Billy J. Kramer (born William Howard Ashton, 19 August 1943, in Bootle, Liverpool, England) was a British Invasion / Merseybeat singer. He is known today primarily as the singer of various Lennon-McCartney compositions that The Beatles did not use.
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.
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 the 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 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 became a Top Ten hit.
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.
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 today. Drummer Pete Hilton joined the band in 1996 replacing Tony Bookbinder and after Mike maxfield sufferred a stroke in 2004 guitarist Alan Clare along. In January 2008 Eddie was asked to replace Rod Allen, the Fortunes frontman who had sadly died in Dec 2007. Another new face now fronts The Dakotas - Paul Rafferty.
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.
Great Balls of Fire
Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too much love drives a man insane
You broke my will, oh what a thrill
Goodness gracious great balls of fire
I learned to love all of Hollywood money
You came along and you moved me honey
I changed my mind, looking fine
You kissed me baby, woo, it feels good
Hold me baby, learn to let me love you like a lover should
You're fine, so kind
I'm a nervous world that your mine mine mine mine
I cut my nails and I twiddle my thumbs
I'm really nervous but it sure is fun
Come on baby, you drive me crazy
Goodness gracious great balls of fire
Well kiss me baby, woo-oooooo, it feels good
Hold me baby
I want to love you like a lover should
You're fine, so kind
I got this world that your mine mine mine mine
I cut my nails and I twiddle my thumbs
I'm real nervous 'cause it sure is fun
Come on baby, you drive me crazy
Goodness gracious great balls of fire
The song "Great Balls of Fire" by Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas is an energetic rock and roll classic that captures the excitement and passion of young love. The lyrics describe the overwhelming feeling of being in love, with the singer expressing how his lover makes him feel both nervous and exhilarated. He compares his emotional state to shaking nerves and rattling his brain, and remarks how the intensity of their love makes him feel, "insane." However, despite the chaos and instability that comes with love, the singer is excited to be with his lover, and cannot resist the temptation to fall deeper and deeper in love.
The singer goes on to describe how his lover has changed him, and how Hollywood money used to be his main motivation. However, after meeting his lover, he has changed his ways, and now wants nothing more than to be with this person who has "moved" him so much. The chorus repeats the phrase "Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Fire" which is a fun and electrifying way to express in words the intensity of the singer's feelings for his lover. The song ends with the singer enthusiastically describing how being nervous around his lover is a fun and exciting experience that he cannot resist.
Line by Line Meaning
You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain
You make me so nervous and excited that it affects me both physically and mentally.
Too much love drives a man insane
Overwhelming feelings of love can cause a man to lose control and act irrationally.
You broke my will, oh what a thrill
Your irresistible charm and beauty have taken over my emotions and ability to resist you.
Goodness gracious great balls of fire
This is an expression of intense astonishment and amazement.
I learned to love all of Hollywood money
Before you came into my life, my focus was just on money and worldly possessions.
You came along and you moved me honey
You entered my life and changed my priorities and emotions in a significant way.
I changed my mind, looking fine
I was convinced to change my way of thinking and it was worth it as you are incredibly attractive.
You kissed me baby, woo, it feels good
Your kisses are pleasurable and make me feel good.
Hold me baby, learn to let me love you like a lover should
I want to hold you close and show you love in the way I believe it should be shown.
You're fine, so kind
You are beautiful and have a heart of gold.
I'm a nervous world that your mine mine mine mine
Being with you makes me feel anxious, but I also feel like the luckiest person in the world to have you.
I cut my nails and I twiddle my thumbs
I am nervous and fidgety because of the strong emotions you evoke in me.
I'm really nervous but it sure is fun
While I am anxious, the feelings you give me are still enjoyable.
Come on baby, you drive me crazy
Your behavior and actions lead me to feel wild and out of control.
Well kiss me baby, woo-oooooo, it feels good
Savoring your kisses makes me feel good and happy.
I want to love you like a lover should
I want to show you the love and affection I believe you deserve.
I got this world that your mine mine mine mine
Being with you feels like I own the world and have everything I could ever want.
Lyrics © Roba Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACK HAMMER, OTIS BLACKWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind