Halfway to Paradise WHY DIDN’T BILLY FURY HAVE A NUMBER ONE?

On the 25th anniversary of his death, Spencer Leigh investigates why the tragic 60s icon never quite made it to the top.

This year Liverpool is the European Capital of Culture and millions of tourists will be visiting the city. Most of them will walk down Mathew Street to see the Cavern, and opposite the famous club is the Liverpool Wall Of Hits. There is a disc for each of the 56 No 1 records from the city: Lita Roza, The Beatles, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Atomic Kitten are amongst the hit-makers, but many sightseers are bound to wonder what has happened to Billy Fury. The answer is that, despite numerous Top 10 hits, Liverpool’s greatest solo star and one of the UK’s top performers never had a No 1. Why didn’t Billy Fury have a No 1? Why is he the Tim Henman of British pop?

Fifty years ago, on October 1, 1958, the impresario Larry Parnes auditioned 18-year-old Ronnie Wycherley in Birkenhead and he was impressed that he wrote his own songs. Renamed Billy Fury, his first Decca single was a despondent ballad, Maybe Tomorrow. It created the template for Fury’s work: a handsome guy having problems with his relationships. Fast forward 25 years and you’ve got Morrissey.

Maybe Tomorrow sold steadily, reaching No 19 in a nine-week stay: an identical pattern to the Beatles’ first single, Love Me Do. Someone with confidence had it released in the US, a rare accolade for a British offering at the time. It did nothing, and indeed, …

by Spencer Leigh
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