Wednesday May 12, 2021 “Nothing But a Heartache” The Flirtations
This song sounds so Motownish that it is hard to believe it doesn’t come right out of Detroit but it is British, and it also sounds so good it should have been a hit song, but it wasn’t.
The Flirtations originally from South Carolina, formed in 1962 in New York City but didn’t achieve any level of success until 1967 when they headed to England where they connected with record executive and producer Wayne Bickerton whose career started as the guitarist in the Pete Best Four...anyone think that name has a familiar ring to it, Pete Best?
Mr. Best was the first drummer for that group that came to be known as the Beatles. Always wondered what his life must have been like watching the band that he was originally part of rise to the status of gods while he did shift work loading bread into the back of delivery vans.
Back to Wayne Bickerton, post Pete Best, who became a record producer that worked with artists like Tom Jones, Petula Clark and Giles, Giles & Fripp (who would go on to become King Crimson) and of course the Flirtations. Bickerton co-wrote and produced “Nothing But a Heartache” and with the Flirtations they had a top forty hit.
The Flirtations did not get much attention in the US but would continue to record and perform in the UK and had a somewhat successful career, touring and recording there.
Stay safe and well...and sometimes the best songs don’t always become the biggest hits...and who is that man who introduces them in the video??