With her trademark bobbed hair,
leather minis and long boots...
British songstress Billie Davis was a leading source
of Sixties style inspiration. The biographer of the
supergroup Cream described Billie as
"astonishingly photogenic."
With a sweet, seductive
voice, Billie sizzled on covers
of American pop, soul, R&B
and progressive rock... and
this first video offers proof.
The excitement meter was
pegged as Billie appeared
on the German music TV
show Beat-Club and per-
formed her signature song
"I Want You To Be My Baby."
"I Want You to Be My Baby"
- Billie Davis (Oct./Nov. 1968,
highest chart pos. #33 UK,
- Billie Davis (Oct./Nov. 1968,
highest chart pos. #33 UK,
live perf. on German TV
show Beat-Club)
show Beat-Club)
If by some stretch of the imagination
you still aren't sure if you want to
hop aboard the Billie Bandwagon...
Part 2 of my series should make
a Billie Believer out of you.
These recordings, released between 1967 and 2002, have become favorites
of mine. They are part of a remarkable comeback for Billie, who had her
of mine. They are part of a remarkable comeback for Billie, who had her
career derailed by a serious car crash in September of 1963 that left her
with a broken jaw and fueled speculation she would never perform again.
with a broken jaw and fueled speculation she would never perform again.
Billie enjoyed early career
success in 1963 with the
single "Tell Him," a cover
of the hit by the U.S. group
The Exciters. Billie's version
reached the UK top 10, but
subsequent releases, some
of them excellent, fell far
short of that mark. Billie
spent the following few
years jumping from one
record label to another
(Decca to Columbia to
Piccadilly) in search
of another hit.
success in 1963 with the
single "Tell Him," a cover
of the hit by the U.S. group
The Exciters. Billie's version
reached the UK top 10, but
subsequent releases, some
of them excellent, fell far
short of that mark. Billie
spent the following few
years jumping from one
record label to another
(Decca to Columbia to
Piccadilly) in search
of another hit.
In 1967 Billie returned to Decca and
revived her career with a string of
superb recordings. "Wasn't It You,"
Billie's first new single on the
imprint, is a song written by
Carole King and originally
released as an album track
by Petula Clark. The song
was also waxed to perfection
in America by Mod Squad
revived her career with a string of
superb recordings. "Wasn't It You,"
Billie's first new single on the
imprint, is a song written by
Carole King and originally
released as an album track
by Petula Clark. The song
was also waxed to perfection
in America by Mod Squad
sweetheart Peggy Lipton.
Listen now to the fine
Billie Davis rendition.
Listen now to the fine
Billie Davis rendition.
"Wasn't It You"
- Billie Davis
(June 1967,
uncharted)
At the start of 1969, Billie released the soulful shouter
"Make the Feeling Go Away." Watch and listen as the
English thrush wows the audience on Beat Club.
"Make the Feeling Go Away." Watch and listen as the
English thrush wows the audience on Beat Club.
"Make the Feeling Go Away" - Billie Davis
(Jan. 1969, perf. on German TV show Beat-Club)
(Jan. 1969, perf. on German TV show Beat-Club)
By the end of the 60s, Billie Davis was more popular elsewhere than she was
at home in the UK. She was especially big in Spanish speaking countries.
Billy released a fine two-fer in Argentina - "Billy Sunshine," the song
you heard in part 1, backed with the infectious, bubble-gum ditty
"I'm In Love With You," a Joey Levine-Kris Resnick song
originally recorded by Kasenetz-Katz Super Cirkus.
With Levine on lead vocals, the K-K single
Bubbled Under the Billboard Hot 100
in January of 1969. Billie's groovy
cover was released later that year.
at home in the UK. She was especially big in Spanish speaking countries.
Billy released a fine two-fer in Argentina - "Billy Sunshine," the song
you heard in part 1, backed with the infectious, bubble-gum ditty
"I'm In Love With You," a Joey Levine-Kris Resnick song
originally recorded by Kasenetz-Katz Super Cirkus.
