Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas
William Howard Ashton (n.1943, GB) nei primi '60 suona la chitarra nella natia Liverpool coi Coasters (nulla a che vedere con l'omonimo gruppo vocale americano). Per cause fortuite ne diventa poi il cantante, assume il nome di Billy J. Kramer. Verso la fine del 1962 Kramer viene notato da Brian Epstein, il manager dei Beatles, il quale decide di divederlo dai Coasters e di affidargli un altro gruppo proveniente da Manchester, i Dakotas. Sempre sotto la guida di Epstein il gruppo firma un contratto con la Parlophone e, con la produzione di George Martin, registra il primo singolo, con Do You Want To Know A Secret dei Beatles. Nel giugno del 1963 il 45 giri raggiunge i primi posti delle classifiche inglesi; poco dopo vengono Bad To Me e, a novembre, I'll Keep You Satisfied, tutte composizioni di Lennon/McCartney. Contemporaneamente anche LISTEN (Parlophone 1963 GB) appare in classifica. Sebbene si ispiri anche come presenza a Billy Fury, Kramer in realtà non ne possiede le qualità: la sua è una normale voce da crooner e molta parte del successo è dovuta alla sensazionele diffusione che il Merseybeat ottiene in questo periodo. Nel 1964 il gruppo appare nuovamente in classifica con brani come Little Children e From A Window, nel 1965 vi ritorna con Trains And Boats And Planes, di Burt Bucharach. Mentre Epstein è sempre più impegnato con i Beatles, Kramer e i suoi, seguendo le sorti della Merseybeat, imboccano una parabola discendente e nel 1966 si dividono. Dopo aver inciso qualcosa per la Reaction, Kramer si inserisce nel circuito dei club e dei cabaret e continua a lavorare fino agli '80, tentando invano, un paio di volte, di ritornare sulle scene con la vecchia sigla.
Trade ad for Billy J. Kramer's single "It's Gotta Last Forever".
Early life and career
He grew up as the youngest of seven siblings and attended the St George of England Secondary School, Bootle. He then took up an engineering apprenticeship with British Railways and in his spare time played rhythm guitar in a group he had formed himself, before switching to become a vocalist. The performing name Kramer was chosen at random from a telephone directory. John Lennon suggested that the "J" be added to the name to further distinguish him by adding a "tougher edge". Kramer soon came to the attention of Brian Epstein, ever on the look-out for new talent to add to his expanding roster of local artists. Kramer turned professional but his then backing group, the Coasters, were less keen, so Epstein sought out the services of a Manchester-based group, the Dakotas, a combo then backing Pete MacLaine.Even then, the Dakotas would not join Kramer without a recording contract of their own. Once in place, the deal was set and both acts signed to Parlophone under George Martin. Collectively, they were named Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas to keep their own identities within the act. Once the Beatles broke through, the way was paved for a tide of Merseybeat and Kramer was offered the chance to cover "Do You Want to Know a Secret?", first released by the Beatles on their own debut album, Please Please Me. The track had been turned down by Shane Fenton (later known as Alvin Stardust) who was looking for a career-reviving hit.
Success
With record producer George Martin, the song "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" was a number two UK Singles Chart hit in 1963, (but number one in some charts), and was backed by another tune otherwise unreleased by the Beatles, "I'll Be on My Way". After this impressive breakthrough another Lennon–McCartney pairing, "Bad to Me" c/w "I Call Your Name", reached number one. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. "I'll Keep You Satisfied" ended the year with a respectable number four placing.Kramer was given a series of songs specially written for him by John Lennon and Paul McCartney which launched him into stardom. "I'll Keep You Satisfied", "From a Window", "I Call Your Name" and "Bad to Me" earned him appearances on the television programmes, Shindig!, Hullabaloo and The Ed Sullivan Show. (Kramer had also been offered Lennon–McCartney's "I'm in Love", and recorded a version in October 1963. In the end, it was shelved and the song was instead given to the Fourmost. In the 1990s, a Kramer CD compilation album included Kramer's version, as well as some recording studio banter on which John Lennon's voice could be heard).
The Dakotas, (with guitarist Mick Green), enjoyed Top 20 success in 1963 on their own with Mike Maxfield's composition "The Cruel Sea", an instrumental retitled "The Cruel Surf" in the U.S., which was subsequently covered by The Ventures. This was followed by a George Martin creation, "Magic Carpet", in which an echo-laden piano played the melody alongside Maxfield's guitar. But it missed out altogether and it was a year before their next release. All four tracks appeared on an EP later that year.
