They say a week is a long time in politics, and the same can equally be applied to the music business in all of its fickle glory. So when an artist manages to have a career that lasts 50 years, it is something to make a song and dance about. PP Arnold celebrates that momentous anniversary this year, having been an integral part of the UK musical explosion of the 1960s, working with The Small Faces and Rod Stewart to name but two. And to mark this milestone, something special has surfaced, along with the intriguing complement of her forthcoming autobiography (The First Cut Is the Deepest) and a tour to mark the occasion, with both slated to surface this October.
1968 saw the redoubtable soul goddess searching for a new record label to house her magnificent voice and burning artistry. Once this was achieved, Arnold was introduced to Barry Gibb by Jim Morris (the legendary Robert Stigwood's personal assistant) and a partnership was forged in the search for material good enough to bestow her incredible pipes upon. And material did flow, in a torrent of hallmarked excellence until Bee Gees commitments pulled Gibb away. Bereft and bewildered, Arnold was at a loss, unable to see a way forward until Stigwood approached Eric Clapton to complete the album. By the end of 1971, The Turning Tide was done, ready to be unleashed.
But quite remarkably, it never saw the light of day. It lay shrouded in mystery and seemingly lost in the mists of time as a result of that depressingly familiar tale of “industry politics.” Arnold’s tireless devotion to the album though has now paid dividends, for it is set to arrive at this auspicious anniversary after a spring clean as a remarkable testament to the power of the British music scene in the late ‘60s/early ‘70s, the confluence of rock music and soul power, and the enduring appeal of a dynamite vocalist.
Four of the thirteen songs on the forthcoming resurrected album—due in stores October 6th courtesy of Kundalini Music—are previewed below and include a cover of Steve Winwood’s “Medicated Goo,” “If This Were My World” (written by Arnold and Caleb Quaye), “Bury Me Down By The River” (Written by brothers Maurice and Barry Gibb) and a blistering, gospelised take on the Rolling Stones classic “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” The full track listing appears here:
- “Medicated Goo” [Written by Steve Winwood/Jimmy Miller and Produced by Eric Clapton]
- “Born” [Written and Produced by Barry Gibb]
- “If This Were My World” [Written and Produced by Caleb Quaye and PP Arnold]
- “High And Windy Mountain” [Written and Produced by Barry Gibb]
- “Spinning Wheel” [Written by David Clayton Thomas and Produced By Barry Gibb]
- “Bury Me Down By the River” [Written by Barry and Maurice Gibb and Produced by Barry Gibb]
- “Children of The Last War” [Written and Produced by Caleb Quaye and PP Arnold]
- “Brand New Day” [Written by Van Morrison and Produced by Eric Clapton]
- “The Turning Tide” [Written and Produced By Barry Gibb]
- “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” [Written by Brenda Holloway, Patrice Holloway, Frank Wilson & Barry Gordy and Produced by Barry Gibb]
- “Give a Hand Take a Hand” [Written and Produced by Barry Gibb]
- “Happiness” [Written and Produced by Barry Gibb]
- “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” [Written by Mick Jagger/Keith Richards and Produced by Eric Clapton]
All of these songs demonstrate the power and subtly nuanced delivery of a soul singer par excellence and that, combined with the highest quality songwriting and incredible musicianship, make this a release to salivate over.
PRE-ORDER PP Arnold’s The Turning Tide via Amazon
SEE PP Arnold on tour | Dates
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