Carluccci pulled together a group consisting of Pete Torres (falsetto), Phil D'Antonio (baritone) , Johnny caulfield (second tenor), and Mike Lenihan (first tenor) dubbing them Little Billy & the Essentials. They cut some demos and traveled to New York City making the rounds of the record companies the same way hundreds of groups before them and after them would. Eventually, Landa records, a division of Jamie / Guyden ( although that was unknown to the group at the time)…said yes and signed the boys to a contract.
Carlucci picks up the story from there, "I picked :The Dance is Over" for our first tune. It was an obscure flip from a Shirelles record which I always enjoyed. We got re-aquainted Madara at the Gold record Shop over on 60th street near Market and since they were affiliated with Landa they drove us and Maureen Gray up to New York City to record". The session at Bell Sound failed to produce anything commercial and the group was put on the back burner.
Enter one Danny Driscoll. Formerly employed by RCA, he jumped over to Jamie/Guyden as national promotions director and contacted the group. The first day Billy recalls he comes to us and says, I've heard good things about you guys. So play me your record. We did and he flipped.
Two days later the record was seeing new life on Jerry Blaine's shows on WCAM with the big R&B station WIBG following suit soon after. "The Dance Is Over" actually hit the #10 spot locally and plans were being made by Driscoll to shop the group around to the major Mercury label. At this point Driscoll dies. Shot dead. No details known. The group offered up two more single releases, both mediocre and eventually wound up on Smash, a subsidiary of Mercury. Their re-make of the Eternal's "Bbabalu's Wedding Day" effectively ended the career of Billy & the Essentials. Carlucci kept his hand in the business and to date has sung, written and produced over 500 songs under a gaggle of names.
Bad Girl
Billy & The Essentials Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She never knows where to go
Just can't get it right
Everything's moving too slow.
Driving in her car
Somebody turn that radio down
Hanging out in bars
Suzie's such a bad girl
Easy to be had girl
Still misses mom and dad girl
She remembers it all
Yeah Suzie's on her own way
Don't care about what people they say
Doesn't matter anyway
She's not so bad at all
Suzie can't decide
Spinning around in her mind
Trying much too hard
Wasted all the time
Don't get caught in her light
You can't make wrong out of right
Don't you know? Don't you know?
She had to let go
Suzie's such a bad girl
Makes everybody mad girl
Still misses mom and dad girl
She remembers it all
Yeah Suzie's on her own way
Don't care about what people they say
Doesn't matter anyway
She's not so bad at all
Suzie's such a bad girl
Easy to be had girl
Still misses mom and dad girl
She remembers it all
Yeah Suzie's on her own way
Don't care about what people they say
Doesn't matter anyway
She's not so bad at all
The lyrics to "Bad Girl" by Billy & The Essentials tell the story of Suzie, a troubled young woman who feels lost and misunderstood. The opening lines suggest that Suzie is always in the spotlight but struggles to find her direction in life. She frequently makes mistakes and feels like everything is moving too slowly for her liking. This creates a sense of frustration and dissatisfaction with her current circumstances.
The second verse reveals that Suzie often seeks distractions to escape her problems. She drives in her car, possibly avoiding responsibilities or seeking solace in music, but someone urges her to turn the radio down, metaphorically implying that she needs to face her issues rather than burying them. Suzie also frequents bars, indicating she may indulge in unhealthy behaviors to fill the void in her life. However, she realizes that she needs to stop fooling around and confront her emotions head-on.
The chorus emphasizes that Suzie is labeled as a "bad girl" by others, suggesting that she doesn't conform to societal expectations or norms. Despite this, she still longs for the love and approval of her parents, indicating a deep sense of longing and nostalgia. However, Suzie is determined to pave her own path, unaffected by what people say about her. She finds solace in her independence and refuses to let others' opinions define her self-worth.
The final verse highlights Suzie's inner conflict as she struggles with indecision and spins in circles within her mind. She tries too hard to please others or find her purpose, wasting her time in the process. The lyrics caution listeners not to be ensnared by Suzie's inner turmoil, suggesting that she is unable to differentiate right from wrong. However, there is an acknowledgment that Suzie had to let go of something, perhaps her past or certain expectations, in order to move forward.
Overall, "Bad Girl" explores the complexities of Suzie's character and her journey towards self-discovery. While she is often judged by society, the lyrics convey a sense of empathy towards Suzie's struggles. Ultimately, the song implies that Suzie is not as "bad" as others make her out to be and demonstrates resilience as she charts her own path, free from societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Always in the light
Suzie is constantly seeking attention and always in the spotlight.
She never knows where to go
Suzie lacks direction and is confused about her path in life.
Just can't get it right
No matter how hard she tries, Suzie always seems to fail or make mistakes.
Everything's moving too slow
Suzie feels frustrated because everything around her is progressing at a sluggish pace.
Driving in her car
Suzie tries to escape her problems by driving away, hoping to find peace and clarity.
Somebody turn that radio down
Suzie wants to drown out the noise and distractions in her life, seeking moments of silence and introspection.
Hanging out in bars
Suzie spends her time in bars, trying to find solace or companionship in the midst of her troubles.
Got to stop fooling around
Suzie realizes she needs to put an end to her reckless behavior and start taking things seriously.
Suzie's such a bad girl
Suzie is often labeled as a troublemaker or rebellious individual due to her actions.
Easy to be had girl
Suzie is easily influenced or taken advantage of by others due to her vulnerability.
Still misses mom and dad girl
Despite her rebellious nature, Suzie still longs for the love and care of her parents.
She remembers it all
Suzie holds onto memories of her past, both good and bad, shaping who she is today.
Yeah Suzie's on her own way
Suzie is determined to find her own path in life, separate from the expectations and judgments of others.
Don't care about what people they say
Suzie is indifferent to the opinions and criticisms of others, choosing to live her life on her own terms.
Doesn't matter anyway
No matter what others think or say, it holds no significance or weight in Suzie's mind.
She's not so bad at all
Despite being labeled as a 'bad girl,' Suzie has redeeming qualities and is not as negative as others perceive her to be.
Suzie can't decide
Suzie struggles to make choices or come to a firm decision, constantly wavering between options.
Spinning around in her mind
Suzie's thoughts are in constant turmoil, unable to find stability or clarity.
Trying much too hard
Suzie exerts excessive effort in attempting to please others or achieve certain goals, without much success.
Wasted all the time
Suzie feels like she has spent a significant amount of her life in a fruitless or unproductive manner.
Don't get caught in her light
Others should be cautious not to be enticed or manipulated by Suzie's charismatic and attention-seeking nature.
You can't make wrong out of right
No matter how hard you try, it is impossible to turn something inherently good or correct into something bad or incorrect.
Don't you know? Don't you know?
A rhetorical question emphasizing that the listener should already possess this knowledge or understanding.
She had to let go
Suzie had to release her attachment or hold on certain things or people in order to move forward in life.
Makes everybody mad girl
Suzie's actions or behavior often frustrate or anger those around her.
She's not so bad at all
Contrary to popular belief, Suzie possesses positive qualities and is not entirely negative in nature.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Billy Cross
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gecko36a
NICE SONG SOUNDS LIKE FOUR SEASONS.