The three hits penned by Lennon and McCartney suggested that Kramer would always remain in the Beatles' shadow, unless he tried something different. Despite being advised against it, he turned down the offer of another Lennon–McCartney song, "One and One Is Two", and insisted on recording the Stateside chart hit "Little Children". It became his second chart topper and biggest hit. In the United States, "Little Children" was backed with "Bad to Me". "Little Children" b/w "Bad To Me" is the only debut single of an act on the Hot 100, each of whose sides separately reached that chart's top 10 (No. 7 and No. 9, respectively). Despite this success Kramer went backwards with his second and last UK single of 1964, the Lennon–McCartney composition "From a Window", which only just became a Top Ten hit.
After the peak
The year 1965 saw the end for the beat music boom, and the next Kramer single was "It's Gotta Last Forever", which harked back to a ballad approach. In a year where mod-related music from the likes of the Who prevailed, the single missed completely. Kramer's cover version of Bacharach and David's "Trains and Boats and Planes" saw off Anita Harris' version in the UK, reaching a respectable number 12, but was trounced by that of Dionne Warwick in the US, and turned out to be the group's swansong, as all subsequent releases failed to chart.The Dakotas' ranks were then strengthened by the inclusion of Mick Green, formerly a guitarist with the London band the Pirates who backed Johnny Kidd. This line-up cut a few tracks which were at odds with the balladeer's usual fare. These included a take on "When You Walk in the Room" and "Sneakin' Around". The Dakotas' final outing whilst with Kramer was the blues-driven "Oyeh!", but this also flopped.
Latterly
After releasing "We're Doing Fine", which also missed the charts, the singer and group parted company. Kramer, then living in Rugby, Warwickshire, had a solo career over the next ten to fifteen years or so working in cabaret and television with his new band, again from the Manchester area, consisting of Pete Heaton (bass), John Miller (drums) and Tim Randles (guitar)( Later Bob Price on Bass & Roger Bell on Guitar). In the late 1970s he teamed up with Bedford musicians Mike Austin (bass), Max Milligan (guitar) and John Dillon (percussion), performing cabaret in the UK and Europe, whilst also recording "San Diego" and "Ships that Pass in the Night" - after which he eventually went to live in the United States.The Dakotas re-formed in the late 1980s and recruited vocalist Eddie Mooney and session musician Toni Baker. They still tour and record. Other latter-day members are drummer Pete Hilton and guitarist Alan Clare.
In 1983 Kramer released a solo single on the RAK label, "You Can't Live on Memories"/"Stood Up", which failed to chart. The following year, 1984, he released "Shootin' The Breeze"/"Doris Day Movie" on 'Mean Records'. Again this failed to chart.
In 2005, Kramer recorded the song "Cow Planet" for Sandra Boynton's children's album, Dog Train. A long-term fan of Kramer's, Boynton had sought him out for her project: in 1964, at age 11, she had bought "Little Children" as the first album she owned.
In late 2012, Kramer went back into the studio for the first time in years to record a new CD, I Won the Fight, which was released in 2013. The CD features some new songs written by Kramer as well as some covers.
In 2013, Kramer provided the introduction to the graphic novel The Fifth Beatle by Vivek Tiwary. The book was released in November and spent several weeks on the New York Times best-seller list, reaching #1 in its third week of release. He also released a new CD, "I Won the Fight".
In 2015, Kramer was part of the British Invasion 50th Anniversary tour, performing in the U.S. and the UK.
