P. J. Proby - I CAN'T MAKE IT ALONE (Jack Nitzsche) (1966)

[quieterrps]

Never heard this tune by anyone but it's likely the hands down best I'm sure. I kind of pictured the growing echo at points going out to fight Godzilla after it got finished with this. It is quite Righteous Brothers and while never vocally dipping as deep as that it is as perfect as that in it's range. Great tune, thanks!

[reichardtaj]

@quieterrps Deep in the Philles Records tape vault lies a dusty reel of tape that has an unfinished backing track intended for the Righteous Brothers. Recorded at Gold Star Studio on January 25th and 26, Spector produced and Jack Nitzsche arranged the basic rhythm track of 'I Can't Make It Alone'. For some reason, another Goffin/King tune, 'Just Once In My Life' was chosen as the follow-up to '.....Lovin' Feelin'. P.J.'s version no doubt mirrors the sound of that session.

[rocknrollphilip]

Continental Drifters, featuring Susan Cowsil singing lead, do a lovely version, too!

[komatman]

love this,tuuune

[MySwingingSixties]

Wow this is GORGEOUS!!! Up until now I only new Dusty Springfield's brilliant version which she recorded in 1968 for her "Dusty In Memphis" LP. I didn't even know that there was a PJ Proby version. This ones comes crasing through the roof! Love it.... Great voice, impressive production, lush orchestration and a lot of drama... Just how I Like it!

[reichardtaj]

@MySwingingSixties Welcome to the 'Wall Of Sound'!

[MySwingingSixties]

@reichardtaj I introduced myself to the Wall of Sound years ago by listening to records of The Ronettes, The Crystals and other artists produced by Phil Spector. I love the sound of the Sixties. My CD cupboard is full of Dusty Springfield, Nancy Sinatra, Marianne Faithfull, Billie Davis, PP Arnold, Mama Cass, Evie Sands, Merrilee Rush, Melanie Safka, Sonny & Cher, Betty Everett, Baby Washington, Jackie DeShannon, The Cake, The Sangri-Las among others. And the list is still growing :-)

[reichardtaj]

@MySwingingSixties Fine taste in music, my dear..........

[MySwingingSixties]

@reichardtaj Thank you... I just love that kind of music. Today's music gives me nothing. I can much better identifiy with sixties pop and soul. Dusty Springfield is simply the very best and forever will be. Guess I'm gonna get me PJ's EMI anniversairy compilation for mor of that great sound. His voice reminds me of Elvis somehow. And Jack Nitzsche surely was one of the very best producers and arrangers. You can never be wrong with his recordings.

[OlRetro]

This is excellent, no doubt. Vanilla Fudge really tear this up, too! Regards, '62 Mathew St. (Total Retro Rock)

[bopava]

The best version of this song. I have this album and it is actually playable!

[oldtowntonight]

Big money was spent on production and promotion of this recording by PJ Proby. I doubt Liberty Records saw a dud in the US and a #37 in the UK as a "hit". Sales probably didn't come even close to covering their costs.

[leonaofficial]

@oldtowntonight I`m afraid youre wrong on the royalties front. PJProby released half a dozen albums with EMI in the 60s , a multitude of EPs and shedful of singles and whilst they werent big hits their combined sales in the UK and throughout Europe meant EMI did alright out of him as did P.J. himself abeit he always lived beyond his means . Strangely in 2011 both EMI are now struggling as is P.J. who is waiting to go to crown court for benefits fraud. Funny old world !

[oldtowntonight]

@leonaofficial I wasn't referring to all of PJ Proby's work just this record. I know for a fact it was promoted heavily in major trade publications etc and those orchestral/vocal backings were costly too. Except for a UK #37 it was seen as a flop by anyone's measure. It's not a bad song but Proby and Nitzsche stripped it of its musicality in a seeming attempt to duplicate the success of Spector productions like You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'. Maria McKee's interpretation might've had a chance.

[spacepatrolman]

@oldtowntonight jack was the brains of the phil spector out fit spector was a nut

[45rpmSINGLES]

You forgot to mention it was a top 40 hit

[reichardtaj]

@45rpmSINGLES In the USA, P. J. Proby's 1966 version of the song didn't even make the Billboard chart. Bill Medley's 1968 version peaked at #95 and the Lou Rawls 1969 version peaked at #63.

[lesgore54]

Wonderful! I think I heard Dusty's version first, but yet, It's a male voice that sticks in my mind. Maybe I heard this back in '66. Very nice commentary that hits it on the head as to why this is such a great, basic wall of sound example. And imho, P.J. is on his best vocal behavior here. To bad he's not remembered for this rather than 'Nicki Hoeky' and splitting his pants onstage.

[geocs58]

Excellent! thanks for posting