Rob Chapman – in his review of the 6-CD box set Immediate Singles Collection for the June, 2000 edition of Mojo – takes issue with with the choice of tracks regarding American vocalist, Pat Cole “P.P.” Arnold (who kicked off her solo singing career in mid-60s UK), demanding to know “where is her ecstatic version of [Brian Wilson & the Beach Boys’] ‘God Only Knows‘?”:
“God Only Knows” by P.P. Arnold (1968)
“God Only Knows” – sequenced just after the opening track on side one of 1968’s Kafunta album – enjoyed distribution in the UK, US, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, Canada, and Japan. Arnold’s version of the standout track from The Beach Boys’ groundbreaking Pet Sounds would spend its entire existence confined to the album — except, however, in Italy (and nowhere else), where “God Only Knows” nobly served as the A-side of a 1969 single release.
Rilasciato Solo in Italia
Reverse side of the Italian picture sleeve —
Includes jukebox title card plus photo!
There is a page on the Smiley Smile chatboard devoted to this recording in which one of the members makes the following observation:
“But seriously folks, this is pretty much a song no one should cover. In doing a cover version you either do something completely different with the song and/or top the original. The latter is as close to zero chance as you’ll get, and the former not likely to work considering the power of the original arrangement [#2 Pop – 14 weeks on the charts]. That said, P.P. does a decent job – doesn’t embarrass herself.”
An original copy of the 1969 Italian picture sleeve sold at auction in 2012 for 20 Euros.
This just in: Arnold’s “lost” album of songs recorded in the late 1960s/early 1970s – The Turning Tide – was finally released last August, as reported by Billboard. “Derek” (i.e., Eric Clapton) and the Dominoes (Bobby Whitlock, Jim Gordon and Carl Radle, along with Jim Price & Bobby Keys) served as backing musicians on three of the songs, while Madeline Bell, Doris Troy, and Rita Coolidge share vocals with Arnold on other tracks (with Clapton, Barry Gibb, Caleb Quaye and Arnold serving variously and/or collaboratively as producer).
“The First Lady of Immediate Records” (who was gracious enough to share this history piece on her Facebook page) is about to embark upon her first ever concert tour of Australia – tour dates listed on the official poster below:
Bonus Track
“God Only Knows”: Rare LP-Only Version
Thanks to Smiley Smile for pointing Zero to 180 toward another notable (pop) “soul” cover of the classic Beach Boys track “God Only Knows“ — Philadelphia’s own, Brenda & the Tabulations:
“God Only Knows” serves as the third track on side one of 1967’s Dry Your Eyes.
Factory sealed for maximum protection
