P.P. Arnold – Powerstation May 20, 2018

Ace vocalist, and frequent 13th Floor contributor, Caitlin Smith checks out the PP Arnold show at Auckland’s Powerstation last night…

I’m in love with PP Arnold! It’s literally impossible not to be.

She’s an irrefutable embodiment of the restorative and redemptive power of singing. No, she’s not a household name. But that’s because so many of the unsung heroes of music are those (often invisible) gigging and session musicians who hold it all together behind the scenes or out of the spotlight, so that manufactured and marketed ‘stars’ sound as great as they do.

Particularly when it comes to backing vocalists (aka BVs, the most noble of professions IMHO) you’re often hard-pressed even finding them properly cited on liner notes. There’s very often no credit where credit is well overdue!

How wonderful then, that we can enjoy a whole show of PP Arnold’s voice – front row centre, where it belongs.

In a nutshell: PP (Pat) Arnold grew up within the gospel tradition on 117^th Street. She had her first child at 15, then left her physically abusive teen marriage to tour Britain/Europe as one of Ike and Tina Turner’s Ikettes at the tender age of 18. After the tour (with the Rolling Stones), Mick Jagger convinced her to stay in London to pursue a solo career.

She had hits with Cat Stevens’ The First Cut is the Deepest and Chip Taylor’s Angel in the Morning, and really made a name for herself as THE go-to ‘backing vocalist’. Her list of collaborations is truly awe-inspiring: from the Small Faces Tin Soldier and Itchycoo Park to being the entire MuMu choir for KLF (….from whom she never got paid in full!)

She was in with the in crowd and Steve Marriot (“We were soul brother and soul sister”) wrote several songs for her, including If You Think You’re Groovy (which she absolutely slayed live!)

She said “Age is just a number”. Certainly. It’s hard to believe she’s 71, being in better physical and vocal shape than the rest of us and with no intention of slowing down. Why should she? She’s got work to do. I spoke with her after the show and feel she represents so much of the independent ‘movement’ of female musicians who are only now drawing our attention to past injustices and abuses of power within the industry. She is clean living, fit as hell and deeply, profoundly spiritual.

This mini-tour of Australasia celebrates the release and reclamation (after 50 years gathering dust on the shelf) of The Turning Tide album, which contains songs recorded between ’68 and ’71. Barry Gibb wouldn’t give his permission to release it, so Pat had to put up a fight. One that lasted many years of “refusing to give up”… “Up against the boy’s club”. Since last year, thanks to Sally Cradock from Kundalini Music, we have been able to hear this masterpiece …. on yellow vinyl no less with Pat’s voice in all its soulful force and subtlety (and Derek and the Dominos as backing band on several tracks).

Co-writer and musician on The Turning Tide Caleb Quaye says of PP “(she) was and still is a soul singer of the highest calibre holding fast to the true tradition of that genre. What that means is that when she’s done “sangin” you feel all the way good!”

For this whirlwind two-week Tour-ette, she’s accompanied by You Am I’s Tim Rogers (on vocals, gat and stupendously dapper attire), Russell ‘Rusty’ Hopkinson (drums) and Andy Kent (bass). James Black, leader of Melbourne’s RocKwiz Orkestra, from SBS’s popular Live TV musical quiz show, was musically directing on keys. Another of PP’s co-stars for the night was Melbourne-based Talei Wolfgramm (from the Wolfgramm Sisters) on backing vocals. What a treat!

Pat repeatedly pined for her beloved and misplaced microphone, a KSM8, saying “You know how you get used to a man?”… “I’m missing my baby. …I’m used to holding him up here”.

It was an interesting fusion of the rock of You am I and the soul of PP… but strange to say, after only three rehearsals, it worked.

PP’s story, soon to be completed as a memoir, is one of finally/belatedly being recognized, applauded and appreciated for her talent and mahi (work).

Not surprising then, that a great many local vocalists turned out to learn from the master. Speaking of which, Sandy Mill was playing support with a very tasty band (Milan Borich, Jol Mulholland, Dianne Swan and Ben King) showcasing songs from her just-released debut solo album A Piece of Me. Resepct.

Unguarded and so generous on (and off) stage, Pat told stories in such a natural and engaging way. Stories of being asked by Mick Jagger to, “Go for a walk in the park” and then offering her a record deal; of doing 3 shows a night for 2 weeks solid as an Ikette in ’66. Stories of London at that time; heady, psychedelic, colourful, creative; and of how much the brothers Gibb fought with each other.

For a great many singers, all we’ve ever dreamed of being is a backing vocalist (As Callie Blood put it, “All care and no responsibility”). We know who we are and we know who we aspire to be (Luther Vandross, Emmylou Harris, Wendy & Lisa, Margie Joseph). Essentially, singing, and especially singing harmony, is one of THE greatest pleasures in life. BVs literally sing circles around the lead vocal. For this reason, all ego and pretention must be shed and the focus is simply and wholeheartedly on expression, lyric, meaning, support and beauty. No wonder then, that you’ve never seen an unhappy backing vocalist.

Only 400 or so lucky punters turned up to the Powerstation last night. So, my hot tip to those of you who missed out? Buy the vinyl. You won’t regret it.

Caitlin Smith

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Michael Flynn:

 

Setlist:

1. Whatcha gonna do? – her first song as an Ikette
2. River Deep, Mountain High
3. Everything’s gonna be Alright – 1^st single released on the Immediate Record label… Now a Northern Soul classic
4. Speak to Me – another single from the First Lady Album
5. Angel of the Morning
6. To love Somebody (Barry Gibb)
7. God Only Knows (Beach Boys)
8. Different Drum (Michael Nesmith)
9. Am I still Dreaming? (PP Arnold)
10. If you think you’re groovy (Steve Marriot)
11. Understand Me (Small Faces)
12. The First Cut is the Deepest (Cat Stevens)
13. Turning the Tide
14. Born (Barry Gibb wrote this for her too)
15. Give a hand, Take a hand (Barry Gibb)
16. Medicated Goo (Steve Winwood)
17. Bury Me Down By the River
18. You Can’t always get what you want (Jagger and Richards)
19. Encore …. Tin Soldier (Small Faces)