Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas
Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas (aka Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas) was a … Read Full Bio ↴Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas (aka Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas) was a British pop band led by Billy J. Kramer back by The Dakotas. The singer and the band parted company in 1966, both continuing separately.
Billy J. Kramer (born William Howard Ashton, 19 August 1943, in Bootle, Liverpool, England) was a British Invasion / Merseybeat singer. He is known today primarily as the singer of various Lennon-McCartney compositions that The Beatles did not use.
The performing name Kramer was chosen at random from a telephone directory. It was John Lennon's suggestion that the "J" be added to the name to further distinguish him by adding a 'tougher edge'. Billy 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 band, The Coasters were less keen, so Epstein sought out the services of a Manchester based band, The Dakotas, a well-respected combo then backing Pete MacLaine.
Even then, The Dakotas would not join Kramer without a recording deal 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 a song first released by the Beatles on their own debut album, Please Please Me. The track had been allegedly turned down by Shane Fenton (later Alvin Stardust) who was looking for a career reviving hit.
With record producer George Martin, the song "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" was a number two UK Singles Chart hit in 1963, 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. "I'll Keep You Satisfied" ended the year with a respectable number four placing.
Billy was given a series of songs specially written for him by the John Lennon and Paul McCartney which launched him into stardom and a proper place in the history of Rock and Roll. I'll Keep You Satisfied, From A Window, I Call Your Name and Bad To Me all became international million sellers for Billy, and won him appearances on the TV shows Shindig!, Hullabaloo and The Ed Sullivan Show.
The Dakotas, meanwhile, 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", evoking a dreamy atmosphere with a subtle echo laden piano, playing 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 a highly-collectable EP later that year.
The three big hits penned by Lennon and McCartney meant that Kramer was always seemingly in the Beatles' shadow, unless he tried something different. Despite being advised against it, he insisted on recording the Stateside chart hit "Little Children" - the lyrics were allegedly about getting his girlfriend's brothers and sisters out of the way so they could make love. It became his second chart topper and biggest hit. It was Kramer's only major hit outside of the UK. In the U.S., this was followed up with "Bad to Me" which reached number nine. Despite this success Kramer went backwards with his second and last UK single of 1964; another Lennon/McCartney cast-off "From A Window", which only became a Top Ten hit.
The year 1965 saw the end for the Merseybeat 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 of "Trains and Boats and Planes" saw off Anita Harris' cover version only to find itself in direct competition with its composer, Burt Bacharach's effort, which won the day. Kramer's effort still reached a respectable number 12, but was the group's swansong, as all future cuts missed the chart.
The Dakotas ranks were then strengthened by the inclusion of Mick Green, the ex-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.
After releasing "We're Doing Fine", it too missed the charts leaving singer and group to part company. Kramer had a brief solo career which took him eventually to live in America.
The Dakotas re-formed in the late 1980s and recruited vocalist Eddie Mooney and session musician Toni Baker. They still tour and record today. Drummer Pete Hilton joined the band in 1996 replacing Tony Bookbinder and after Mike maxfield sufferred a stroke in 2004 guitarist Alan Clare along. In January 2008 Eddie was asked to replace Rod Allen, the Fortunes frontman who had sadly died in Dec 2007. Another new face now fronts The Dakotas - Paul Rafferty.
In 2005, Kramer recorded the song "Cow Planet" for Sandra Boynton's children's album, Dog Train. A long-time 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 ever owned.
Billy J. Kramer (born William Howard Ashton, 19 August 1943, in Bootle, Liverpool, England) was a British Invasion / Merseybeat singer. He is known today primarily as the singer of various Lennon-McCartney compositions that The Beatles did not use.
The performing name Kramer was chosen at random from a telephone directory. It was John Lennon's suggestion that the "J" be added to the name to further distinguish him by adding a 'tougher edge'. Billy 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 band, The Coasters were less keen, so Epstein sought out the services of a Manchester based band, The Dakotas, a well-respected combo then backing Pete MacLaine.
