Just checked the Fabian version. It's not the same song. It was actually Frankie Avalon who I was trying to think of. There is a Frankie version on You Tube, if anyone wants to listen.
This is the only record PJ Proby did that was any good. After this he did a boatload of covers, show tunes, ostentatious ballads and off the mark flops. He had a few more hits riding the wave of this one and then he hit the wall. It happens all the time to singers with little artistic creativity and no business sense but think they know it all.
@silversells - he is still singing and pulling in crowds at 72... what will you be doing at that age? No, he wasn't a creative force in terms of changing musical styles like Ray Charles, and he came from a crowd who never considered money... he carried no cash and the record label picked up the tab. It was the same for Sinatra, Clapton + every major in the 60's. BUT, he was a singer good enough to threaten both the Beetles and Tom Jones which is why he was forced out by the Brit establishment
@Spartanm333 Forced out by the Brit establishment? That's his story. Eddie Cochran's girlfriend songwriter Sharon Sheeley worked with him and said he had 4 different exclusive record contracts, 2 managers and 2 wives at the same time and it meant nothing to him. He was also a drunk. Try blaming any of that on competition with The Beatles or Tom Jones.
How would you know if they make them like this anymore if you only compare Proby to musician-songwriters who sing their own compositions while playing an instrument? Proby could barely strum a guitar and didn't write what he performed. Your comparison makes no more sense than comparing Bob Dylan to Tom Jones. Besides, Proby was lip syncing part of his vocal performance, and someone else was producing the harmonica sound as well. I call those doodads.
@castleontheriver - first point related to the fact of P J's voice and stage presence which was a veritable storm to the limp wristed Blur and Cocker brigade. He was trained professionally - vocal and stage - and frankly it shows. Today my 11 year old could knock up a song up with Garageband in 3 minutes and be a hit on the X factor. That is the difference..... it may be cute but it has no depth. Second - it is low tech TV - they all played to a recording in the 60's to keep things simple....
PJ had a great natural instrument but also he was voice trained professionally which meant that he could project - the man could sing on stage without a microphone, a band or any other doodads.... and still sound great. I'd like to see Damon Alban or Jarvis Cocker do that today. They don't make them like this anymore... and mores the pity
The live band was "Sounds Incorporated" - a prolific backing band of the day, whose saxaphone section was later to play in the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" album.
Great to see rare live recordings of these 1960s stars, as at the time all we seemed to get were mimed performances. For this Youtube is one of the best sites on the net. This tall Texan was significantly different from the home-grown British acts of the day, and received deserved adoration from a huge fan following, until falling foul of the narrow protectionism of the UK Musicians' Union. They picked him up and kicked him out of Britain's performing circles for being too risqué..............
Just checked the Fabian version. It's not the same song. It was actually Frankie Avalon who I was trying to think of. There is a Frankie version on You Tube, if anyone wants to listen.
marxlover100 1 week ago
Pretty nice version. I think this is a cover of a Fabian song.
marxlover100 1 week ago
This is the only record PJ Proby did that was any good. After this he did a boatload of covers, show tunes, ostentatious ballads and off the mark flops. He had a few more hits riding the wave of this one and then he hit the wall. It happens all the time to singers with little artistic creativity and no business sense but think they know it all.
silversells 7 months ago
@silversells - he is still singing and pulling in crowds at 72... what will you be doing at that age? No, he wasn't a creative force in terms of changing musical styles like Ray Charles, and he came from a crowd who never considered money... he carried no cash and the record label picked up the tab. It was the same for Sinatra, Clapton + every major in the 60's. BUT, he was a singer good enough to threaten both the Beetles and Tom Jones which is why he was forced out by the Brit establishment
Spartanm333 4 months ago
@Spartanm333 Forced out by the Brit establishment? That's his story. Eddie Cochran's girlfriend songwriter Sharon Sheeley worked with him and said he had 4 different exclusive record contracts, 2 managers and 2 wives at the same time and it meant nothing to him. He was also a drunk. Try blaming any of that on competition with The Beatles or Tom Jones.
silversells 4 months ago
The best singer ever!...P.J.Proby!
rontenn 7 months ago
Used to play in a band and we played 'Hold Me'
frequently. Everybody loved it and it was a hoot to play.
PJ's hair was longer than most any bodies making him
one of the coolest dude's around...sort of similar to Mark Linsey
20092u 8 months ago
A force of nature !
DougPatton1 9 months ago 2
@akindofblue3
How would you know if they make them like this anymore if you only compare Proby to musician-songwriters who sing their own compositions while playing an instrument? Proby could barely strum a guitar and didn't write what he performed. Your comparison makes no more sense than comparing Bob Dylan to Tom Jones. Besides, Proby was lip syncing part of his vocal performance, and someone else was producing the harmonica sound as well. I call those doodads.
castleontheriver 1 year ago
@castleontheriver - first point related to the fact of P J's voice and stage presence which was a veritable storm to the limp wristed Blur and Cocker brigade. He was trained professionally - vocal and stage - and frankly it shows. Today my 11 year old could knock up a song up with Garageband in 3 minutes and be a hit on the X factor. That is the difference..... it may be cute but it has no depth. Second - it is low tech TV - they all played to a recording in the 60's to keep things simple....
Spartanm333 4 months ago
PJ had a great natural instrument but also he was voice trained professionally which meant that he could project - the man could sing on stage without a microphone, a band or any other doodads.... and still sound great. I'd like to see Damon Alban or Jarvis Cocker do that today. They don't make them like this anymore... and mores the pity
akindofblue3 1 year ago
The live band was "Sounds Incorporated" - a prolific backing band of the day, whose saxaphone section was later to play in the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" album.
bolendoc 1 year ago
This is PJ singing live on a backing vocal, with what appears to be a live band too, isn't it? Fantastic!!
tedmacj7z 1 year ago
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Great to see rare live recordings of these 1960s stars, as at the time all we seemed to get were mimed performances. For this Youtube is one of the best sites on the net. This tall Texan was significantly different from the home-grown British acts of the day, and received deserved adoration from a huge fan following, until falling foul of the narrow protectionism of the UK Musicians' Union. They picked him up and kicked him out of Britain's performing circles for being too risqué..............
bolendoc 1 year ago
This guy Proby is an all time GREAT! Bonus is that he ain't done yet & is still touring & recording. Ron
rontenn 2 years ago
Excellent performer
charliebrockett 2 years ago
great song!
theoverbeat1964 2 years ago