot Chocolate, I think it is fair to say, you think of their charismatic vocalist Errol Brown. But, like with all success stories, there is a bit more to it.

As a youngster I clearly remember being blown away, at my local youth club, by their 1970 Hammond driven hit 'Love is Life' and its follow up, 'I Believe in Love'. And the chart hits continued for the next decade and a half. Unusually Hot Chocolate were primarily a singles band. Apart from greatest hits, they never really had any real album success.

The roots of Hot Chocolate began in London when Errol Brown and Tony Wilson began songwriting during 1968. Bands and artists who used their work included Mary Hopkin and Hermans Hermits. After a cover of John Lennon's iconic song 'Give Peace a Chance' had been sent to Apple Records the duo were given the name Hot Chocolate Band by an Apple secretary.

After the short lived association with Apple, the duo dropped the 'band' part of the suggested name, and went ahead simply known as Hot Chocolate. Soon after, Mickie Most had them signed up to his RAK record label. During those early singles various musicians were used to flesh out the band.

By the time of the bands sixth single, 'You'll always Be a Friend', released during 1972, the 'classic' line up of Brown - vocals, Wilson on bass, Harvey Hinsley on guitar, Tony Connor - drums, Patrick Olive - percussion and Larry Ferguson on keyboards had been established.

Brown and Wilson wrote some heavy lyrics. 'Emma', for example, released during 1974, was a song about a woman's dashed dreams of stardom that tragically ended in suicide. The lyric was thought to have had haunting similarities to Errol's own personal circumstances surrounding his Mother who had passed away when he was just 19.

Hot Chocolate had, by now, become well known on both sides of the Atlantic. The serious lyrics continued with songs like 'A Child's Prayer' released during 1975. The theme of the song being despair and hunger.

Errol Brown and Tony Wilson enjoyed writing lyrics that people could easily identify with. And 1975 also saw the last collaborative hit as Tony Wilson left the band soon after. That song was the chart topping 'You Sexy Thing'.

The song, unique in as much the featured congas were played through a wah wah pedal, was about a dancer met at a West End Club called Gulliver's. Two years later that dancer became Errol's wife. The pair remained together for almost 40 years until Errol Brown's untimely death during 2015.

Losing Tony Wilson had a profound effect on the bands style but not an adverse effect on their popularity. Hot Chocolate went from strength to strength as they became a more glamorous and commercial band. Additionally, some of their greatest hits were still to come.

Errol Brown moved to the Bahamas and invested in race horses. He also enjoyed his cars and one of the bands next singles, titled 'Heaven is in the Back Seat of my Cadillac', was about one of those cars.

Hot Chocolate also began to collaborate with other songwriters and this proved to be a major success as Russ Ballard's 'So You Win Again' hit number one. The overall sound of their songs became more expansive as 'Put Your Love in Me' proved with its strings and brass sections.

Few bands, if any others, could claim to have had a song in the charts during each year of the 1970s. And this feat continued during the first half of the 1980s as they clocked up a total of 230 weeks in the UK singles chart alone.

'I Gave You My Heart (Didn't I), released during 1984, was to be Errol Brown's last with the band as he left to go solo. Without him Hot Chocolate disbanded during 1986.

But of course through TV commercials and major film releases the legacy and the memory of Hot Chocolate's music is never too far away from earshot. And, if unfamiliar, that Tony Wilson era of the band is well worth delving into. 

Stylusboy – ‘Routes’ album launch

Stylusboy – ‘Routes’ album launch.

by Pete Clemons

I have been aware of Stylusboy for at least 10 years. I first became aware of him when I saw him perform a gig at the Tin Angel when it was based in Spon Street. And over that time Stylusboy has produced a succession of quality songs and music.

Whether it be at Café’s or Pubs, Bookshops or Bistro’s he has played the lot. And I have tried to get to see him perform as often as I could. And throughout those many gigs he performed solo or as part of a duet.

For the release of his second album ‘Routes’, Stylusboy was going to step out of his comfort zone, by performing with a band. And, to my knowledge, this is the first time he has performed his music with a band. Although I do seem to remember a band at the Tin Arts Centre which he featured in.

The setting for this launch gig of ‘Routes’ was the unlikely surroundings of a coffee shop. But of course, this is no ordinary coffee shop.

Backhaus and Co. coffee shop is part of the Fargo village complex. It is situated on what I remember as a child as being Cooks warehouse. Cooks, amongst other things, sold carpets and was located on industrial estate off Gosford Street.

Parts of the fabric of the old warehouse still exists. The coffee shop is tucked away within that part of the old building. And the acoustics within the room were, surprisingly, very good.

Stylusboy mentioned to me beforehand that he had a touch of nerves. Months of planning and preparation had gone into the event, so I guess he was entitled to be. But if he was feeling a tad skittish it wasn’t at all visible as the gig got underway.

Despite it being Stylusboy’s evening he was surrounded by a strong team of experienced musicians. His band consisted of Wes Finch on guitar, Holly Hewitt – harmonies, John Parker on double bass and Tim Bowes – Drums.

For just over an hour they effortlessly breezed through songs from the new album. The single ‘Out Upon the Ocean’ along with ‘Embrace the View’, ‘Ride This Storm’, ‘Open the Door’ and ‘For the Souls of my Brothers’ along with many others, were among those that featured.

But the evening wasn’t totally devoted to ‘Routes’ as Stylusboy found time to revisit a few old faves such as ‘Lamplight’. And these were performed as they were conceived - without a band -who, for a few minutes, took a well-earned rest.

I asked Stylusboy where his inspiration for the Routes title came from: ‘Routes came from the fact a lot of the songs reference the idea of moving along a journey, maybe literally or through life. We all take different routes in life’.

I was also intrigued by the map of Coventry City centre presented on the physical CD: ‘The map came from the fact that a lot of the songs are inspired, directly or indirectly by Coventry. The map is old as you can’t copy a map unless it’s older than 50 years!’

It was a truly delightful and totally memorable evening. A lot of work and effort has gone into this album. Find more details about the album and other goodies on the link below. https://stylusboy.bandcamp.com/album/pre-order-campaign-for-my-new-album-routes?fbclid=IwAR1P_NzG5G43JPW1t9CJsockQg7FRrqCZ_nkWV9U1P1zef9Be4y3vUWjYXo

Stylusboy Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaFvzgJd6guU77M5zVUtB3g