[billyboy1]

Wowzers and Holy Shit Jevon! Firstly, thanks for the compliments, especially the “being married for 40 years”. I will be sure to mention this to Mary though I suspect she may not share our enthusiasm. Women, huh?
On a more serious note and as mentioned on this site, A&M did not release the follow up to GUTF despite having financed the whole thing but “Crankin” was briefly released in Japan by CBS records.
You can download an extended version and my 3rd album “Shake” with all the artwork etc for free right here cos as I’ve said “Life’s too Short”.
Thanks also for granting me honorary status cos I was a big fan of The Payolas due to Mick Ronson producing one of their albums which was first pointed out to me by Loverboy’s drummer Matt Frenette when he cooked us all dinner during Nazareth’s time at Little Mountain.
Don’t be too down about my lack of ability these days cos if it hadn’t been for all my Pete Townsend windmill impressions my right hand would still be useful for something!
I hope you sort out your basement and yes, I did get the “Where Are You Now” reference. Nice one!
The recent death of Meat Loaf who “murdered” two of my songs has once again made me realise it’s not always who you know but who knows you.
If you ever make it back over to Scotland or I find myself in Vancouver, let’s have that drink.
Date?

Cheers, Billy.

[billyboy1]

Aye Doug, a case of beer wouldn’t have been enough!
Keep us updated re-Bob. It would be great to have the whole session on the website.
Cheers, Billy

[billyboy1]

If Bob gets back to you that would be great and if he still has the recordings that would be even better.
I can definitely confirm we didn’t play either of those ditties although I wish we had!
I’m thinking maybe “Whiskey Drinking Woman” and “Right Between the Eyes” were included but like you, my memories are faded a bit.
Incidentally, beer drinking is not a matter of life or death. It’s far more important than that!

[billyboy1]

Hey Doug. Sorry for my delayed response.
Yeah, that day at Bob’s place was memorable on so many levels. We thought we’d just be doing a couple of live performances from our current touring set but after he’d played us some of his “Twisted Tunes” and got us pleasantly “relaxed” we got into the whole vibe.
Bob introduced us to his fantastic band of musicians and they all wanted to use our backing track of “Hair of the Dog” to create a new spoof song which we readily agreed to.
I wonder if they ever did?
I can’t remember which other songs we recorded that day, can you?
Anyhoo, Ramble On my friend and as always, stay safe.

Cheers, Billy

[billyboy1]

Hi again Aleksey and kudos for your continued enthusiasm for Sound Elixir, I think you may be part of a very small crowd!
Both songs you mention were indeed recorded in Vancouver but not deemed suitable for inclusion on the album.
(Incidentally, both were written by Pete.)
As for a Sound Elixir double album, no, no, no, etc!

Till next time, stay safe mate and thanks again.

Cheers, Billy

[billyboy1]

Hi and first of all it’s always great to hear that something I did had any effect on anyones life, thanks for that.
Thinking Man’s Nightmare was a favourite of ours too, in fact we all liked most of No Jive which was rare for a Nazareth album.
The main reasons we never played it live was-
1. We were already playing Right Between the Eyes live before we’d even recorded it (which might be another Nazareth first?)
2. We’d decided to replace opener Telegram with both Hire & Fire and Wanna Play House (again, most unusual for us and perhaps a mistake?) and finally
3. The record company released Everytime It Rains and Tell Me that you Love Me as singles so we had to put them both in the live set at some time.
Any more from No Jive would’ve went against the band’s principles as being too much for our fans to handle cos we always tried to feature the “Hits” in our gigs.
As for stroking my ego, you are welcome to do so anytime.
You’re alright too!