With Levine on lead vocals, the K-K single
Bubbled Under the Billboard Hot 100
in January of 1969. Billie's groovy
cover was released later that year.
"I'm In Love With You" - Billie Davis
(Nov. 1969, B side of "Billy Sunshine"
single released only in Argentina)
In the fall of 1970 Billie released her last single on Decca,
an exquisite recording of the Joe Cocker composition
"There Must Be a Reason."
an exquisite recording of the Joe Cocker composition
"There Must Be a Reason."
"There Must Be a Reason" - Billie Davis
(Oct. 1970)
In 1971 Billie left Decca for the
second time and moved to Barcelona,
Spain, where she continued to make
records throughout the 70s and into
the 80s. CD compilations released
in the 21st century contain gems
culled from the Decca vaults.
second time and moved to Barcelona,
Spain, where she continued to make
records throughout the 70s and into
the 80s. CD compilations released
in the 21st century contain gems
culled from the Decca vaults.
Billie shines on "Living In The Past,"
a cover of a popular song that was a
hit single and album in 1972 for the
British prog-rock band Jethro Tull.
hit single and album in 1972 for the
British prog-rock band Jethro Tull.
"Living in the Past" - Billie Davis
(from March 2002 CD The Best
of Billie Davis and 2005 CD
Tell Him: The Decca Years)
Another previously unreleased Billie Davis track is her
sensational version of Neil Diamond's "Love to Love."
sensational version of Neil Diamond's "Love to Love."
"Love To Love" - Billie Davis
(from March 2002 CD The Best of Billie Davis
and 2005 CD Tell Him: The Decca Years)
A delight to the eyes and ears,
Billie Davis was a pioneer of
the British beat sound. Billie
recorded some of the best
Brit pop of the 60s. She and
Keith Powell waxed great
Northern Soul covers of
American Soul and
Stax R&B. During her
second stint with Decca,
Billie Davis was a pioneer of
the British beat sound. Billie
recorded some of the best
Brit pop of the 60s. She and
Keith Powell waxed great
Northern Soul covers of
American Soul and
Stax R&B. During her
second stint with Decca,
Billie gave us brilliant
interpretations of mature,
adult-oriented songs written
by some of the best tunesmiths
interpretations of mature,
adult-oriented songs written
by some of the best tunesmiths
on both sides of the Atlantic.
There you have it - a wealth of great
recordings by UK fashionista thrush
BILLIE DAVIS!
My mind's made up.
I've joined the Billie Club.
Have you?
Have you?
Gosh, dear friend, I just love Billie's style and voice. I also loved the shows she was on. They're classic.
ReplyDeleteDid you know her son was a DJ and he died in 2014? I was trying to find more information, but they seem like a private family.
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for being the early bird this week, dear friend! I feel silly because I accidentally left the DO NOT DISTURB sign on the front door most of the day. :)
In this two-parter you had a chance to see Billie Davis perform her sig song "Want You To Be My Baby" on a Spanish TV show and on a German TV show. Both performances rock. I feel fortunate that both great clips were available this year so that I could work them into this tribute.
Yessum, another friend mentioned Billie's son's death in their comment on Part 1. I never learned any further details of the tragedy, so if you somehow find out, please let me know.
I'm delighted that you appreciate the zinging of Billie Davis. Thanks again for being here, dear friend JM, and have a wonderful week ahead!
Hi Shady,
DeleteI've been Googling him, but I can't find anything. I'm not sure if it's because she might have faded away from public life or he was extremely private, but I can't find anything. If I ever come across it, you'll be the first to know!
I'm going to sign off for the evening and Billie will see me out. I just love her voice and style.
Have a wonderful week ahead too, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for doing some Googling, dear friend. I'm sorry it didn't yield any new info. Let's just say it was a tragic loss for Billie and her family and leave it at that. I'm so glad you are letting Billie Davis and her recordings see you through your days and nights.
Take care and I'll see you again soon, dear friend JM!
