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.
Devil Or Angel
Billy Fury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't make up my mind
Which one you are
Id like to wake up and find
Devil or angel
Dear whichever you are
I miss you
I miss you
Devil or angel
Please say you'll be mine
Love me or leave me
I'll go out of my mind
Devil or angel
Dear whichever you are
I need you
I need you
I need you
You look like an angel
Your smile is divine
But you keep me guessing
Will you ever be mine?
Devil or angel
Please say that you'll be mine
Love me or leave me
I've made up my mind
Devil or angel
Dear whichever you are
I love you
I love you
I..i..lo..ve you
Devil or angel
Please say you'll be mine
Love me or leave me
I've made up my mind
Devil or angel
Dear whichever you are
I love you
I love you
I love you
The lyrics of Billy Fury's Devil or Angel are about a person who is confused about the true nature of their love interest. They can't decide whether they are a devil or an angel. The singer misses this person and desperately wants them to stay in their life, despite not knowing if they are good or bad. The lyrics express the inner turmoil of the singer and the uncertainty of not knowing what the future holds. However, they also express the longing for a definitive answer and a sense of hopefulness.
The song's title itself is an example of antithesis, and the lyrics continue to explore the idea of something being both good and bad. The contrast between the two opposites creates tension and intrigue within the song. The use of rhyme and repetition, particularly in the chorus, adds a sense of urgency and emotion to the lyrics. The singer's love interest is compared to an angel, but the ambiguity of the lyrics leaves room for interpretation. The song also features a guitar solo, which adds to the overall feeling of longing and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
Devil or angel
The subject is unsure if their love interest is good or bad.
I can't make up my mind
The subject is having trouble deciding which category their love interest fits into.
Which one you are
The subject is confused about the true nature of their love interest.
Id like to wake up and find
The subject wishes to know definitively if their love interest is good or bad.
Devil or angel
The subject repeats the main question of the song.
Dear whichever you are
The subject addresses their love interest, regardless of whether they are good or bad.
I miss you
The subject longs for their love interest.
Devil or angel
The subject repeats the main question of the song.
Please say you'll be mine
The subject asks their love interest to commit to a relationship.
Love me or leave me
The subject wants their love interest to decide whether they will be together or not.
I'll go out of my mind
The subject will be driven crazy if their love interest does not decide.
Dear whichever you are
The subject addresses their love interest, regardless of whether they are good or bad.
I need you
The subject needs their love interest in their life.
I need you
The subject reiterates their need for their love interest.
You look like an angel
The subject comments on their love interest's appearance.
Your smile is divine
The subject compliments their love interest's smile.
But you keep me guessing
The subject is uncertain what their love interest truly is.
Will you ever be mine?
The subject questions whether their love interest will ever reciprocate their feelings.
Devil or angel
The subject repeats the main question of the song.
Please say that you'll be mine
The subject again asks their love interest to commit to a relationship.
I've made up my mind
The subject has made a decision about their feelings.
I love you
The subject expresses their love for their love interest.
I love you
The subject reiterates their love for their love interest.
I love you
The subject repeats their love for their love interest.
Contributed by Cameron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@vincebaseley13
Knowing that Billy died just 2 days makes it so sad. So sad
@stevegregory2867
Great singer great songs.To young to have seen Billy live.R.I.P Billy
@carolannedwards969
Fantastic singer went far to soon 😢 his music will never fade beautiful voice we want more Billy Fury xxx❤
@b1llyfury
Such a precious loving soul. Words fail me when I see and listen to him. x Oh, how we love him.
@BerylWright-je2mk
Soooo love this guy. Best voice ever, really miss him.x
@LindaHolstein-kk5hk
Best brilliant voice brilliant talent sadly missed love you love linda from ripon north yorkshire xxx
@user-qo3nx3mm3k
I love the photoes showing with that last song lsobel
@PostiveGaming
big props to billy fury did this song justice along side the original with clovers thank you
@user-qo3nx3mm3k
So said watching that but just love his voice lsobel
@angelaarnold3740
Love It. Saw Billy in the 60,'s. Amazing ❤❤❤❤ Angela Arnold.