P.P. Arnold: The 13th Floor Interview

She’s known as “London’s First Lady Of Soul”. She’s recorded with The Small Faces, Humble Pie, Nick Drake and Roger Waters. And she released the original hit version of Cat Stevens’ First Cut Is The Deepest.

P.P. Arnold may not be a household name, but her influence and talent is undeniable.

Now, the former Ikette, and Swingin’ 60s Soul Star is making a rare trip to New Zealand in May, performing at Auckland’s Powerstation on May 20th with a band that features members of Australian rockers You Am I.

Slow Boat Records’ Jeremy Taylor got P.P. Arnold on the blower recently to discuss her legendary career.

JT: Hi PP – or can I call you Pat – which do you prefer?

PP: Hi Jeremy as this is an interview, you can call me PP.

Your relocation  to the UK – it must have been a huge adjustment for you, coming from the sunshine of LA to the relative gloom of Britain – what did you miss most about home? What did you like best about Britain?

PP: Coming to the UK was a very big adjustment for me. The weather didn’t bother me when I first arrived because I was so excited with everything that was going on as an Ikette with Ike & Tina on that tour with the Rolling Stones. Coming out of the Civil Rights Revolution in America into the Rock & Roll Revolution that was going on in London incredible!!! Music, Fashion, Arts and Culture in a cosmopolitan environment was so exciting!!! It was only after I stayed on my own and the Revue went back to the States that the reality of the dreadful climate actually hit. The weather was shit!

Being from L.A. where it hardly rained and when it did it was fun to walk around with an umbrella and rain boots and go to school where hardly anybody showed up because of the rain and play rainy day games with those who did. J Coming from sunny L.A. to the grey gloom of Surrey, which is a very beautiful county, where I first lived was hard. It rained so much and because of the rain the grass was so green, which was nice.

More than anything I missed my children. Although I was only 18, I had two young children who were only 2 and 3 years old. I missed my family so much, my parents, sister and brothers, my grandparents who lived in the same neighbourhood and my many childhood friends. I missed all the great music that you hear on the many radio stations and as stressful as it was being on the road with Ike & Tina I missed being on that stage with Tina and all of those amazing musicians. I missed the humour that is so different from the English humour. It took me a long time to realise when people were taking the mick and teasing me, to know the difference. I was a very shy, young black woman who had experienced being in a very abusive, teen marriage and quite introverted and it took me a while to adjust with being in a totally inter-racial environment.

I loved the whole musical environment that I became a part of. The fabulous Discotechs, the fashion, the culture, and the whole style, Carnaby Street, the King’s Road, Kensington High Street, the Biba and Quorum boutiques. It seemed that everybody was young, creative and alive. It was totally different from the States.

JT: So, you are coming to New Zealand for an Auckland show, 20^th May – hoorah! Have you ever been here before? What do you know about New Zealand? And also – do you like rugby?

I was there in 2007 with Roger Waters we played Auckland and Christchurch then. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to do much sight-seeing as we were in and out and unfortunately I think its going to be the same on this trip. I do remember hanging out and having dinner in the harbour in Auckland and seeing a ‘live’ show staged by the local people. In Christchurch we had very little time as well and I remember walking in a beautiful square with lots of tropical flowers. I know that New Zealand is a Polynesian Island and that the Maori are the indigenous people there and that it is the land of the Kiwi bird, kiwi fruit and also Manukau honey, so not much. I do know that it is a paradise that I need time to fully appreciate it.

I know nothing about Rugby other than there are a lot of very big, fit guys playing the game. Both of my sons are into Soccer. My oldest son is a Soccer coach in the US. It looks a bit like American football, but I understand that they are very different.

I first became aware of you as a vocalist on things like The Small Faces ‘Tin Soldier’, Graeme Nash’s ‘Military Madness’ and Nick Drake’s ‘Poor Boy’, and then traced a line from to your time as an Ikette – did you feel, at the time that you were contributing to legendary, iconic recordings, or was it just like another day at the office?

It was never an ambition of mine to be a professional singer. I grew up singing Gospel music with my family. I became an Ikette as a way to escape my abusive teen marriage. I had left school early without any qualifications, so it was a way for me to support my life as a single woman with two young children. My time as an Ikette was definitely a way to do that and I had no ambition to be a solo artist. It was great training as a backing vocalist and helped me to master the skill.

When Mick Jagger and Andrew Loog Oldham invited me to stay in the UK and become a solo artist, I accepted because I felt that it was another opportunity to create more security for my children and I. Being a young black American woman with my vocal sound that everybody loved and wanted on their records gave me another side-line to earn, have fun and work with so many amazing artists. When things went wrong with my solo career singing BV’s helped me to keep a roof over my head and food on the table and I gave thanks for the many opportunities that God sent to me. Most of the work that I’ve done in my career has been by word of mouth or by destiny’s intervention. I had no idea that the many sessions that I’ve done in my career would become legendary, iconic recordings. So I feel very blessed.

