P.J. Proby & Gene Pitney: Mission Bell

Proby and Pitney were personal friends, both mainly singers but also songwriters, good looking and US-born. Here are their version resp. of Mission Bell. I guess you listeners out there have every opinion possible on these two Greats- let me know:-)!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gene Pitney
• PJ Proby

[stipulert]

Good version of Proby, buy noone can match gene`s incredible voice

[Mickeslina]

Nice versions both of them, but Proby's is easily the best of the two, singingwise as well as arrangmentwise.

[napejack]

great

[cjlloyd53]

As a fan of both Pitney and Proby I have always loved Proby's version above all others.

[Docdogs1]

I was saying that certainly, with this song, Proby's was by far, the superior version.

His overall presence and incredibly strong, masculine voice for this lively song was just far better voice production than Gene's. Big songs were for the likes of Proby.

Also, although I generally Love Pitney's record productions, for this particular track, the musical production and support were far superior in the Proby version.

[Docdogs1]

Have seen this before:

Gene Pitney was truly one of the very Greatest of contributors to the pop music repertoire => tremendous musical skills and enormous capacity. If we were to measure these 2 on song-writing and personal sound production and genius of song, Pitney would beat Proby into the Dust!! He was close to The Best of all-time.

As singer, though, Proby was Incredible - almost unapproachable in what he could do. He would wipe the floor with Pitney in voice production & this one better

[Spartanm333]

Also meant to add, Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy do exactly the same today with their guitar work.... slip in rifs and chord progressions from Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert King.... it is their way or giving the nod to a new audience. Jim was his own man and continued to do this even though the producers berated him for it.

[Spartanm333]

Clearly, Jim was in Gene Pitney mode whilst recording this. It is not Karaoke and it is not taking the rip out of Gene either - they were both friends. In Jim's own words (radio interviews) it was his way of crediting his idols and influences, to give them the nod they deserved and thereby lead people to them as well. He did it with Elvis, Billy Eckstine, Tony Newley and others.... he admires all of them.

[lasiorhinuskrefftii2]

I prefer Mission Bell by PJ Proby.

But I like Liberty Valance by Gene Pitney.

[MARILLIONROCKER45]

PJ Proby made this song his own. The Donnie Brooks original version and Pitney's can't compare. Proby's version was right in the middle of the British Invasion and his powerful voice resonated like no one else. I really liked Gene Pitney but the song does not have the power and energy that Proby brought to it.