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.
Phone Call
Billy Fury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That phone will ring today
You know my number: 139
Please call baby and say your mind
The phone rings, my heart sings
It's not you baby I’m so blue
Baby baby get on my line
I'm tired of being all alone
Waiting by my telephone
Waiting for no one but you
Hoping you call and say "I love you"
The phone rings, my heart sings
It's not you baby I’m so blue
Baby baby get on my line
Please call baby and say your mind
I'm tired of being all alone
Waiting by my telephone
Waiting for no one but you
Just call me baby say your love is true
Oh honey how I pray
That phone will ring today
You know my number: 139
Plеase call baby and say your mind
The lyrics of Billy Fury's song "Phone Call" express the longing and desperation felt by someone who is eagerly awaiting a phone call from a loved one. The singer implores their partner to dial their number (139) and speak their mind. The repetition of "oh honey how I pray, that phone will ring today" highlights the intense longing for communication and connection.
The first verse emphasizes the anticipation and hopefulness for the phone to ring, as they yearn for their loved one's call. However, when the phone finally does ring, it brings disappointment as it turns out to be someone else and the singer is left feeling sad and blue. This repetition in the chorus adds to the emotional intensity of the song.
In the second verse, the singer expresses their weariness and frustration with being alone, continually waiting by the telephone. They long for their loved one to call and declare their love, hoping to hear those three powerful words, "I love you."
The song captures the universal experience of yearning for connection and waiting for love to be reciprocated. The simplicity and straightforwardness of the lyrics allow listeners to empathize with the feelings of loneliness and longing expressed in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
(Oh Oh Oh Oh) oh honey how I pray
Expressing a deep longing and desperation for the phone to ring
That phone will ring today
Hoping for communication and connection through a phone call
You know my number: 139
Having a specific number that is associated with the desire for the person to call
Please call baby and say your mind
Requesting the person to call and express their thoughts and feelings
The phone rings, my heart sings
Feeling excitement and anticipation when the phone rings
It's not you baby I’m so blue
Feeling disappointed and sad when the call is not from the desired person
Baby baby get on my line
Urging the person to call and connect
I'm tired оf being all alone
Feeling exhausted and weary from loneliness
Waiting by my telephone
Being in a constant state of anticipation and waiting for a call
Waiting for no one but you
Expecting and hoping for the desired person to call
Hoping you call and say "I love you"
Desiring to hear the words of love and affection from the person on the phone call
Just call me baby say your love is true
Simply requesting the person to call and confirm the sincerity of their love
Please call baby and say your mind
Continuing the plea for the person to call and express their thoughts and feelings
Oh honey how I pray
Reiterating the intense longing and desperation for the phone to ring
That phone will ring today
Maintaining hope and anticipation for a phone call
You know my number: 139
Emphasizing the specific number associated with the desire for the person to call
Please call baby and say your mind
Emphasizing the repeated request for the person to call and express their thoughts and feelings
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind