Guide to British Music of the 1960s

May 2000

CD Review

Billy Nicholls - Would You Believe

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This album was finally released in 1999 after having been available with great difficulty and at high price before. It was originally recorded in 1968 at the height of Immediate's success and had been due for release that April. Some copies were distributed to radio stations but, after that, the project was aborted. This is one of the albums that was "lost" for far too long.

Just who is Billy Nicholls though? His first contact with the record business was through contacting George Harrison to find an outlet for his songs. This eventually led to Andrew Loog Oldham. He was signed to the Immediate label in the 1960s as in-house songwriter and, as well as recording under his own name, he wrote and produced for many other artists including The Who, Leo Sayer, Justin Hayward, Kiki Dee and Phil Manzerena. He also sang backing vocals for many artists including the Who, the Small Faces (including Ogden's Nut Gone Flake), the Nice, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan and Dave Gilmour.

Billy's connection with the Who is particularly strong. He co-wrote a number of the songs for Pete Townshend's Psychoderelict as well as contributing to the McVicar soundtrack. His production credits include the Join Together live album, Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting from Two Rooms and the London Symphony Orchestra's Who's Serious. There are many other Who credits.

Billy is also known for his Small Faces connections. The sound of the East End's Fab Four is clear on the title track of Would You Believe, Steve Marriott's backing vocals are especially prominent. The same track was also covered by PP Arnold and appears on her First Cut album (previously reviewed by Making Time.) Other well-known artists appearing on the CD include future Humble Pie drummer Jerry Shirley (then in Apostolic Convention), Nicky Hopkins, John Paul Jones alongside the aforementioned Small Faces. One thing about Immediate was that the acts frequently performed on each other's records. There is no shortage of Small Faces on this CD. Steve Marriott's guitar is particularly easy to hear especially on Girl From New York. 

Would You Believe was released as a single backed with Daytime Girl. It later found its way onto the recent Best of Immediate compilation. The CD inlay notes that the releases either side of it in the Immediate catalogue were Tin Soldier and Lazy Sunday. 

The songs have a very English sound, reflecting perhaps the fact that Oldham was looking to mirror some of the US sounds such as Pet Sounds. A number of tracks echo Ray Davies. 

The British answer to Pet Sounds? Maybe not but an enjoyable album and a piece of music history all the same.

Essential Tracks:

• Would You Believe

• Girl From New York

• Question Mark

Track Listing:

1. Would You Believe
2. Come Again
3. Life Is Short
4. Feeling Easy
5. Daytime Girl
6. Daytime Girl (coda)
7. London Social Degree
8. Portobello Road
9. Question Mark
10. Being Happy
11. Girl From New York
12. It Brings Me Down
13. Would You Believe (Mono single version)
14. Daytime Girl (Mono single version)