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.
little children
Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm tellin' you
Little children, you better not tell what you see
And if you're good
I'll give you candy and a quarter
If you're quiet like you oughta be
And keep a secret with me
Little children, now why aren't you playin' outside
I'm askin' you
You can't fool me, 'cause I'm gonna know if you hide
And try to peek
I'm gonna treat you to a movie
Stop your gigglin', children, do be nice
Like little sugars and spice
You saw me kissin' your sister
You saw me holdin' her hand
But if you snitch to your mother
Your father won't understand
I wish they would take a nap
Little children, now why don't you go bye-bye
Go anywhere at all
Little children, I know would go if you tried
Go up the stairs
Me and your sister, we're goin' steady
How can I kiss her when I'm ready to
With little children like you around
I wonder what can I do around
Little children like you
The song 'Little Children' by Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas is a cautionary tale about adults engaging in inappropriate behavior with children. The lyrics suggest that the singer is engaging in some sort of secret activity that he does not want the children to reveal. He tries to bribe them with candy and a quarter to keep quiet, and warns them not to tell anyone about what they may see. He also tries to deceive the children by pretending that he knows when they are trying to peek at him. He promises to take them to a movie, but only if they behave properly.
The second verse reveals the secret that the singer is trying to keep hidden from the children's parents. He has been kissing and holding hands with their sister, who may be too young for such activities. He begs the children not to snitch on him, as their father would not understand. The final verse reveals the singer's frustration with the children's presence, as he is unable to continue his relationship with the sister while they are around. He wishes they would go away or take a nap so that he can be alone with her.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a commentary on the dangers of predatory behavior and the need for children to be protected from the advances of adults. It also highlights the manipulative tactics used by abusers to keep their victims silent and compliant.
Line by Line Meaning
Little children, you better not tell on me I'm tellin' you
Hey kids, keep this between us, I don't want anyone finding out
Little children, you better not tell what you see And if you're good
I'll give you candy and a quarter
If you're quiet like you oughta be
And keep a secret with me
If you don't say anything, I'll reward you with candy and money, just make sure to keep it hush-hush
I wish they would go away
I wish the kids would leave so I can be alone with their sister
Little children, now why aren't you playin' outside I'm askin' you
You can't fool me, 'cause I'm gonna know if you hide and try to peek
I'm gonna treat you to a movie
Stop your gigglin', children do be nice
Like little sugars and spice
Hey kids, why aren't you outside? I can tell when you're sneaking around, so behave and I'll take you to a movie. Stop laughing like that and be well-behaved, just like little angels.
You saw me kissin' your sister, you saw me holdin' her hand
But if you snitch to your mother, your father won't understand
I know you saw me with your sister, but if you tell on me, your parents won't understand and will probably be mad at you.
I wish they would take a nap
I wish the kids would go to sleep so I can be alone with their sister
Little children, now why don't you go bye-bye Go anywhere at all
Little children, I know you would if you tried Go up the stairs
Me and your sister, we're goin' steady
How can I kiss her when I'm ready to
With little children like you around
I wonder what can I do around
Little children like you
Kids, why don't you go somewhere else, maybe upstairs? I want to be alone with your sister and kiss her. It's hard to do that when you're around, so I wonder what I can do to get rid of you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: J. L. McFarland, Mort Shuman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jarichards99utube
Hey Graham, Yes - I know exactly what you mean. Time seems to slowly unwind looking FORWARD but seems to COMPRESS as we look BACKWARDS...
My saying is, "Time moves Slowly - But - FASTER than you think...! "
Funny how The Mind Works... LOL... Stay well -70SomethingGuy.
P.S. GLAD you enjoyed the video.
For more Classic Music Videos, youtube search for:
Billy J Kramer Dehotas JARichardsFilm HiQ
or
JARichardsFilm HiQ FULL PLAYLIST
(Enjoy 😊 👍)
@jarichards99utube
Hey thanks Randy - THAT COMBINATION is one of the main features I strive for with this channel.
GLAD you enjoyed the video.
For more Classic Music Videos, just youtube search for :
Billy Kramer Dakotas JARichardsFilm HiQ
or
JARichardsFilm HiQ FULL Playlist
( Enjoy 😊👍 )
** P.S. Stay Tuned - Lots More SOON...!
@tom-kz9pb
In our world that is so troubled and often decadent, it is refreshing to remember such an innocent song. How nice it would be if more like this could be made, today.
@dianasnow7065
I listened to it don't care how old I like the song brings back memories for me. Of a boyfriend I lost to a car accident in 1970 I miss him still today RIP Steve.
@jarichards99utube
GLAD you enjoyed the video.
For more Classic Music Videos, just youtube search for :
Billy Kramer Dakotas JARichardsFilm HiQ
or
JARichardsFilm HiQ FULL Playlist
( Enjoy 😊👍 )
@raybilverstone2066
Who’s listening to this great song in 2023
@mrsf6740
Me 💕 xxx
@raybilverstone2066
@Mrs F this really Is a really good song takes me back when I was a boy so many good songs and days👍.
@mrsf6740
It reminds me of being little with my dad in the car or at home on a weekend morning 💕 I'm only 33 but my dad passed down the best taste in music which I've passed on to my kids xxx
@raybilverstone2066
@Mrs F that’s brilliant news because it was the best music ever👍.
@0666alf
Me
@ronaldkavanagh7983
Go on Billy J, one of the best from 63. Never to be forgotten