Legendary soul singer PP Arnold recently released her incredible third album The Turning Tide.
However, there is an interesting story behind PP Arnold’s latest offering. This album was originally recorded between 1968 and 1970, but following the demise of her label – Immediate records, this treasured long player has subsequently gathered dust on a shelf somewhere – that is until now. Subsequently, PP Arnold is back out on the road in support of her ‘new old album’, as she poetically calls it.
Having arrived in the UK back in 1966 with the Ike and Tina Turner Revue for a tour with the Rolling Stones, PP kicks off the show by paying tribute to her early career with a couple of songs from those days with her former employer. These include both The Ikettes “What’cha Gonna Do” and an incredibly lively rendition of the Ike and Tina Turner number “River Deep Mountain High”.
Following her tenure with the Turner’s, it was, of course, Mick Jagger who later encouraged PP Arnold to stay in the UK and sign a solo record contract and pursue a career on this side of the pond. A decision which she most certainly has not looked back on.
Throughout the course of her career spanning set, PP Arnold accompanies every song with a fascinating backstory. Although not everyone in attendance was fortunate enough to have lived through the musical renaissance of the 60s, many are transported back or educated with captivating and witty stories from PP’s star-studded 50 years in the music business.
Although maybe not a mainstream commercial hit, tracks like “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” were massively popular at Wigan Casino and the likes, featuring prominently on the Northern Soul circuit. This song, in particular, is very warmly received by the soul survivors in the audience.
The set is peppered with songs from The Turning Tide including both the title track and likes of the hard rocking number “Born”, which was penned by Barry Gibb who along with Eric Clapton and Caleb Quaye produced the album back in the day.
PP Arnold transports the audience back to the swinging 60s with tracks like her groove-heavy soulful take on Traffic’s “Medicated Goo” and a phenomenal rendition of The Rolling Stones “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”. Both of these numbers also feature on The Turning Tide and during the latter of which, each of Arnold’s talented five-piece touring band get their moment in the spotlight.
It was, of course, the great Cat Stevens who gifted PP Arnold her hit single “The First Cut Is The Deepest” and tonight she wow’s the Tyneside faithful with a beautiful rendition of the song. During the track she jokes at how she first recorded the number before Sheryl Crow was even born, and ten years prior to Rod Stewart.
The cherry on the top of this incredible evening of music was PP Arnold’s mind-blowing performance of “Tin Soldier” by the Small Faces. Arnold unmistakeably added backing vocals to the original, and tonight guitarist Jake Fletcher assumes the role of Steve Marriott and does an incredible job in the process.
PP Arnold may well be 71 years old, but she certainly performs like she is half the age, her vocal performance is simply stunning. There is no holding PP Arnold back.
Tonight was a real honour and a pleasure to hear these timeless classics performed and interpreted by one of the great soul singers of our time.
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PP Arnold
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Event Date: 24-Oct-2017