JT: I am a huge fan of your two 60s albums (‘The First Lady Of Immediate’ and ‘Kafunta’), and I think the recently released “The Turning Tide” is every bit as good.  You have had some pretty extraordinary collaborators, including on the recently released album producer/ writer Barry Gibb, Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton – you also sang on Peter Gabriel’s ‘Sledgehammer’ and the KLF’s ‘What Time Is Love’ – any that stand out particularly as favourites? Any we might not know about?

PP: Of course, those two ‘classic’ ‘Immediate’ albums are my favourites. My versions of both ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’ written by Cat Stevens and Produced by Mike Hurst from ‘The First Lady Of Immediate’ album also ‘(If You Think) You’re Groovy’ written and Produced by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane from that first offering as well and the beautiful ‘Angel Of The Morning’ written by Chip Taylor, Produced by Andrew ‘Loog’ Oldham from my ‘Kafunta’ album have all given my career longevity and are my most renowned works, so they take first place.

I absolutely LOVE the recently released ‘Turning Tide’ album that is a compilation of recordings between 1968-70 with tracks produced and written by Barry Gibb including ‘Bury Me Down By The River’, ‘Give A Hand Take A Hand’, the title track ‘The Turning Tide’ and other great tracks. It has some great covers ‘Medicated Goo’ the Traffic classic, ‘Brand New Day’ written by Van Morrison and ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ written by Jagger/Richards all produced by Eric Clapton and a couple of more written and produced collaborations between myself and Caleb Quaye of ‘Hookfoot’ fame. I’m so happy that I never gave up the fight to be able to get the rights to licence and finally let these brilliant recordings that I always believed in to be heard after 50 years. For them to be received and embraced so well by the media and the fans after so many years have proven to me that I was right. Whether or not they would’ve made a difference in my life story is hard to say, nothing is before its time

I do have another album that you may or may not have heard of, it’s an independent production with Dr Robert of the ‘Blow Monkeys’ who I’ve just found out actually lived many years in Australia. All of these recordings are available from my new website at www.pparnold.com. The Turning Tide is available in CD, Vinyl and download. The First Cut compilation in CD and downloads and Dr Robert and PP Arnold ‘Five In The Afternoon’ as a download.

JT: What of your recorded output would you direct someone unfamiliar with your output to by way of introducing them to your music? (Personally, I would go “Angel Of The Morning”, which I think is one of my favourite records ever, by anyone…)

PP: I would direct them to the ‘First Cut’ Immediate compilation that has all of my ‘classic’ recordings on it and let them decide. I would also direct to my latest album ‘The Turning Tide’ produced by Barry Gibb, Eric Clapton and Caleb Quay and I that is both ‘classic’ and ‘new’ as it’s only just being heard.

JT: The late 60’s must have been an extraordinary time to be in London –  any particularly memorable/ funny stories come to mind from that time?

PP: The mid 60’s rather than the late 60’s were better for me. I was trying to stay alive and find my way as an artist in the late 60’s. I was dealing with many political industry challenges that as a young woman with no understanding of doing business in the industry. It was very difficult time for me. It was very much a man’s world and I got lost for a while. I’ve written my autobiography, which is called, ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’. It will also be released in the not too distant future. There are a lot of laughs there along with a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I’ll be making announcements regarding my new album, ‘The New Adventures of PP Arnold’ that has been produced by Steve Cradock of Ocean Color Scene and my book real soon.

JT: What is a typical day in the life for you these days? Do you still tour and perform regularly?

PP: I am pleased to say that I mad busy these days. After touring the world with Roger Waters 1999-2008, I’ve done several tours since then. I’ve done a Soul Tour with Geno Washington and Jimmy James and I also did a Tribute to Sandy Denny tour with Maddy Prior, Jerry Donahue, Dave Swarbrick, Thea Gilmore and a host of other brilliant Folk Artists. I did the Solid Silver 60’s 30^th Anniversary Tour and in 2016 and I toured as guest artist with the Manfred’s and Zoot Money.

I do my own gigs and I’m always doing some kind of project or other. Last year 2017 was very special. I released ‘The Turning Tide’ and promoted it with a 50^th Anniversary tour. Backed by the Steve Cradock band, while Steve was on tour with Paul Weller we toured the UK, Scotland and Spain. Go to www.pparnold.com to find out much more.

JT: And finally – will you please sign my LPs if I bring them with me when I come up from Wellington for your show?!

PP: Jeremy, I look forward to meeting you in the flesh, and when we do, you can call me Pat. It will be my pleasure to sign your LP’s.

 

Click here for tickets to see P.P. Arnold at The Powerstation, Sunday, May 20th.