Billy Nicholls
Encyclopedia
Billy Nicholls is an English
singer, songwriter
, record producer
and musical director, who first gained fame in the 1960s while still a teenager
with his Pet Sounds
influenced album
, Would You Believe
, originally released on Immediate Records
.
Nicholls' compositions have been covered
by many artists
; his first success came in 1977 when Leo Sayer
covered I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try); it rose to #7 in the UK Singles Chart
. Nicholls wrote several of the tracks for the film
, McVicar
, starring Roger Daltrey
, including "Without Your Love" which was a success in the United States
.
An American
southern rock
group
, Outlaws recorded "I Can't Stop Loving You" on their 1980 release, Ghost Riders. More recently, Phil Collins
also recorded "I Can't Stop Loving You" and it proved to be a success as a U.S.
single
, appearing on several of his albums, and was performed on his last world tour.
A longtime acquaintance and occasional collaborator with Pete Townshend
, Nicholls toured with The Who
in 1989
and 1996-1997
, serving as backup singer and music director; he also provided backing vocals for the band's version of "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
" that appeared on the tribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin
.
In 2003 Nicholls received an ASCAP award for "Can't Stop Loving You". Keith Urban
recorded the same song on his album.
Nicholls set up Southwest Records in 1998 and has released seven albums featuring his own work. He also supplied uncredited backing vocals
on The Nice
's 1967 debut single "Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack".
He is father of Morgan Nicholls
and Amy Nicholls
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and musical director, who first gained fame in the 1960s while still a teenager
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
with his Pet Sounds
Pet Sounds
Pet Sounds is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band The Beach Boys, released May 16, 1966, on Capitol Records. It has since been recognized as one of the most influential records in the history of popular music and one of the best albums of the 1960s, including songs such as "Wouldn't...
influenced album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Would You Believe
Would You Believe (Billy Nicholls album)
Would You Believe is an album by Billy Nicholls recorded in 1968.Billy Nicholls was originally hired by Andrew Loog Oldham as a staff writer for Oldham's Immediate Records. Oldham was so entranced by the Beach Boys' 1966 album, Pet Sounds that he enlisted songwriter Billy Nicholls to record a...
, originally released on Immediate Records
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:...
.
Nicholls' compositions have been covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by many artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
; his first success came in 1977 when Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer is a British singer-songwriter, musician, and entertainer whose singing career has spanned four decades. Sayer became a naturalised Australian citizen in 2009. Sayer was a top singles and album act on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1970s...
covered I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try); it rose to #7 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Nicholls wrote several of the tracks for the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, McVicar
McVicar (film)
McVicar is a British drama film released in 1980 by The Who Films, Ltd., starring Roger Daltrey of The Who in the title role of John McVicar...
, starring Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
, including "Without Your Love" which was a success in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
An American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
southern rock
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
group
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, Outlaws recorded "I Can't Stop Loving You" on their 1980 release, Ghost Riders. More recently, Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
also recorded "I Can't Stop Loving You" and it proved to be a success as a U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, appearing on several of his albums, and was performed on his last world tour.
A longtime acquaintance and occasional collaborator with Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
, Nicholls toured with The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
in 1989
The Who Tour 1989
The Who Tour 1989 was The Who's reunion tour in celebration of their 25th anniversary and their first without drummer Kenney Jones, who had replaced Keith Moon in 1979...
and 1996-1997
The Who Tour 1996-1997
The Who Tour 1996-1997 was The Who's second attempt at a tour promoting their 1973 album, Quadrophenia.-History:Having worked on the remastering of Quadrophenia in 1996, Pete Townshend was inspired to finally perform the complete rock opera as he had always hoped to hear it played, with a full band...
, serving as backup singer and music director; he also provided backing vocals for the band's version of "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
"Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" is a rock song performed by musician Elton John and covered by W.A.S.P., Flotsam and Jetsam, Nickelback , Queen and The Who...
" that appeared on the tribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin is a 1991 tribute album consisting of interpretations of sixteen songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The title refers to the song on Elton John's album 21 at 33, "Two Rooms at the End of the World", to the duo's unusual...
.
In 2003 Nicholls received an ASCAP award for "Can't Stop Loving You". Keith Urban
Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban is a New Zealand-born Australian, country music singer, songwriter and guitarist whose commercial success has been mainly in the United States and Australia. Urban was born in New Zealand and began his career in Australia at an early age...
recorded the same song on his album.
Nicholls set up Southwest Records in 1998 and has released seven albums featuring his own work. He also supplied uncredited backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
on The Nice
The Nice
The Nice were an English progressive rock band from the 1960s, known for their blend of rock, jazz and classical music. Their debut album, The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack was released in 1967 to immediate acclaim. It is often considered the first progressive rock album...
's 1967 debut single "Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack".
He is father of Morgan Nicholls
Morgan Nicholls
Morgan Nicholls is an English musician, member of Senseless Things and best known for performing with Gorillaz, The Streets, Muse and most recently Lily Allen. He released one solo album under the name Morgan.-Career:...
and Amy Nicholls