Billy Nicholls - "Would You Believe" 2 x Vinyl, Compilation, Limited Edition, 2007/1968 (Immediate)

I had the CD of the original album but recently purchased a reissued limited-edition double-set, with the extra songs being demos and stuff that didn't make it on the original release in 1968.  "Would You Believe" is incredible.  Imagine the Psychedelic sounds of The Small Faces meeting The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds," and that equals Billy Nicholls.  I don't have that much information on Nicholls, but I believe he is sort of like Speedy Keen of Thunderclap Newman, who was a pal of Pete Townshend and helped out in the studio here and there.   Billy did the same thing for The Who in the 70s and afterward.  This comes to mind perhaps Pete hires people more talented than him!

The Small Faces helped out with the production and arrangement for the song "Would You Believe," and it clearly has their sound, but Nicholls' talent doesn't disappear in the mix whatsoever.  This album is full of brilliant British musicians of its time, with great arrangements by John Paul Jones and Arthur Greenslade, who even worked with Serge Gainsbourg.  My favorite cut here is "Girl From New York," which is the perfect combination of power pop melody with heavy 60s guitar groove that is total Mod-tastic.  The album comes from the sensibility of British Mod-era music as it went into the late 60s.  This album is the perfect sound and example of what was happening at that time, especially in London.  Try to find the double-album set, with the demos attached, because they to are fantastic.  Perfect record. 

Billy Nicholls - "Would You Believe" CD Album, Reissue

Billy Nicholls – Would You Believe

CD Album, Reissue, Stereo, Mono, UK, 1999 (Originally 1968)

Immediate (Sequel Records)

For me this album came out of nowhere, and I couldn't believe (no pun intended with respect to the title...) no one heard this or why it hasn't become an instant 1960's classic. In a way it reminds me of the great Jackie Lomax album Is This What You Want?in that it got support from the heavy hitters of its era or year and yet, crashed down the charts.

Billy Nicholls was (and still is) an associate of The Who, and on Would You Believe he is backed by the mighty Small Faces as well as Nicky Hopkins, John Paul Jones, and Big Jim Sullivan, with production by the great Andrew Loog Oldham and issued on his Mod-tastic Immediate Records. Why didn't it sell? Well, never mind that, because this album is great.

With respect to my memory, 1968 was the year where everything was coming apart in very interesting ways. The songs got longer, and more jazzy, with an eye towards the endless horizon. So this album is very much the last stance on short perfect psych-pop songs that is also a snapshot of its year and I presume London music life as well. There's not a bad cut on this album, but the one that I play over and over again is “Girl From New York.” Just the rush of the melody and the fullness of the production makes one swoon. It's a great, great record. “London Social Degree,” “Portobello Road,” and the title cut (not written by Nicholls) are excellent as well.