Hi Shady,
DeleteYes, let's leave it at that. She was the soundtrack for Office Thursday today. :) Between her and some TED talks, it was a great day!
Happy Thankful Thursday, dear friend.
Happy TT to you as well, dear friend JM. I'm glad you are enriching your mind with more TED talks!
DeleteShe really does have a great sound and the look to go with it. It's interesting how different artists play so differently in various parts of the world.
ReplyDeletePat sends angelic greetings, considering he got blessed over the weekend. 😇🐶
Hi, Kelly!
DeleteThanks for coming over on day one to check out Part 2, dear friend!
I found it interesting that Billie's popularity faded somewhat in the UK just when she started making her finest recordings. She became big in Spain, Argentina and other Spanish speaking countries, but still didn't break through in the U.S. I have three different record research books covering the Billboard Hot 100, the R&B Singles charts and the Bubbling Under chart. Not one Billie Davis recording appears on any of them, only those of Billy Davis, founding member of the 5th Dimension. I don't get it. To me, this batch in Part 2 represents Billie's Greatest Hits.
I don't exactly know what you mean when you say that Pat got blessed over the weekend. Assuming that my good buddy is AOK, I send greetings and lots of lubbins back to him.
Thanks again for your visit and support, dear friend Kelly, and have a wonderful week!
Pat represented our pack (as he did last year) at our church's annual "Blessing of the Animals" (Feast of St. Francis of Assisi). This year was a drive through affair in which the priest blessed Pat through the passenger window. He was perfectly behaved. :D
DeleteHi, Kelly!
DeleteThank you very much for returning to explain what happened with Pat. I know of St. Francis of Assisi but, in my ignorance, I have never heard of the Blessing of the Animals. I think it's a wonderful idea. It makes me very happy to know that my good buddy Pat represented the pack at the drive-thru event and that he was well behaved as he received the priest's blessing. Bless Pat, indeed!
Thank you again for providing this additional info, dear friend Kelly!
Good evening friend Shady! I am sorry to say that I'm not really a fan of any of these songs, but we can't all like the same things, can we? Hoping you and the Mrs. are doing well. We are hanging in over here. Have a great rest of the week.
ReplyDeleteJanet’s Smiles
Hi, Janet!
DeleteWelcome back to Shady's Place, dear friend!
I became a fan of the Brit girl music genre around ten years ago and collected dozens of rare import various artists CDs. To me, featured singer Billie Davis is one of the best artists of the genre. The recordings in this Part 2 post represent Billie's very best work. I'm sorry your ears aren't tuned to her style of musical expression.
I know that wildfires are on the rampage again in California. I feel terrible knowing that you and other residents are once again threatened. I hope the blazes are soon under control.
I'll be thinking about you and Benny. Thank you for making time for a visit. Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Janet!
I'm in the club! I love her style and voice and I think my fav on this chapter was "I want you to be my baby". I'm glad she was able to overcome her accident injuries and could return and have a good career...at least in other countries other than her home town! I hope all's well down south. I've been busy getting ready for the big family Halloween bash this weekend. My sis is here to enjoy a week with us and her family is joining in on the fun this weekend too. Take care Shady! I'll have some blogging of my own to do!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteI'm delighted to see you, dear friend! Thanks for joining me for Part 2 of my tribute to English warbler Billie Davis!
I'm thrilled that Billie's sig song is your Pick to Click. It's my favorite, too, but all of these recordings in Part 2 are grade A, in my humble opinion. Yessum, Billie needed to have her broken jaw wired following that awful car crash. Her career lost momentum and suffered during her period of convalescence. Fortunately she bounced back to peak performance and made her best recordings years after the mishap.
I'm happy to learn that Midge has arrived from Chicago and that you will be holding your annual H-ween bash for the kiddos and grandkiddos. I hope it goes well.
