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After reading another members recommendation on the show Half Way to Paradise about the life story of Billy Fury, I went to see it last night at the Derby Assembly Rooms. It was a great night of sixties music. They dedicated the show to Jet and gasps of disbelief came from the audience when they announced that Jet had died on Friday. A great show and a great tribute for Jet

Billy Fury was an outstanding singer but was soon forgotton as pop music moved on through the 60s'. He's probably remembered more for the ballards that gave him his biggest UK hits, but at heart he was a real rock'n'roller. I think that anybody interested early British rock and roll music should investigate his back catalogue.

His 10" LP "The Sound of Fury"- available on CD these days is regarded as a landmark album in British rock n roll. It featured a young up and coming session musician on lead guitar named Joe Brown! What is remarkable the whole album was recorded in one afternoon - 3 hours I belive! Almost all the songs were self penned by Billy Fury - under an assumed name or his real name. It was the change to singing ballads that showed his fabulous voice to us all.
Ive been listening to his records alot in recent years and he was probably our best vocalist from that era. His version of Bobby Rydell's "Forget Him" has to be one of the best recordings of all time!

HI
I to was at the Derby show of "Half Way to Paradise" and what a super show it was from Colin Gold and the Tornado's they never fail to give a good performance.

I was so pleased to hear them give referance to the passing of Jet Harris at the end of the show, to which they received massive applause.

RIP Jet.

Steelystrings

neil2726 wrote:His 10" LP "The Sound of Fury"- available on CD these days is regarded as a landmark album in British rock n roll. It featured a young up and coming session musician on lead guitar named Joe Brown! What is remarkable the whole album was recorded in one afternoon - 3 hours I belive! Almost all the songs were self penned by Billy Fury - under an assumed name or his real name. It was the change to singing ballads that showed his fabulous voice to us all.
Ive been listening to his records alot in recent years and he was probably our best vocalist from that era. His version of Bobby Rydell's "Forget Him" has to be one of the best recordings of all time!

It was indeed a groundbreaking album, I didn't realise that Joe Brown was playing on it. The Windmill Theatre in Great Yarmouth used to feature an 8 week, (or so) long pop music show during the summer season during the late 50s'/ early 60s'. I saw Billy there alonng with the Tornados when he topped a bill which also included, among others; Karl Denver, Marty Wilde, The Vernons Girls and Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers, (well Peter Jays' dad did own the Theatre). Great days!