All was obviously not well in both camps and Parnes handed the rights over to Billy during it would be only a short time before the parting 1982 and they now reside with the Billy Fury of the ways between Billy and Larry. Estate. In addition, Decca had other fish to fry in pro - There was to be a minimum of nine record - WTHEhN Billey Fury sPignead for rParlopohonepon hohaving topebillingsandithenbackging alrraenge - s moting the future world superstars Tom Jones, ings for each year of the agreement, and oth - 21st December 1966, it signalled the end of a ments that he wanted on a TV show called Hey and a few months later, Engelbert ers as EMI may ‘reasonably require.’ seven year run of success on the Decca label, Presto. Humperdinck, who interestingly, as Gerry The agreement was that EMI would pay which netted him 26 hit singles, four hit Dorsey, had first signed to Decca in late 1958, £1,375 a quarter, commencing 1st December, albums, and two hit EPs. around the same time as Billy. and royalties as per the contract, which was Billy had survived the beat group Whether Billy would have held his own and quite a lucrative deal for the time. boom and scored some success during experienced further chart success had he In the event, Billy would produce 11 singles 1966, reaching the Top 40 for the final remained with Decca, and perhaps emulated for this label. time in August with the beautiful Give the big ballad success route undertaken by The recordings would prove to be a fascinat - Me Your Word , but he recorded only Humperdinck, with the hits the latter had on the ing journey and an amazing artistic achieve - three tracks – officially at least – during label into the 70s, will never be known. It is ment, with Billy unafraid to try new musical 1966 and there had been no album certainly possible. styles. since 1965. Despite the paucity of chart success – in He not only changed his vocal footprint, utilis - His then partner Lee Middleton (later comparison to the glory years at least – and ing his natural voice and dropping the ‘Fury’, married to Kenny Everett) wrote that the management issues, Billy was still highly but also adapted his image in an attempt to fit year to Billy’s manager Larry Parnes, popular and during 1966 beat such major the era, with hairstyles ranging from long ‘rock - complaining about his apparent lack of artists as the Walker Brothers, Elvis Presley, er’, to cropped, high permed and then long 70s dedication to Billy’s career and a short - the Beatles, Cliff Richard, Gene Pitney, the style. age of publicity. Rolling Stones and PJ Proby to win the Radio Sell-out gigs, TV and radio appearances and Parnes replied that he had not lost Luxembourg Battle of the Giants Getaway airplay, however, could not gain him a chart interest, but having conceded more Trophy for the second time. placing, something which must have frustrated control to Billy following a new contract, He also achieved two hits and was voted him greatly. he felt he could not direct Billy as much number three in the UK Male Singer section in There was, in truth, such a diversity of music as before. In addition personal prob - Record Mirror, so there was every reason for on offer to music fans and whilst many ‘old’ lems in his own life had caused him to all parties to the forthcoming new contract to fans still attended his gigs, others had grown relinquish direct control over Billy. be buoyant about the immediate future. up and had families and other responsibilities For his part, Billy had not honoured The contract signed with EMI in December to take up their time. an agreement to appear on a Tyne ran until November 1971, plus a five year man - Being a musical chameleon and not the Tees TV Show and refused to be pho - ufacturing right and one year sell-off right, giv - ‘Fury’ beloved by the early fans (on record at tographed at Longleat with the lions ing EMI control of Billy’s material until 30th least) could not have helped, and with a shrink - because, he said, it was too far to go. November 1977. Larry Parnes and Billy Fury ing but loyal fan base, which would remain for - Billy was also unhappy about not were joint licensor for the contract. ever devoted, but with little general popular BILLY signs his contract with Parlophone support, chart success was not to come Billy’s ing which helped to drive it along and made it a money for the Billy Fury mobile dispensary by solo, was far more trendy, well performed, and way again until 1982. great drivetime number, like so