Billy Fury from Liverpool, England began music lessons, on the piano, at age 11. He got his first guitar at age 14. By 1955, the skiffle music boom had begun in England and Fury was leading his own local group, while still working on a tugboat and/or as a stevedore. By 1958, he had won a talent competition and had begun to write his own songs.
In a story which was legend among the British youth of the period, Fury was discovered by impressario Larry Parnes on October 1, 1958. That night, Fury attended a performance of The Larry Parnes Extravaganza, hoping to offer his songs to Marty Wilde, one of the featured performers and a well-known rock-&-roll star because of his appearances on the television series, "Oh Boy!" Fury did get backstage, and was seen by Parnes while performing one of his own songs for Wilde. Parnes booked Fury to appear on the Extravaganze that same night and the rest, as they say, is history - the applause which Fury received earned him a permanent spot on the tour and Parnes as his agent. Parnes' established proceedure was to give his singers stage names representing emotions and attributes: Marty Wilde, Johnny Gentle, Vince Eager. Thus, Ronald Wycherley became Billy Fury.
By the British standards of the day, Fury's early performances were so suggestive that a curtain was brought down on one of his shows. This forced Fury to restrain himself from his more overtly sexual stage moves. Fury's recording career began in early, 1959, with "Maybe Tomorrow," a song which he had written and which charted soon after its release. Fury's television debut came soon after in "Strictly For Sparrows." After that, Fury became a fixture on musical showcases such as "Oh Boy!"
After a string of hit singles, Fury cut his debut album, "The Sound of Fury," in 1960. Fury's back-up players included Joe Brown, one of England's few serious rockabilly players at that time, and drummer Andy White, who later played on the original release version of The Beatles' debut single "Love Me Do." The album sold well and has been re-released a half-dozen times since, including a CD version in the early 1990s. In an interview during the '70s, Keith Richards declared "The Sound of Fury" one of the greatest rock 'n roll albums of its era.
In 1960, DECCA Records decided to soften Fury's sound, at least on his singles, and Fury's early 60's recordings took on a more sophisticated air. "Talkin' In My Sleep" and "Don't Worry," backed by The Four Kestrels, were two results of this change. "Halfway to Paradise," in 1961, began Fury's brief assault on the top of the charts. The orchestrated "Halfway to Paradise" hit #3. A few months later, "Jealousy" reached #2; "I'd Never Find Another You" reached #5. By 1962, Fury was England's top rock-n-roll attraction, backed by the legendary Tornadoes of "Telstar" fame, appearing regularly on television. During this time, he also ventured to America where he got to meet Elvis Presley on the set of "Girls, Girls, Girls." (Many considered Fury to be the closest that England came to producing its own Elvis Presley, capable of dark, brooding, sexual performances, as well as gentle, vulnerable ballads.)
It was the arrival of another group from Liverpool, The Beatles, which ended Fury's dominance of the British teen music scene. (Interesting aside - The Beatles had tried, and failed, to become Fury's back-up during one of his tours.) Nonetheless, Fury continued to chart records into 1964. During that summer, he starred in a semi-autobiographical movie, "I've Got a Horse." Later the same year, he got his own television show. By 1965, however, Fury's health had begun to deteriorate and his records seldom charted better than the mid-20s.
Fury left DECCA Records in 1966 and signed a five-year contract with EMI's Parlophone Records. During those five years, Fury saw some very modest success but nothing like the frenzied stardom of his first seven years in music.
Fury underwent heart surgery in 1970 and in 1971, but resumed performing in 1972. England's rock-n-roll revival during the mid-70s saw the re-release of "The Sound of Fury," as well as other parts of Fury's catalog. During those years, Fury toured England with his one-time idol Marty Wilde. When he wasn't performing, Fury looked after his other interests, including wildlife preservation.
Another heart operation, in 1976, essentially ended Fury's musical career although there were still occasional recordings and television appearances. In 1978, Fury re-recorded his classic songs for K-Tel; in the early '80s he recut his old hits yet again for Polydor, which, by that time, owned DECCA Records. In 1981, a single, "Be Mine Tonight," just missed the British charts.
On March 4, 1982, Fury collapsed and nearly died while working on his farm. Nonetheless, that summer, he again went back on tour and placed the singles "Love Or Money" and "Devil Or Angel" on the English charts. Plans were made for a new album and a national tour, but Fury was found unconscious in his home on January 28, 1983. He died that same day in hospital.
A posthumous single, "Forget Him," charted in England later that same year. Numerous re-issues, as well as releases of previously unreleased material, have continued to appear in the compact disc era, most recently the "40th Anniversary Anthology," a double CD set and Beat Goes On's two-on-one CD of "We Want Billy" and "Billy."
On 10 April 1983, a tribute concert for Billy was held at the Beck Theatre in Hayes, Middlesex. All the artists performed for free and the money raised was donated to the Billy Fury memorial fund for research into heart disease. On the bill were such names as Marty Wilde with his daughter Kim Wilde, Joe Brown, Alvin Stardust, Dave Berry, Helen Shapiro, and John Miles.[citation needed]
In 1999 a TV documentary about Billy called Halfway to Paradise was broadcast on the BBC channel. It was narrated by Ian Dury.