Cheers, Billy

[billyboy1]

Hi Aleksey, and a Happy New Year to you and yours.
Okay, here goes-
1. Yes, all 7 tracks were recorded at my home with Darrell usually just after we’d written the songs. (I think we did some clapping on Backroom Boys too?)
2. You make an interesting point here and I think you’re right in thinking we meant Jan/Feb 1983. We were touring a lot during 1982 so had to get some writing done during our limited time at home but as I say on this site, Whipping Boy was Darrell and I trying to replicate a Billy Squier song so would’ve been done just after the Squier/Nazareth tour of late 1982.
Thanks for pointing out our error. (Probably my fault but more work for Barry methinks!)
3 & 4. Blue Skies and Let me see the Light were both recorded at Manny’s home studio by Manny, Dan and myself but I’m not sure when.
Read the Book and Crime & Punishment were both recorded in Canada during the album recording so should probably be called “Sound Elixir outtakes” but Baby’s Got a Gun was recorded in Pencaitland beforehand along with SOS.
All I remember was not liking either versions of those songs and we all agreed. My solo demo of Baby’s Got a Gun ended up being re-recorded for my album and SOS was Manny’s idea (Nazareth doing Abba was a bit cheeky!).
5. Sound Elixir was recorded AND mixed at Little Mountain. Mixing an album usually takes about 2 weeks so if we’d done the mixing at Pencaitland I wouldn’t have missed the birth of my daughter (15th March 1983) and the constant ridicule I’ve suffered from her ever since!
6. I leave Barry in charge of The Vault content but I agree it may be time to add some more. Watch This Space!

Thanks for the questions Aleksey, you’ve really jogged my memory.
Take care and stay safe.

Billy

[billyboy1]

Hi Sallaberry.
Yes I would be delighted to talk to you about Air Studios and anything else you want. Please forward your questions via Webmaster Barry and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Cheers, Billy

[billyboy1]

Hi Julian.
Yes I’d be delighted to help and will email you shortly.

Billy

[billyboy1]

Hi Aleksey. Not much of a story I’m afraid. Lisa supported us on some tour dates and had her picture taken with us. Lovely girl.
Cheers, Billy

[billyboy1]

Sure, I’d like to see that.

[billyboy1]

Lots to think about here.
1. Pete, Dan & Manny probably don’t have the means to locate TV archives and would certainly not spend money doing so.
2. Top of the Pops (or the BBC) is famously guilty of “losing” past shows. David Bowie’s Jean Genie performance was only rediscovered by accident and he was far more famous than Nazareth at the time.
3. I don’t know anything about the “Until We Drop” film but like you, I’d love to see it. The Bad, Bad Boy footage I remember seeing but can’t recall where. Probably sourced by the Czech company?
4. The video on my YouTube channel was of a sound check we did somewhere and as Big Boy was the song we always used to get our sound right, that’s probably the only footage filmed.
5. The Manny interview? Sorry, but again I’d like to see more.
6. Thanks for offering your help Dmitry. I can only repeat my previous request to “spread the word”
And finally,
7. Good compilation of artwork on your Dads video collections.
Billy.

[billyboy1]

Got a reply from Pete and it appears you were right about the live logo. Or as he says “Aye Billy. Same sign wi’ a different jersey.”
Well played you!

[billyboy1]

I will certainly mention it to Pete but I’m pretty sure his response will be he doesn’t have anything. I trust you are familiar with our site’s YouTube channel “Growin’ Up” which contains everything I had on VHS plus other “gems” we discovered from fans around the world which I think is our best chance of unearthing previously unseen content.
I’ve also shared some audio of gigs in “The Vault” from my collection of cassettes and could probably add more if Barry could be arsed but unless Manny has anything hidden away I fear the extent of band contributions is done and dusted.
We’ve asked for any videos/audio/photos etc from fans but so far none are forthcoming but it wouldn’t hurt to repeat the request.
Spread the word Dmitriy, and I shall continue to do the same.

[billyboy1]

I don’t think Dan, Pete or Manny are indifferent to any of what you’re saying, more they’re probably unaware of what’s potentially out there.
One of the things I realised when I first joined Nazareth was their disinterest in listening to or watching themselves. During a recent conversation with Pete however it’s apparent he and Dan fondly remember our “Unplugged” tours which tells me they’ve been listening again to the audio from the gigs. That says a lot.
I myself was amazed when a friend on Facebook contacted me saying he’d bought an acetate of my first single on CBS Records and I realised even I didn’t own such a thing.
He graciously sent me a digital copy and it’s now on this site but importantly it made me realise how we can sometimes be so caught up in our success, we sometimes forget about preserving our past.
Maybe it’s too late?

[Author]

Posts