There are at least two different bands called The V.I.P.'s.

1. The V… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two different bands called The V.I.P.'s.

1. The V.I.P.'s were a British R&B musical ensemble formed in Carlisle, Cumberland, (North West England) in late 1963.

2. The V.I.P.'s were a British power pop group of the late 1970s, closely associated with the mod revival scene at the time.

More information on both groups...

1. The V.I.P.'s were a British R&B musical ensemble formed in Carlisle, Cumberland, (North West England) in late 1963, formed out of an earlier outfit known as The Ramrods, who had formed in Carlisle in 1960. After a change of personnel in April 1967, the band changed their name to Art, and released the album Supernatural Fairy Tales. They also participated to a psychedelic bizarre album called Featuring The Human Host And The Heavy Metal Kids by a collective known as Hapshash and the Coloured Coat, formed by Guy Stevens and an influential British graphic design and avant-garde musical partnership between Michael English and Nigel Waymouth. The musicians involved in that project were Mike Harrison on keys and vocals, Luther Grosvenor on guitars, Greg Ridley on bass and Mike Kellie on drums, as well as performances by Stevens, English and Waymouth. It was the first time that the term heavy metal was ever used in music, even though that album had nothing to do with heavy metal music, being closer to psychedelic music. That album was published in 1967 on Liberty Records and contained only five songs from two minutes to more than 15 minutes of psychedelic and almost meditative state kind of music.

The band members at various times were: Mike Harrison (lead vocals) (ex Dino and the Danubes, The Dakotas, The Ramrods); Greg Ridley (bass guitar) (ex Dino and the Danubes, The Dakotas); Frank Kenyon (rhythm guitar) (1963–67) (born 12 October 1945, Carlisle) (ex The Teenages, The Ramrods); Jimmy Henshaw (lead guitar) (1963–67) (born James Henshaw, 20 October 1941, in Newarthill, near Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland died 1 May 2007, Carlisle) (ex The Ramrods); Keith Emerson (electric organ) (ex-Gary Farr & The T-Bones) (1966–1967); Luther Grosvenor (lead guitar) (1967); Walter Johnstone (drummer) (1963–67) (born 11 March 1943, Carlisle) (ex The Teenages, The Ramrods); and Mike Kellie (drummer) (1967) (24 March 1947 – 18 January 2017).

When Emerson left in early 1967 to form The Nice, Harrison, Ridley, Grosvenor and Kellie changed their name to 'Art', and released one album, Supernatural Fairy Tales, produced by Guy Stevens, on that album they covered Stephen Stills' For what it's worth and Felix Cavaliere's Come on up. And then they became Spooky Tooth. Greg Ridley then left to join Steve Marriott and form Humble Pie, who were more blues oriented. And as for Spooky Tooth, they were soon joined by american keyboard player Gary Wright.

Discography

Singles
"She's So Good" / "Don't Keep Shouting at Me" (UK RCA, 1964)
"Mercy Mercy" / "That's My Woman" (U.S. only single, produced by Derek Lawrence)
"Wintertime" / "Anyone" (as The Vipps, CBS)
"I Wanna Be Free" / "Don't Let It Go" (Island)
"Straight Down to the Bottom" / "In a Dream" (Island)
"Sunshine Help Me" (Island - as 'Spooky Tooth')

Albums
Supernatural Fairy Tales (Island ILP967 - as 'Art')

Compilation albums
CD compilation: The Complete V.I.P.s (double album, 28 tracks) (Repertoire Records)

2. Describing themselves as "a new wave pop fun beat combo, into T. Rex, Ramones, Jonathan Richman, Beatles, Bowie", The V.I.P.'s came together at Warwick University in Coventry, although they were subsequently based in South-West London. Comprising Jed Dmochowski (vocals, guitar), Guy Morley (guitar), Andrew Price (bass) and Paul Shurey (drums), they débuted in July 1978 with Music for Funsters, a three-track release. After a split single with Urban Disturbance they signed to Gem Records, where they released a string of singles that interested on the mod revival circuit. Morley and Shurey (the latter a leading rave promoter in later years) then formed Neo-psychedelic band Mood Six, while Jed Dmochowski recorded solo for the Whaam label.