Discography
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | UK album | US album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | US Pop | ||||
| 1963 | "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" b/w "I'll Be on My Way" |
2 | – | The Best of Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas | A: Little Children B: I'll Keep You Satisfied |
| "Bad to Me" b/w "I Call Your Name" |
1 | – | A: The Best of Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas B: Listen... |
||
| "I'll Keep You Satisfied" b/w "I Know" |
4 | – | Little Children | ||
| 1964 | "Bad to Me" b/w "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" Second US release of both sides |
– | – | The Best of Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas | |
| "Little Children" UK B: "They Remind Me of You" |
1 | 7 | The Best of Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas | ||
| "Bad to Me" Third US release |
– | 9 | The Best of Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas | ||
| "I'll Keep You Satisfied" b/w "I Know" US re-release |
– | 30 | A: The Best of Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotass B: Listen... |
||
| "From a Window" UK B: "Second to None" US B: "I'll Be on My Way" |
10 | 23 | A & UK B: The Hits of Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas US B: The Best of Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas |
I'll Keep You Satisfield | |
| 1965 | "It's Gotta Last Forever" UK B: "Don't You Do It No More" US B: "They Remind Me of You" |
– | 67 | The Hits of Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas | A: Non-album track UK B: Trains and Boats and Planes US B: Little Children |
| "Trains and Boats and Planes" Original US B: "I'll Be on My Way" UK & later US B: "That's the Way I Feel" |
12 | 47 | A & UK B: The Hits of Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas Original US B: The Best of Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas |
A: Trains and Boats and Planes Original US B: I'll Keep You Satisfied UK & later US B: Non-album track |
|
| "Twilight Time" b/w "Irresistible You" |
– | – | Non-album tracks | Trains and Boats and Planes | |
| "Neon City" b/w "I'll Be Doggone" |
– | – | Non-album tracks | ||
| 1966 | "We're Doing Fine" b/w "Forgive Me" |
– | – | A: The Best of Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas B: Non-album track |
|
| "You Make Me Feel Like Someone" b/w "Take My Hand" |
– | – | A: Non-album track B: The Best of Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas |
||
| 1967 | "Town of Tuxley Toy Maker" -- Part 1 (Billy J. Kramer solo) b/w "Chinese Girl" |
– | – | Non-album tracks | |
| Billy J. Kramer solo singles | |||||
| 1968 | "1941" b/w "His Love Is Just A Lie" |
– | – | Non-album tracks | |
| "A World Without Love" b/w "Going Through It" |
– | – | |||
| 1969 | "Colour of My Love" b/w "I'm Running Away" |
– | – | ||
| 1971 | "The Grass Won't Pay No Mind" b/w "There's No Time" Shown as by William Howard Ashton |
– | – | ||
| 1973 | "A Fool Like You" b/w "I'll Keep You Satisfied" |
– | – | ||
| "Darling Come to Me" b/w "Walking" |
– | – | |||
| 1974 | "Stayin' Power" b/w "Blue Jean Queen" |
– | – | ||
| 1977 | "San Diego" b/w "Warm Summer Rain" |
– | – | ||
| 1978 | "Ships That Pass in the Night" b/w "Is There Any More at Home Like You" |
– | – | ||
| 1979 | "Blue Christmas" b/w "Little Love" |
– | – | ||
| 1980 | "Silver Dream" b/w "Lonely Lady" |
– | – | ||
| 1981 | "Sun Tan" b/w "Gone Away" |
– | – | ||
| 1982 | "Rock It" b/w "Dum Dum" |
– | – | ||
| "You're Right, I'm Wrong" b/w "The Fugitive" |
– | – | |||
| 1983 | "You Can't Live on Memories" b/w "Stood Up" |
– | – | ||
| 1984 | "Shootin' the Breeze" b/w "Doris Day Movie" |
– | – | ||
Albums
- Listen ... (1963, UK)
- Little Children (1964, US)
- I'll Keep You Satisfied (1964, US)
- Trains and Boats and Planes (1965, US)
- Billy Boy (1966, UK)
- I Won the Fight (2013, US)
Collections
- The EP collection (1995, UK)
Do You Want to Know a Secret BILLY J KRAMER WITH THE DAKOTAS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMX6IsKyLGk
Jan 18, 2016 - Uploaded by sunryse111
Next to The Beatles, BJKATD were my favourite Mersey group - and this Lennon-
Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas:Bad To Me.flv - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASwQ3pPuTgc
Lyrics
If you ever leave me I'll be sad and blue
Don't you ever leave me, I'm so in love with you
Don't you ever leave me, I'm so in love with you
The birds in the sky would be sad and lonely
If they knew that I'd lost my one and only
They'd be sad, don't be bad to me
If they knew that I'd lost my one and only
They'd be sad, don't be bad to me
The leaves on the trees would be softly sighin
If they heard from the breeze that you left me cryin'
They'd be sad, don't be bad to me
If they heard from the breeze that you left me cryin'
They'd be sad, don't be bad to me
But I know you won't leave me 'cos you told me so
And I've no intention of letting you go
Just as long as you let me know you won't be bad to me
And I've no intention of letting you go
Just as long as you let me know you won't be bad to me
So the birds in the sky won't be sad and lonely
'Cause they know that I got my one and only
They'll be glad you're not bad to me
'Cause they know that I got my one and only
They'll be glad you're not bad to me
Songwriters: John Winston Lennon / Paul Mccartney
Bad to Me lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
I`ll Keep You Satisfied - Billy J Kramer with the Dakotas - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjrLFgCIO90
Lyrics
You don't need anybody to hold you,
Here I stand with my arms open wide,
Give me love and remember, what I told you,
I'll keep you satisfied.
