From:   Flippar
Date:  Fri Jan 18, 2002  7:30 pm
Subject:  Born To Be With You - Phil Everly
 
PHIL EVERLY

Philip Everly, "Baby boy Phil", was born in Cook County Hospital, Chicago
Illinois on January 19th 1939 to Ike and Margaret Everly, baby brother to
Issac Donald.

Ike Everly was a coal miner in Kentucky and these hard working men, like the
miners in South Wales, relaxed and escaped from their woes through music. the
vein runs rich through the great Mrele Travis, Ike Everly and his illustrious
offspring.

The family had moved from Brownie Kentucky to Chicago just after Donald`s
birth on February 1st 1937, where Ike worked as a musician in the clubs on
Madison and Maxwell Street (Ike apparently owned the first electric guitar
there and the bars and honky tonks were clamouring for his picking). Little
wonder from such musical heritage both boys grew up to be ace musicians.

Despite flops on Columbia in early 56 the boys persevered to sign to Archie
Bleyer`s fledgling Cadence label and the rest is histroy. The songwriting
skills of the Bryants, Roy Orbison etc (and also Donand Phil) served the boys
well through the 50s and again on Warner Brothers inthe 60s. Phil penning the
classic When Will I Be Loved, Uk number 4 in 1960.They had 4 Uk number ones
(19 weeks at the top) and 13 top 10 hits, 196 weeks in the top 20 putting the
boys in the top 25 all time UK artists.

The unique blend of their ethereal voices and the topnotch songs and session
men guaranteed a successful formula. The British Invasion and falling out
with Wesley Rose knocked them out of their stride butafter Don`s illnesses
the boys regrouped with the memorable self penned Price Of Love (number 2 in
65) and the stunning Roots family album.

After their acrimoniuos 70s split, Phil`s solo careergained him some UK
success (SweetSurrender, no. 47 in 1982 and She Means Nothing To Me with
Cliff, number 9 in1983 )when working with Stu Colman and duetting with Cliff
Richard with a remake of Dream reaching 14 in 1994 (Phil has also duetted
with him in several concerts captured on video).

The momentous Everly Reunion concerts at the Albert Hall in London lead to
two major documentaries being shown by the BBC (Delilah Films) and a new
recording contract with Mercury (Dave Edmunds producing). I can still feel
the lump in my throat when the tuxedoed brothers strode out from the wings
onto the stage in Cardiff to a standing ovation on the the first reunion
tour. Will we ever see them tour or record again? With all the interest in
Americana and roots music its a crying shame the boys don`t harmonise on some
more of those ballads their daddy taught them.

They have more than earned their places in both Rock and Country Halls Of
Fame (at last Nashville!)

Recommended Reading

WalkRight Back by Roger White

Recommended listening

All London/Cadence/Warner 45s
esp
When Will I Be Loved
Price Of Love
Classic Everlys Bear Family 3cd + booklet
Heartaches and Harmonies Rhino 4cd + booklet
Complete Cadence Recordings US 2cd set with unissued demos
Ace series of Everly releases esp
SongsOur Daddy Taught Us
The Everly Brothers/Fabulous Style Of
All They Had To Do Was Dream (Rhino, 50s out-takes)
New (at last again) Warner brothers reissues esp
It`s Everly Time/ A Date With
Beat N Soul
Rock N Soul
Roots
Phil`s solo work
Star Spangled Springer esp Air That I Breathe and Snowflake Bombardier (with
Duane Eddy)
Phil Everly Capitol lp ( Stu Colman producer)
ReunionShow (loads of cheap cd versions)