I'm so glad you signed on the dotted line and joined the Billie Club. Thanks again for joining the fun and enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend YaYa!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteThe way Billie Davis' hair frames her face reminds me of a young Marie Osmond. Do you see it? I think I enjoyed this set of songs by far better than from the introduction set. I wonder if it has to do with her covering songs I'm familiar with, what do you think? My favorites are "Wasn't It You" & "I'm In Love With You". Thanks for sharing more tunes by Billie Davis with me, my friend. Have a terrific Tuesday!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteI'm excited to see you, dear friend! Thank you very much for returning to check out Part 2 of my salute to Brit thrush Billie Davis.
As promised, I am pasting the link to my May 1, 2015, BOTB post on SDMM in which Billie's version of "Wasn't It You" competed against versions by Pet Clark and Peggy Lipton. As it turns out, you and I already knew each other at the start of May, 2015, and you generously commented on my very first band battle. It's interesting that you voted for Peggy Lipton that day and ranked your order of preference as follows: "I ranked the ladies: #1 Lipton, #2 Davis, & #3 Clark." That order matches mine exactly, dear friend! By the way, Pet Clark wound up winning that 3-way BOTB, and I chalked her victory up to star power (name recognition). Anyway, here is the link to that BOTB post if you want to read what else you wrote that day:
https://shadydell.blogspot.com/2015/05/hey-get-your-battle-of-bands-here_1.html
I'm also glad you singled out "I'm In Love With You," Billie's cover of Joey Levine's bubblegum pop ditty (released under the name The Kasenetz-Katz Super Cirkus). I love Billie's take on the ditty - very refreshing, and it really works.
I'm delighted that your ears got tuned to Billie Davis by the conclusion of the series. Thank you again for coming, dear friend Cathy!
Hi Shady. It's great to know that Billie Davis is still working and doing what she loves to do. She certainly handles covering songs like a pro! I remember the Jethro Tull "Living in the Past", and haven't heard it in years. Billie really does the song justice. And, as in "Make The Feeling Go Away", she also has the talent to give energy and pop to songs that might not otherwise be so attractive.
ReplyDeleteI remember "I Want You to Be My Baby" on your previous post as being a combination of soul and pop, and I enjoyed it again today. Billie sang "Love to Love" as though it always belonged to her. In fact, I didn't even recognize the song as being a Neil Diamond one. Maybe I just didn't know it, even though I recognize a lot of his songs.
"Wasn't It You" is done with so much emotion, I really like it! These two "Billie Club" posts have been great Shady! You continue to bring forth artists that could have and should have been more recognized. It is a good example of how hard it can be to make it work, or that "the wrong place at the wrong time" can be a factor in very little, if any success. Decca records was very popular, and, probably helped Billie along in some ways.
Very good photos of Billie, Shady! Have a good week, dear friend!
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteI'm happy to see you, dear friend! Thanks for joining me for the conclusion of my two-fer series on UK songbird Billie Davis.
I'm glad you immediately singled out that Jethro Tull cover. Isn't that an amazing prog rock recording? The horns on that one are out of this world. Those UK musicians are every bit as good as The Wrecking Crew.
Billie does some soulful testifyin' on "Make the Feeling Go Away." I'm pleased that you like it, too.
I'm also delighted that you enjoyed the second live performance clip of Billie on TV doing her sig song "Want You To Be My Baby." Billie's rapid fire singing/rapping on the verses makes me think it might have been the inspiration for a hit single released in America a few years later - "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)" by Reunion.
I don't remember Neil Diamond doing "Love To Love" either, but I agree that Billie made it her own. What a cookin' arrangement! I was so impressed with "Wasn't It You" the first time I heard it that I included Billie's recording in my first Battle of the Bands post way back on May 1, 2015. Peggy Lipton of Mod Squad also did a fine rendition that was entered in the contest.
I love the soulful backing singers on Billie's cover of Joe Cocker's "Must Be A Reason." They sound like a church choir.
Yessum, I found another great batch of Billie pic sleeves and photos for Part 2. My blogs have always specialized in bringing you the unsung heroes and heroines of pop music, and over the last four posts you got to see and hear two of them - Evie Sands and Billie Davis. Both singers "get it." Their vocals reveal that they have done a lotta livin' and have felt the pain.
