Early career
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.
Success
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 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 did 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 just became a Top Ten hit.
After the peak
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.
The final showing
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. Other latter-day members are drummer Pete Hilton and guitarist Alan Clare.
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.
It's Up to You
Billy J. Kramer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can call me Steve, inside my time machine.
You can be my Josephine, when I'm Napoleon.
When you're kissing me, you can be anyone.
When I'm with you, it's like a time machine.
Time is standing still, when you are next to me.
I can see us fall in love, beside the setting sun.
(Instrumental Break)
You can be my Josephine, when I'm Napoleon.
When you're kissing me, you can be anyone.
They call me Captain Steve. 'Cause I will make you believe.
That love is a time machine. You wind it up, and then you dream.
We can be the lovers they write history about.
Falling in and out of love, is what it's all about.
(2nd Instrumental break)
Love is a time machine. You wind it up, and then you dream.
Love is a time machine. You wind it up, and then you dream.
Love is a time machine. You wind it up, and then you dream.
Love is a time machine. You wind it up,...
The lyrics of Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas's song "It's Up to You" talk about a love that transcends time and space. The singer tells his lover that they can both be whoever they want to be when they are together. He even suggests that she could be Josephine to his Napoleon, indicating that they could be historical lovers from a different era. The song implies that when they are together, they can travel through time in their own little world, where time stands still.
The singer refers to himself as Captain Steve, who has a time machine that can take them anywhere they want to go. He claims that love itself is a time machine that can take them on a journey of falling in and out of love. The instrumental breaks in the song add to the dreamy and romantic atmosphere, emphasizing the idea of a love that can transport them to another time and place.
Overall, "It's Up to You" is a song that celebrates the power of love and the limitless possibilities that it presents. It encourages the listener to believe in the idea that love can take them anywhere they want to go and that they can be anyone they want to be.
Line by Line Meaning
If you don't believe, I'll be your Captain Steve.
If you're unsure, I'll guide you through this love journey like a captain named Steve.
You can call me Steve, inside my time machine.
We can travel through time together and you can call me Steve, the captain of our love adventure.
You can be my Josephine, when I'm Napoleon.
When we travel back in time, you can be my Josephine and I'll be your Napoleon, the iconic lovers of history.
When you're kissing me, you can be anyone.
When we're passionately kissing, you can imagine yourself as anyone, even Josephine or Napoleon.
When I'm with you, it's like a time machine.
Being with you feels like going on a time travel adventure.
Time is standing still, when you are next to me.
When we're together, time seems to stop and we can just enjoy the moment.
I can see us fall in love, beside the setting sun.
I can envision us falling in love while watching the sun set together.
'Cause if you fall in love, you can be anyone.
In love, we can be whoever we want and our own love story is ours to craft.
They call me Captain Steve. 'Cause I will make you believe.
My love is so strong that I can prove my commitment to you and take you on an unforgettable journey of love.
That love is a time machine. You wind it up, and then you dream.
Love is like a time machine that we can activate with our dreams and aspirations.
We can be the lovers they write history about.
Our love story can be as legendary as those we read in history books.
Falling in and out of love, is what it's all about.
Love is about the journey of falling in and out of love, learning and growing from each experience.
Love is a time machine. You wind it up, and then you dream.
Love is a force that can transport us through time and elevate our dreams and goals.
Love is a time machine. You wind it up, and then you dream.
Love is like a time machine that requires our dreams and motivations to power it up.
Love is a time machine. You wind it up, and then you dream.
Our dreams give our love story the energy to keep going like winding up a time machine.
Love is a time machine. You wind it up,...
Love is like a time machine that needs our efforts and dreams to start the adventure, and the rest is history.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Muziekgenot
Billy had such a pleasant voice
@jmrodas9
I had not heard this one in perhaps fifty years and now i hear it I recall those days when I was about to enter the University. It has been such a long time really, and it is nice to hear it again.
@Surfguitarist59
As recently as a few years ago, Billy J. Kramer was living in North Carolina.
@sapphiretaurus
I love Rick Nelson's version, and I love this one, too! Thanks for posting it!
@samchristie913
I think Both Billy and The Late Ricky Nelson did a Good job on this song
@MarioRodriguez-fs1kk
My Darling Dawn Rachel Rodriguez it's up to you to have you near so I'm not alone without you ❤❤❤❤
@dawncontreras5691
I love you FOREVER my Mario ❤️💋
@ronowen39
the Dakotas were a great band behind billy
@sclm046
Great rendition! The guitar solo even reminds one of James Burton.
@sydneycat22
great song thanks for posting it!