''Would You Believe'' is an album by

Billy Nicholls William Morris Nicholls Jr (born 15 February 1949) is an English singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and musical director. He was born into a musical family, his father Billy Nicholls (Sr.) being a double bassist and big band singer, ...

released in 1968. Billy Nicholls was originally hired by Andrew Loog Oldham as a staff writer for Oldham's

Immediate Records Immediate Records was a British record label, started in 1965 by The Rolling Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham and Tony Calder, and concentrating on the London-based blues and R&B scene. History Immediate Records was started in 1965. Signed ...

. Oldham was so entranced by the Beach Boys' 1966 album, '' Pet Sounds'' that he enlisted songwriter Billy Nicholls to record a British response. The Small Faces' Steve Marriott can be heard very prominently on "Would You Believe?," despite Oldham's attempts to drown him out with heavy orchestration. Oldham wanted this to be the British ''Pet Sounds'' but financial difficulties with the label caused it to be shelved (it only achieved an initial promotional run of 100 copies, as Immediate IMCP009) before it ever hit the streets. In 1998, Nicholls re-released it on his own label ''Southwest Records''. It was made more widely available on Sequel Castle Communications (CMQDD1358) records in 1999. Several ''Sequel/Castle'' editions have been released since, including a version containing demos from the 60s, also originally first released as ''Snapshot'' on ''Southwest Records'' in 2000. Other artists recorded versions of Billy Nicholls' songs from ''Would You Believe''. Like Nicholls, Andrew Loog Oldham also produced the 1967 Del Shannon LP ''Home and Away''. This LP was also unissued at the time. It has been reissued in multiple formats since 1978, first called ''And The Music Plays On'' and later as ''Home and Away'' on CD. Nicholls' songs also appeared on Dana Gillespie's LP ''Foolish Seasons'', first released in 1968 and later reissued on CD. ''Would You Believe'' was selected for '' The MOJO Collection'' as one of the most significant albums in musical history.

Original track listing

All tracks composed by Billy Nicholls; except where indicated # "Would You Believe?" (Jeremy Paul) - 2:41 # "Come Again" - 2:34 # "Life Is Short" - 3:07 # "Feeling Easy" - 3:12 # "Daytime Girl" - 2:14 # "Daytime Girl (Coda)" - 1:36 # "London Social Degree" - 2:20 # "Portobello Road" - 2:05 # "Question Mark" - 2:26 # "Being Happy" - 2:28 # "Girl From New York" - 3:16 # "It Brings Me Down" - 4:39

Personnel

*Billy Nicholls - vocals, acoustic guitar, background vocals *Joe Moretti - electric guitar * Steve Marriott - electric guitar, background vocals * Big Jim Sullivan - acoustic guitar * John Paul Jones - bass * Ronnie Lane - bass, background vocals *

Jerry Shirley Jerry Shirley (born 4 February 1952) is an English rock drummer, best known as a member of the band Humble Pie, appearing on all their albums. He is also known for his work with Fastway, Joey Molland from Badfinger, Alexis Korner, Billy Nicholl ...

, Kenney Jones - drums * Nicky Hopkins, Ian McLagan, Caleb Quaye - keyboards *Barry Husband, Denny Gerrard - background vocals *

Arthur Greenslade Arthur Greenslade (4 May 1923 – 27 November 2003) was a British conductor and arranger for films and television, as well as for a number of performers. He was most musically active in the 1960s and 1970s. Greenslade was born in Northfle ...

, John Paul Jones - arrangements; except "Would You Believe?" arranged by The Small Faces *Alan O'Duffy - recording engineer for "Would You Believe?"

References

External links

www.musthear.com review
{{Authority control 1968 debut albums Albums arranged by Arthur Greenslade Albums arranged by John Paul Jones (musician) Albums produced by Andrew Loog Oldham Albums recorded at IBC Studios Albums recorded at Olympic Sound Studios Immediate Records albums

Original track listing

Personnel

See also

References

External links