Around 10 or 12 years ago I dubbed a series of "mixtapes" - custom recorded CD-R discs, containing nothing but Brit girl sounds of the 60s. I loved the Billie Davis songs in this Part 2 post so much that I dubbed them at a ratio of 4 or 5 to 1, meaning that my "shuffle play" CD changer wound up selecting a Billie song much more often than a song by a different artist. That's how much I love these recordings.
Thank you again for joining me for my twin two-parters on Evie and Billie. I hope all is well with you and Scootie. With Halloween approaching stay tuned for the triumphant return of Hepcat Black (in his Pink Cadillac) coming up on Sunday to officially kick-off the holiday season. Until then have a great week, dear friend Suzanne!
What I found interesting was not so much the music, but her photos. Her earlier ones seemed more girlish and innocent. The later ones have almost a pensive sadness to them. It's subtle. This makes me wonder what went on in her private life to cause this. Have a good week, Tom!
ReplyDeleteHi, Sherry!
DeleteThanks for dropping in, dear friend! I'm happy to know you like the pictures selected for my Billie Davis series. I think the change you noted in them runs parallel to her maturing as an artist and recording more sophisticated material penned by some of the world's top tunesmiths. I tend to like quiet, sad, introspective people who persevere and stake their claim to greatness. Evie Sands and Billie Davis were both underrated artists. Their records didn't perform nearly as well as they should have. That might account for some of the wistful looks in Billie's later artwork.
Thanks again for your visit and comment, dear friend Sherry. I wish you a good week as well!
I do love her music and still and aghast that she is not better known. I like that one version she did from Jethro Tull. It is an interesting take even though I still prefer the original. I think she has an amazing, crisp voice. I wonder if she has pains now from the car crash. I would be surprised if she didn't.
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
DeleteThanks for coming over in the early days of the post, dear friend. I appreciate it! I'm glad to have you on hand to experience the Part 2 conclusion of my salute to Britain's best kept secret, unsung siren Billie Davis.
I'm glad you agree with Suzanne and Shady that Billie waxed a keen version of prog rock band Jethro Tull's "Living In The Past." Apparently Billie's cover remained locked in the Decca vaults unreleased until it went to market as a song on her 2002 CD The Best of Billie Davis.
I am sure Billie experiences flashbacks and emotional pain from the terrible crash that threatened to permanently derail her singing career. There's a good chance she still gets a twinge of physical pain in her once broken jaw from time to time.
I'm pleased that you like Billie's singing voice and enjoyed learning more about her in this double post. Thanks again for joining me, dear friend BB. I'll see you Thursday at BB Creations!
Excellent tribute. Wish I had known of this fantastic songbird long before discovering her here on your fine blog. What really impresses me is how she can take songs from artists as disparate as Jethro Tull and Neil Diamond and make them her own. I'm used to hearing of musical artists, even American musical artists, that are more popular abroad then they are here in the states, but to find out Billie Davis at one point was more popular in Argentina than in her native UK? That's a real headscratcher.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for coming by for Part 2 of Billie Davis, good buddy!
I'm happy that your ears agree with mine and that you appreciate Billie's (and her producer's) ability to tailor existing songs to her style, making them classics in their own right. Every song in this post is in my personal CD collection and played often. I never tire of hearing these gems. They have aged well, stood the test of time.
I also agree it is a mystery that Billie was hot in Argentina but that her popularity faded at home in the UK. I also wonder why she didn't catch on here in the states, given America's fascination in the 60s and 70s with all things British. (Remember how hot the Bee Gees were in both decades?) Incredibly only four Billie Davis singles were released in the U.S. and none of them made the chart - didn't even Bubble Under! Those failures include her sensational signature song "I Want You To Be My Baby." Go figure! Moreover, the four additional singles Billie waxed with Keith Powell as the duo Keith & Billie were not even released stateside. Therefore, Billie never stood much of a chance of breaking big on an international scale, but she is lauded by savvy blue-eyed soul fans on both sides of the pond.