many of the holding jumble sales and fetes etc. Elsewhere, quite catchy. Suffering from worsening heart problems, not Parlophone recordings. he was reported as being fervently anti-blood 1967 was the Summer of Love and Suzanne least the often debilitating and disturbing irreg - It was in January that Tony Hall, who had sports. In The Mirror , released in September, fitted the ular heartbeat, also helped to limit the extent of known Billy for years, came to his defence in a In March Decca released another Ace of mood perfectly, with a review claiming: ‘Billy promotional work and gigs, although Billy was warm article in Record Mirror. Attacking those Clubs album, the third on the budget label, Goes Psychedelic’. We don’t know what Billy still quite busy during the Parlophone period. artists and others in the business who were entitled The Best of Billy Fury , and made popu - thought of the recording, especially the drug- After years of patchy releases of the later 60s criticising Billy, Tony wrote: “Bill turned out to lar by the inclusion of Nobody’s Child from a related lyrics, but it was another superb per - material it is right that during what would have be one of the very few really genuine people deleted EP. formance. been Billy’s 70th birthday year – and for the I’ve met in the business for ages. Warm, kind, One reviewer, bemoaning the inclusion of the In common with many people in those heady, very first time – all 22 tracks forming the EMI sincere, gentle, honest. A person who doesn’t 1963 version of A Wondrous Place because carefree days, Billy smoked marijuana – many singles releases should be issued on this col - make too many friends because he has been Billy’s original 1960 single had been ‘one of the have claimed it helped to keep him alive until lection, together with a selection of specially kicked too often. best British pop records ever made’ then con - an operation was available to correct his heart chosen bonus tracks all with the kind permis - ‘Frankly, I don’t think I have ever taken one of cluded: ‘The songs are of a very high standard valve condition. sion of Lisa Voice, Billy’s former long term part - his records home for pleasure. It’s not my – if he could find another Halfway To Paradise The flip side was a cover of the old Ernest ner. scene. today his timeless voice could top the charts.’ Tubb composition and recording, It Just Don’t The first single release on the label made ‘But to hear Bill sitting by the fire in the early Even today many fans dream of a success - Matter Now , a jog-a-long country number and a most famous by the Beatles came out on 22nd hours of the morning, playing guitar and ful, but tasteful, Elvis JXL-style remix, although superior cut to the original. January 1967. Hurtin’ Is Lovin’ b/w Things Are singing songs by himself and other people was Billy did reach the Top 10 in 2007-8 with a DVD Billy performed it live on radio and it was an Changing was described in the musical press a real revelation. and CD. echo of his 1962 Radio Luxembourg perform - as ‘a happening record, Billy Fury’s biggest ‘At heart, he’s basically a contemporary folk The Record Mirror for 10th June 1967 report - ances, where he featured his love for country yet.’ singer. With a sad warmth in his voice that, in ed that Billy would perform a series of ten music by performing Wedding Bells (he was to It was a Peter and Gordon composition that all seriousness, reminded me a little of Tim Sunday concerts at the Royal Aquarium, Great record a studio version of it during his EMI Billy claimed on radio was written specially for Hardin.’ Yarmouth, commencing on the 25th June. years as well as on the We Want Billy LP in him. Anyone who has heard Billy’s unplugged Billy, sporting his hair down over his collar 1963). He performed it live with the Gamblers on recordings will attest to the soulfulness in his and in one publicity shot looking more like It was during 1967 that Billy experienced sev - Saturday Club, losing none of the dark brood - voice, and agree with Tony. Bryan Ferry, released Loving You in July. eral changes of band, the Gamblers giving way ing intensity of the original single, which was It was in the Titbits magazine in February that This was an excellent cover of the old Elvis to the Plainsmen and for a while the Dakotas, produced by Mike Leander. Billy said he was still terrified of making film song and best described by a reviewer at with Mick Green and drummer Frank Farley, ‘Doesn’t strike me as a logical hit, but records.