Between 1999 and 2000 the song "Wondrous Place", a favourite of Fury's (he re-recorded it at least three times during his career), later received wide airplay on British television when it was used as the theme for a Toyota Yaris car advertisement.
On 19 April 2003 a bronze statue of Fury was unveiled by Jack Good at the National Museum of Liverpool Life. The sculpture, by Tom Murphy, a Liverpool sculptor, was donated by 'The Sound of Fury' fan club after the money was raised by fans.
In 2005 Spencer Leigh from BBC Radio Merseyside published a biography book about Billy Fury called Wondrous Face – The Billy Fury Story.
In 2008 a biographical documentary film Billy Fury His Wondrous Story was released on DVD.
Eight of his EMI recordings remained unreleased on mainstream CD until June 2010, when they appeared on a 29-track issue, The Complete Parlophone Singles, released by Peaksoft (PEA009). The singer's estate licensed the tracks to benefit his memorial fund, which finances equipment purchases for hospital heart units.
In November 2011, further co-operation between the estate and Peaksoft resulted in the issuing of a second CD, The Lost Album (PEA014), which attempted to construct the format of an album recorded by Fury in 1967–71, but which was never released.
In 2010 Camden Council, London, named a small formerly nameless road Billy Fury Way in his honour. It starts just off Finchley Road near Finchley & Frognal station and runs to West Hampstead Station. He had recorded at the nearby Decca Studios. The alleyway was decorated with a large mural of his face (at the West Hampstead end), which was unveiled and blessed on Friday 29 July 2011.
Play It Cool was released for the first time on DVD on 10 February 2014.
Because of Love
Billy Fury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a hundred feet tall
I can bounce this world
Like a little ball
Well the heaven and earth are now mine
I jump to the moon from cloud number 9
Because of love I'm a mighty big man
I'll hold the sun in the palm of my hand
With just one leap I can cross the seas
I jump over mountains
And fly over trees
Because, because, because, because of love
Well I've found love, I've found love
And all that I can say
Well I'll never, never, I'll never, never, never gonna let it get away
Because of love
I'm the happiest guy
And the life is sweet
As a cherry cream pie
Well the heaven and earth are now mine
I jump to the moon from cloud number 9
Because, because, because, because of love
Because, because, because, because of love
The lyrics of Billy Fury's song "Because of Love" are indicative of the transformative power of love. The song's upbeat tempo and lively rhythm provide the perfect background for the lyrics that describe the singer's newfound confidence and vitality. The first verse describes how the singer feels a hundred feet tall and has the ability to bounce the world around like a little ball. The second verse elaborates on this newly-acquired power - the heaven and earth belong to the singer now, as he can jump to the moon from "cloud number 9." The force that has enabled the singer to achieve all this greatness is love.
The chorus repeats the central idea that everything the singer can do, he can do because of love. He is now a mighty big man who can hold the sun in the palm of his hand and can jump over mountains and fly over trees with just one leap. The second half of the song slows down a bit as the singer reflects on how he has finally found love, and how he will not let it get away. The song's closing verse describes how the singer is now the happiest guy in the world and how life is as sweet as a cherry cream pie. Once again, he emphasizes how all of this is possible because of love.
Overall, "Because of Love" is a joyful celebration of the power of love to transform lives. It suggests that love can bring out the best in people, enabling them to achieve greatness that they might never have thought possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Because of love
Love is the reason for everything that follows in the song
I'm a hundred feet tall
Love makes me feel invincible and powerful
I can bounce this world, like a little ball
Love gives me the confidence to believe I can conquer anything
Well the heaven and earth are now mine, I jump to the moon from cloud number 9
Love has given me limitless possibilities and opportunities
Because, because, because, because of love
Reiterating the idea that everything in the song is a result of love
I'm a mighty big man, I'll hold the sun in the palm of my hand
Love makes me feel much larger and more important than I actually am
With just one leap I can cross the seas, I jump over mountains, and fly over trees
Love gives me the power to do things that would otherwise be impossible
Well I've found love, I've found love, and all that I can say: Well I'll never, never, I'll never, never, never gonna let it get away
Having found love, I am determined to hold on to it forever
I'm the happiest guy, and the life is sweet, as a cherry cream pie
Love has made me incredibly happy and satisfied with life
Contributed by Anthony H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gary Stevens
You can't compare elvis or Billy fury there both fantastic
Catherine nerlich
Love his version! I love Elvis but Billy did this so much better.
david smith
Because Because Because he was a real talent taken too soon. amazing voice and superb vocal. Just amazing! and home grown to boot.x
Alan
Elvis' version was the original of the two and it stands up much better. This was Billy's chance to imitate his hero and he seems to have thoroughly enjoyed it.
Scott Malcolm
I prefer this version than the elvis 1 . Both LEGENDs but this smashes out the park !!
Lane Van De Brake
Billy Fury looked up to Elvis, Elvis was Billy's idol
Alan Stevenson-Graham
This was an Elvis movie song, I love both renditions
M Sharp
I prefer Billy’s , a bit more tempo and upbeat
Shaun Reynolds
Billy met elvis on the set of this film in 62 n got permission to record this tune
John Venville
Just my humble opinion , my taste , much prefer this to Elvis’s verion !