Most of the music I have presented on my blogs over the years is intended to make the point that record sales and chart performance often have nothing to do with the greatness of a recording or an artist.
As the Neil Diamond or The Monkees might sing, "Then I saw her face (and heard her sing) Now I'm a Billie Believer." I'm pleased to know that this series has turned you into one as well.
Thanks again for swinging by, good buddy Kirk!
Hi, friend Shady. Am not doing Blogger very much lately. Sorry. Am still working frontline health care. First thing I do after coming home is turn on MY
ReplyDeletefavourite Billie 1 hour loop, drop my clothes, shower, feed Theo, smoke a cigarette, plopp onto the couch with Theo and fall asleep. Such is my routine since March, and no end in sight regarding covid. Here is hoping that you and your family is and remains as happy and healthy as I am. Much love, cat. https://youtu.be/O4IblBA5MxI
Hi, cat!
DeleteI'm delighted to see you, dear friend! Thanks for coming down for the Part 2 conclusion of my tribute to Billie Davis. As I noted in my comment on your blog, you and I are both featuring artists named Billie this week.
I hear ya, cat. I know it must be physically and emotionally draining to do what you do on the frontline of health care. I admire and applaud you. I can't think of a more pleasant way for you to decompress after a grueling shift than to shower, cuddle up with your kitty TT, give him some lubbins and snooze. We need to be thankful for simple rewards like these as the weeks and months of the pandemic grind by.
I hope my Billie songs inspired and comforted you as much as the Billie song loop you posted for my listening pleasure.
Take care and try to enjoy the rest of your week up there, dear friend cat!
She was quite the come back girl. How dreadful that her career was derailed by such a serious accident. However, it was heartening to read how she returned to singing and recording. That was an inspiring story. She was really adorable, and I loved hearing her voice today.
ReplyDeleteHi, Cheryl-Lee!
DeleteThanks for joining me for Part 2 of my special report on Billie Davis, dear friend!
Yessum, Billie's comeback story is inspiring. Billie mounted an impressive comeback after an auto accident that threatened to put an end to her singing career at the tender age of 17. In her prime, Billie Davis was a rare combination. She was a clothes horse - a beautiful, photogenic fashion influencer. A fine singer, she authentically performed material drawn from various genres. She is a survivor of failures, setbacks and tragedies that would have sunk most people. Best of all, as far as I'm concerned, Billie had that intangible quality called soul. Soul is hard to describe, but soul lovers agree that we know it when we hear it because the artist makes us feel it.
Thank you again for making time for a visit and for your generous comment. Stay well and have a great month, dear friend Cheryl-Lee!
Hi Shady!
ReplyDeleteI’ve enjoyed this interesting Billie Davis musical biopic! “Wasn’t it You” was a favorite because I’m a fan of both Carole King and Petula Clark. That Peggy Lipton was also a singer was news to me! All in all, Billie poured her soul into every performance, and that’s what her fans came to see. Amazing how easily she thrilled her multi-country followers!
Thanks for the entertainment, my friend : - )
Hi, diedre!
DeleteThank you for coming over, dear friend! I'm glad to have you here to experience the recordings of my featured artist, English sparrow Billie Davis.
Today I found myself playing "Wasn't It You" over and over again in my head. It's a great song. I like Peggy Lipton's version as much as Billie's, and both competed unsuccessfully against Pet's in my first band battle in the spring of 2015. I'm delighted to know you like the song, too. Seems to me a song of that caliber should have yielded a major hit for some artist, but not a single rendition ever made the Billboard Hot 100 or even the Bubbling Under chart. In the UK, a blue-eyed soul band called The Action released "Wasn't It You?" as B side, but I don't think their version measures up to the ones by the female vocalists we've discussed. See what you think:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERnBfV8yH3w
Thanks again for joining the party and the Billie Club, dear friend diedre!