Even then, The Dakotas would not join Kramer without a recording deal 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 a song first released by the Beatles on their own debut album, Please Please Me. The track had been allegedly turned down by Shane Fenton (later Alvin Stardust) who was looking for a career reviving hit.
With record producer George Martin, the song "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" was a number two UK Singles Chart hit in 1963, 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. "I'll Keep You Satisfied" ended the year with a respectable number four placing.
Billy was given a series of songs specially written for him by the John Lennon and Paul McCartney which launched him into stardom and a proper place in the history of Rock and Roll. I'll Keep You Satisfied, From A Window, I Call Your Name and Bad To Me all became international million sellers for Billy, and won him appearances on the TV shows Shindig!, Hullabaloo and The Ed Sullivan Show.
The Dakotas, meanwhile, 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", evoking a dreamy atmosphere with a subtle echo laden piano, playing 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 a highly-collectable EP later that year.
The three big hits penned by Lennon and McCartney meant that Kramer was always seemingly in the Beatles' shadow, unless he tried something different. Despite being advised against it, he insisted on recording the Stateside chart hit "Little Children" - the lyrics were allegedly about getting his girlfriend's brothers and sisters out of the way so they could make love. It became his second chart topper and biggest hit. It was Kramer's only major hit outside of the UK. In the U.S., this was followed up with "Bad to Me" which reached number nine. Despite this success Kramer went backwards with his second and last UK single of 1964; another Lennon/McCartney cast-off "From A Window", which only became a Top Ten hit.
The year 1965 saw the end for the Merseybeat 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 of "Trains and Boats and Planes" saw off Anita Harris' cover version only to find itself in direct competition with its composer, Burt Bacharach's effort, which won the day. Kramer's effort still reached a respectable number 12, but was the group's swansong, as all future cuts missed the chart.
The Dakotas ranks were then strengthened by the inclusion of Mick Green, the ex-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.
After releasing "We're Doing Fine", it too missed the charts leaving singer and group to part company. Kramer had a brief solo career which took him eventually to live in America.
The Dakotas re-formed in the late 1980s and recruited vocalist Eddie Mooney and session musician Toni Baker. They still tour and record today. Drummer Pete Hilton joined the band in 1996 replacing Tony Bookbinder and after Mike maxfield sufferred a stroke in 2004 guitarist Alan Clare along. In January 2008 Eddie was asked to replace Rod Allen, the Fortunes frontman who had sadly died in Dec 2007. Another new face now fronts The Dakotas - Paul Rafferty.
In 2005, Kramer recorded the song "Cow Planet" for Sandra Boynton's children's album, Dog Train. A long-time 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 ever owned.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas Lyrics
Anything That's Part of You I memorized the note you sent Go to all the places…
Bad to Me If you ever leave me I'll be sad and blue Don't you…
Dance With Me I see you standing there Your pretty face and your…
Do You Wanna Know A Secret? You'll never know how much I really love you You'll never…
Forgive Me I know I've been wrong, girl, acting like I did Taking…
From a Window Late yesterday night, I saw a light shine from a…
Going Going Gone Did you look back at me? When you walked away Walked away I…
Great Balls Of Fire You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain Too much…
I Call Your Name I call your name but you're not there Was I to…
I Know Do I love you? You know I do. Do I love you? You…
I Love to Love You I'd love to make love to you That's just what I…
I'll Be Doggone Well, I'll Be Doggone if I would work all day And…
I'll Be on My Way The sun is fading away That's the end of the day As…
I'll Keep You Satisfied You don't need anybody to hold you, Here I stand with…
I'm In Love Strange dear, but true, dear When I'm close to you, dear The…