You don't need anybody to kiss you,
Ev'ry day I'll be here by your side,
Don't go 'way, I'm afraid that I might miss you,
I'll keep you satisfied.
You can always get a simple thing like love anytime,
But it's diff'rent with a boy like me and a love like mine.
So believe ev'rything that I told you,
And agree that with me by your side,
You don't need anybody to hold you,
I'll keep you satisfied.
You can always get a simple thing like love anytime,
But it's diff'rent with a boy like me and a love like mine.
So believe ev'rything that I told you,
And agree that with me by your side,
You don't need anybody to hold you,
I'll keep you satisfied.
Give me love and remember, what I told you,
I'll keep you satisfied.
Here I stand with my arms open wide,
Give me love and remember, what I told you,
I'll keep you satisfied.
You don't need anybody to kiss you,
Ev'ry day I'll be here by your side,
Don't go 'way, I'm afraid that I might miss you,
I'll keep you satisfied.
You can always get a simple thing like love anytime,
But it's diff'rent with a boy like me and a love like mine.
So believe ev'rything that I told you,
And agree that with me by your side,
You don't need anybody to hold you,
I'll keep you satisfied.
You can always get a simple thing like love anytime,
But it's diff'rent with a boy like me and a love like mine.
So believe ev'rything that I told you,
And agree that with me by your side,
You don't need anybody to hold you,
I'll keep you satisfied.
Give me love and remember, what I told you,
I'll keep you satisfied.
Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul Mccartney
I'll Keep You Satisfied lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas - "Little Children" - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tJ620x_Ra4
Lyrics
Little children, you better not tell on me I'm tellin' you
Little children, you better not tell what you see And if you're good
I'll give you candy and a quarter
If you're quiet like you oughta be
And keep a secret with me
Little children, you better not tell what you see And if you're good
I'll give you candy and a quarter
If you're quiet like you oughta be
And keep a secret with me
I wish they would go away
Little children, now why aren't you playin' outside I'm askin' you
You can't fool me, 'cause I'm gonna know if you hide and try to peek
I'm gonna treat you to a movie
Stop your gigglin', children do be nice
Like little sugars and spice
Little children, now why aren't you playin' outside I'm askin' you
You can't fool me, 'cause I'm gonna know if you hide and try to peek
I'm gonna treat you to a movie
Stop your gigglin', children do be nice
Like little sugars and spice
You saw me kissin' your sister, you saw me holdin' her hand
But if you snitch to your mother, your father won't understand
But if you snitch to your mother, your father won't understand
I wish they would take a nap
Little children, now why don't you go bye-bye Go anywhere at all
Little children, I know you would if you tried Go up the stairs
Me and your sister, we're goin' steady
How can I kiss her when I'm ready to
With little children like you around
I wonder what can I do around
Little children like you
Little children, now why don't you go bye-bye Go anywhere at all
Little children, I know you would if you tried Go up the stairs
Me and your sister, we're goin' steady
How can I kiss her when I'm ready to
With little children like you around
I wonder what can I do around
Little children like you
Songwriters: J. L. Mcfarland / Mort Shuman
Little Children lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
Billy J Kramer with the Dakotas - From a window (1964) - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuGzPbj6zjA
Lyrics
Late yesterday night,
I saw a light shine from a window,
And as I looked again,
Your face came into sight.
I saw a light shine from a window,
And as I looked again,
Your face came into sight.
I couldn't walk on
Until you'd gone from your window.
I had to make you mine,
I knew you were the one.
Until you'd gone from your window.
I had to make you mine,
I knew you were the one.
Oh, I would be so glad
Just to have a love like that,
Oh, I would be so true
And I'd live my life for you.
Just to have a love like that,
Oh, I would be so true
And I'd live my life for you.
So meet me tonight,
Just where the light shines from a window,
And as I take your hand,
Say that you'll be mine tonight.
Just where the light shines from a window,
And as I take your hand,
Say that you'll be mine tonight.
Oh, I would be so glad
Just to have a love like that,
Oh, I would be true
And I'd give my life for you.
Just to have a love like that,
Oh, I would be true
And I'd give my life for you.
So meet me tonight,
Just where the light shines from a window,
And as I take your hand,
Say that you'll be mine tonight.
Just where the light shines from a window,
And as I take your hand,
Say that you'll be mine tonight.
Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul Mccartney
From A Window lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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