Sixties soul survivor PP Arnold s not a new kid on the block – she has been wowing audiences since she first came to the UK as an Ikette with Ike and Tina Turner, back in the heady days of the 1960s.
Her unique talent did not go unnoticed, and Mick Jagger and Andrew Oldham convinced her to stay in the UK and sign to the Immediate record label which she did, and the rest is history. She want on to perform, write or record with the likes of The Small Faces, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, with her own band The Nice, and so many others. She appeared on the West End stage in Catch My Soul and Starlight Express and on TV in shows including Fame, Knots Landing and CHiPs.
In more recent times she has toured and recorded with, among others, Paul Weller and Ocean Colour Scene whose guitarist Steve Cradock produced her most recent album, New Adventures.
Pat, thank you for taking time to answer a few questions…
To start at the beginning, what were you thinking when you joined the Ike & Tina Turner Revue? Did you ever think that 60 years later you’d still be performing – and in the UK?
To be honest, when you’re 17 years old you’re not thinking 60 years ahead and when I joined the Ike and Tina Turner Revue it was not a planned ambition. I had never even thought that I would end up living in the UK and becoming a solo artist.
You’ve explored a wide range of music from gritty R&B and sweet soul to beautifully crafted pop music and musical theatre, what is it that connects all of those songs? What do you need to hear to find your voice in a song?
The story and the melody.
Some big personalities have played a part in your story – Ike and Tina, Mick Jagger, Steve Marriott, Jimi Hendrix, Cat Stevens, Barry Gibb and Eric Clapton in the 60s, Roger Waters and Steel Pulse in the 90s and more recently Steve Cradock from Paul Weller’s band – have you ever been starstruck and how do you keep your feet on the ground?
Working with all of the personalities that you mention here has been such an honour and a privilege to have been in the same place in time that allowed me the opportunity to work with them. I was definitely starstruck meeting Ike and Tina as a very young girl and having the opportunity to be with the Revue when they came to the UK to tour with the Rolling Stones and meeting and working Mick Jagger was very special.
The artists that you mention above all respected me as much as I respected them. Steve Cradock, Paul Weller and I are still doing great work together. I can be myself better than I can be anybody else so I always stay true to myself and give God the glory.
If you could work with anyone ever, who would it be and why? And is there a song you would just love to record?
I would love to have worked with Quincy Jones and Prince, but they’re no longer with us. I am so blessed to still be working with the Metrophonic team – Brian Rawling, Mark Taylor, Patrick Mascall – as well as Steve Cradock and Paul Weller.
Which songs do you most enjoy performing and why?
Still now after more than 50 years, I still enjoy singing First Cut Is the Deepest and Angel Of The Morning. I have a great catalogue and pretty much like singing all of my songs – I’m A Dreamer, Medicated Goo, I Believe, Baby Blue, Though It Hurts Badly, Everything’s Gonna Be Alright, To Love Somebody, they’re all favourites.
Your box set and book Soul Survivor have been so well received, it must feel like back pay! What’s next for PP Arnold; will there be new material, a new album?
Yes, the box set and my autobiography Soul Survivor are all being received well, but it’s still a struggle getting work which would make a big difference to actually getting paid. 🙂 Which is surprising as I really do have a lot going on creatively.
I have a great touring band and I’m in the process of recording a very special album with some very special guest artists who are duetting with me to celebrate my 60-year anniversary. I’m hoping that it will be released in time for me to tour this Fall and create more enthusiasm for me as a credible artist who has survived all the ups and downs that I’ve been through in this industry and in my life in general.
I guess you can say that I am a true Soul Survivor who would love to be able to receive my just rewards and recognition while I’m still here.
PP Arnold plays Lighthouse Poole on Friday 13 June. Tickets on sale now at https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk.
(NC)