Late Night Blues
The V.I.P.'s Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah
Yeah
I've been on my own for a long time
Yeah you know that I've been having late nights
Lately I ain't been in my right mind
Shawty said she love me that don't feel right
I've been on my own for a long time
Yeah you know that I've been having late nights

Lately I ain't been in my right mind
Shawty said she love me that don't feel right
Yeah she pulling up at 10/1
She ain't think 'bout leaving till the night is done
I know you said that you down for my love now
But baby girl you know I can't trust ya
She always keeps me up in the dead of night
Fuck it I've been tryna get her out my mind
She ain't ever try to leave without a fight
I've been getting tired of all her lies
No now now
Girl I know, girl I know, girl I know
You ain't one to tell the truth
But I can't get enough of you
Cant forget 'bout what you put me through
I've been on my own for a long time
Yeah you know that I've been having late nights
Lately I ain't been in my right mind
Shawty said she love me that don't feel right
I've been on my own for a long time
Yeah you know that I've been having late nights
Lately I ain't been in my right mind
Shawty said she love me that don't feel right
That don't feel right
Girl I know, girl I know, girl I know
I've been on my own for a long time
Yeah you know that I've been having late nights
Lately I ain't been in my right mind
Shawty said she love me that don't feel right
I've been on my own for a long time
Yeah you know that I've been having late nights

Lately I ain't been in my right mind
Shawty said she love me that don't feel right

Overall Meaning

The V.I.P.'s's "Late Night Blues" is a song that portrays the feeling of being trapped in a toxic relationship. The opening verse talks about the loneliness that the singer has been dealing with for a long time. He reveals that he has been having late nights and hasn't been in the right frame of mind lately. Despite this, his partner is still around, professing love, but it doesn't feel right to him. The second verse goes on to explain how the partner has been keeping him up in the dead of night, causing him to be tired of all her lies.

Throughout the song, there is a sense of conflict between the two lovers, with the singer knowing that he needs to get away from the toxic relationship but being unable to. The line "I know you said that you down for my love now, But baby girl you know I can't trust ya" highlights this conflict. The repetition of the chorus - "I've been on my own for a long time, Yeah you know that I've been having late nights, Lately I ain't been in my right mind, Shawty said she love me that don't feel right" - reinforces the feeling of being trapped in a cycle.

Overall, "Late Night Blues" captures the nuances of a dysfunctional relationship and hints at the challenges that people may face when trying to extricate themselves from such a relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

Yeah
Acknowledgment or agreement to the current situation

Yeah
Reiteration of the previous acknowledgment

I've been on my own for a long time
I have been alone for an extended period

Yeah you know that I've been having late nights
You are aware that I have been staying up late

Lately I ain't been in my right mind
Recently I have not been thinking clearly

Shawty said she love me that don't feel right
Despite her declaration of love, something in the relationship feels off

Yeah she pulling up at 10/1
She is arriving at the location at 10 or 1 o'clock

She ain't think 'bout leaving till the night is done
She does not plan to leave until the end of the night

I know you said that you down for my love now
I am aware that you claim to be committed to our relationship

But baby girl you know I can't trust ya
Despite her claims, I have doubts about her trustworthiness

She always keeps me up in the dead of night
She frequently keeps me awake in the early hours of the morning

Fuck it I've been tryna get her out my mind
Despite the negative aspects of the relationship, I am struggling to let go of her

She ain't ever try to leave without a fight
She always resists leaving the relationship, causing conflict

I've been getting tired of all her lies
I am growing weary of her dishonesty

No now now
Reinforcement of the previous statement

Girl I know, girl I know, girl I know
I am aware and familiar with the situation

You ain't one to tell the truth
She is not known for honesty

But I can't get enough of you
Despite the dishonesty, I am still drawn to her

Cant forget 'bout what you put me through
I cannot ignore the negative experiences in the relationship

That don't feel right
The relationship does not feel right, despite her claims of love