It's a Mad Mad World Everybody′s runnin' in a mad, mad world Nobody′s goin' nowhe…
It's Gotta Last Forever If you think you′re falling in love It's gotta last forever …
It's Up to You If you don't believe, I'll be your Captain Steve. You can…
I´ll Keep You Satisfied You don't need anybody to hold you, Here I stand with…
Listen Listen to me I give my ear away constantly But will anyone…
Little Children Little children, you better not tell on me I'm tellin'…
My Girl Josephine Hello Josephine. How do you do? Do you remember me…
Pride There's such a sad love Deep in your eyes, a kind…
Second to None I don't have no money I don't have get no fun but…
Sorry ch I'm sorry I didn't mean to let you down cnd…
Tell Me Girl It's getting late again, and I forgot the day again cnd…
The Millionaire Who wants to be a millionaire huh? Let me phone…
The Twelfth Of Never You ask me how much I need you, must I…
Trains And Boats And Planes Trains and boats and planes are passing by They mean a…
Twilight Time Heavenly shades of night are falling it's twilight time Out…
Under the Boardwalk Oh, when the sun beats down and burns the tar…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Billy J. Kramer:
Bad to Me If you ever leave me I'll be sad and blue Don't you…
Call Your Name I call your name but you're not there Was I to…
Do You Wanna Know A Secret You'll never know how much I really love you You'll never…
Forgive Me I know I've been wrong, girl, acting like I did Taking…
From a Window Late yesterday night, I saw a light shine from a…
I Call Your Name I call your name but you're not there Was I to…
I Know Yeah If I didn't know better I'd say You were coming on…
I'll Be Doggone Well, I'll Be Doggone if I would work all day And…
I'll Be On My Way The sun is fading away That's the end of the day As…
I'LL BE TRUE TO YOU Chorus: I'm outside please come and get me, you bet…
I'll Keep You Satisfied You don't need anybody to hold you, Here I stand with…
It's Up to You If you don't believe, I'll be your Captain Steve. You can…
Little Children Little children, you better not tell on me I'm tellin'…
My Girl Josephine Hello Josephine. How do you do? Do you remember me…
Pride There's such a sad love Deep in your eyes, a kind…
Second to none I don't have no money I don't have get no fun but…
Tell Me Girl It's getting late again, and I forgot the day again cnd…
Trains And Boats And Planes Trains and boats and planes are passing by They mean a…
When You Wish Upon a Star When a star is born They possess a gift or two One…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Dakotas:
All Right Now (verse 1) You, you what you’ve done to me I, I just…
Angels Girl you know you'll always be my angel It doesn't really…
Bad To Me If you ever leave me I'll be sad and blue Don't you…
Dance With Me Yeah just gotta ride with me. sometimes just gotta get…
Do You Want to Know a Secret You'll never know how much I really love you You'll never…
Do you want to know a secret? You'll never know how much I really love you You'll never…
Don't Know The Reason You don't know what love is 'Til you've learned the meaning…
Forgive Me I know I've been wrong, girl, acting like I did Taking…
From A Window Late yesterday night, I saw a light shine from a…
Hold Me Hold me, why don't you hold me? I need you close Wait…
I Call Your Name I call your name but you're not there Was I to…
I Know You break the silence as you grace the room A shift…
I'll Be Doggone Well, I'll Be Doggone if I would work all day And…
I'll Be On My Way The sun is fading away That's the end of the day As…
I'll Keep You Satisfied You don't need anybody to hold you, Here I stand with…
I'm In Love I'm falling in love with Christmas Or maybe it's just the…
It's Up To You How did I know that the warmth of the glow…
Little Children Little children, you better not tell on me I'm tellin'…
My Girl Josephine Hello Josephine. How do you do? Do you remember me…
Pretend A love that never ends You Yeah, it's almost like Can't nob…
Pride There's such a sad love Deep in your eyes, a kind…
Second To None I don't have no money I don't have get no fun but…
Sorry ch I'm sorry I didn't mean to let you down cnd…
This Old Heart of Mine Ooo, this old heart of mine been broke a thousand…
Trains And Boats And Planes Trains and boats and planes are passing by They mean a…
Where Do You Go to Where'd you go this time? I said it wouldn't phase…