The Angelettes.... A Hard Rains A gonna Fall

Helen · **Posted:** Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:08 pm

Just found this article about "The Angelettes" while looking at Manchester stuff, and wasn't aware they didn't get any credit for their vocals on "A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall" which they stress was definitely them. I never knew that. Funny what you come across when you delve!

[quote]
Prior to joining Mooncrest, we'd been given quite a lot of recording backing work for other artistes. Word had got around that we could listen to the song and come up with the harmony arrangement pretty quickly. We were delighted when Bryan Ferry asked us to do the backing for his first solo venture away from Roxy Music, his album "These Foolish Things".

He released a single from the album: "Hard Rain's Gonna Fall". The album sleeve is, however, incorrect in stating that we didn't do the backing on that song, because we definitely did do it! Another Top Of The Pops appearance followed. Bryan had been given another female backing group for his first TOTP airing of the song, but stated the following week that he wanted us there instead. It caused a bit of a furore at the TV studio, but Bryan got his way and we had a frantic morning chasing around the London shops trying to put together the outfits that Bryan's team wanted us to wear. The outfits were quite stunning for their time: black leather jackets with the collars turned up, tight black pencil-slim skirts, incredibly high stiletto shoes, 1950s style glasses with diamante winged sides - all finished off with bright red glossy lipstick and piled-high hair. Not the sweet flowery-frock image any longer!
[quote]

http://www.spectropop.com/Angelettes/index.htm

DCJ · **Joined:** Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:58 pm **Posts:** 1031

Yet further testimony that album liner notes should not always be believed. I grew up devouring the info supplied on the backs of albums and it is rather depressing to think that their reliability is often less than - well - reliable. Sigh

I especially liked the backup vocals The Angelettes added to Loving You is Sweeter Than Ever. Very nice.

Spyke · **Joined:** Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:23 pm **Posts:** 34

Their vocals fit in with the sound of the album very well. I assume they're not the same as The Sirens on the 1975 tour!?

wrighta · **Joined:** Tue Jun 09, 2009 7:32 pm **Posts:** 331

No that was Doreen Chanter and Jacquline Sullivan who were the first of the screechers

Helen · **Posted:** Fri Oct 21, 2011 5:55 am

haha! "The Screechers" makes for a great band name

"These Foolish Things" IMO, is Bryan vocally at his very best! brilliant vocals, he just melts me on this album, and great song choices too.

A male work colleague used to call this album "The Sugar and spice and all things nice album" whenever I played it. haha!.....and definitely one for the girly's !!!! .....

Mr. Rifff · **Joined:** Sun Jun 21, 2009 12:39 pm **Posts:** 106

Yes TFT is my favourite BF album, his voice is amazing, full of ott swooning and crooning, brilliant.
Plus he takes some dreadful songs, Hard rain, Sympathy, etc etc. and stamps his inimitable style all over them.

Avondale · **Joined:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:46 pm **Posts:** 309

Mr. Rifff wrote:

Yes TFT is my favourite BF album, his voice is amazing, full of ott swooning and crooning, brilliant.
Plus he takes some dreadful songs, Hard rain, Sympathy, etc etc. and stamps his inimitable style all over them.

Sorry, Mr Rifff, I have tried hard but I just can't let that one pass. Hard Rain is a masterful song finally exposed in all its glory by BF's interpretation, and Sympathy for the Devil is not so different from the original in my book for the original to be dreadful and Bryan's version to be so great.

I agree that TFT is a delight though. I don't understand the point about it being one for the girls as I have read a few times now on this forum.

Mr. Rifff · **Joined:** Sun Jun 21, 2009 12:39 pm **Posts:** 106

"Sympathy for the Devil is not so different from the original in my book for the original to be dreadful and Bryan's version to be so great"

Eh? you sure? Good grief! try listening to them again. :roll:

Helen · **Posted:** Sat Oct 22, 2011 7:22 am

Avondale wrote:

I don't understand the point about it being one for the girls as I have read a few times now on this forum.

Avondale, The young man who passed comment about it being for the girls is in no way a BF/RM fan, he simply warmed to the charms of "These Foolish Things" and knew that BF attracts the ladies in their droves, so his comment was said in a playful way really, a tease at me if you like.

The Angelettes.... A Hard Rains A gonna Fall

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