Britains answer to elvis

[bhowells]

Who would you say was the uks answer to Elvis?



For me I reckon its Billy Fury, Cliff certainly captured some of the moodiness of Presley, but listening to some of his early tracks recently good as he was in those early days, he was no Elvis.



Any other contenders?

[wadsy]

Vince Taylor ( although he was probably more influenced by Gene vincent).

[Dame Starry]

Does there have to be one?



I, personally, never liked Elvis, but I don't think we ever produced a suitable equivalent -although Cliff was supposed to be, I think, at the time.



DS x.

[billy bentley]

I think Billy Fury was definitely Britain's best fifties rock'n'roll singer, even if his best recordings are ballads. Vince Taylor did write and record the immortal "Brand New Cadillac" but in my opinion his is a small body of good work. Britains reply to Elvis was really The Beatles, something quite different but that also captured the imagination of teenagers around the world.

[davidb]

name='billy bentley']I think Billy Fury was definitely Britain's best fifties rock'n'roll singer, even if his best recordings are ballads. Vince Taylor did write and record the immortal "Brand New Cadillac" but in my opinion his is a small body of good work. Britains reply to Elvis was really The Beatles, something quite different but that also captured the imagination of teenagers around the world.

i was going to say something like that .we were a great deal better at groups .even someone who became massive over there like rod stewart was initially part of a band

[EHV_Emmetts]

name='bhowells']Who would you say was the uks answer to Elvis?

Ladies and Gentlemen I offer you Shakin' Stevens - okay, perhaps not then.

[batman]

name='bhowells']Who would you say was the uks answer to Elvis?

[ame="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gQKIZHlmvKg&feature=related"][/ame]

[MB]

Is that Ciff? He looks really cute there. Quite sort of 'rugged'.

[Steve Crook]

Various people, including Cliff Richard and Tommy Steele were promoted as "Britain's answer to Elvis" - but none of them really came close.



Why should there ever need to be an answer?



As others have said, the best response was the groups, The Beatles, The Stones etc.



Steve

[torinfan]

I always figured it was Cliff.



Sorry, I'm not familiar with Billy Fury.

[batman]

name='torinfan']

Sorry, I'm not familiar with Billy Fury.

[Dame Starry]

name='batman']

Cute, very cute.......



#You leave me halfway to paradise - so near, yet so far away,#



DS x.

[Valance]

No contest - Billy Fury.



[ame="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rQY9uOZdJUk"]YouTube - I Think You're Swell - Billy Fury[/ame]

[torinfan]

Thanks, Batman. Billy could indeed be the British equivalent to Elvis, appearance wise.

[David Brent]

When it comes down to record sales then it has to be Cliff - by a mile.



Funny though how the Americans never took to him.



Dave.

[Moor Larkin]

Given that Elvis had his first big record in 1956 whilst Cliff didn't chart until 1959 and nobody had heard of Billy Fury until 1961.......... I'm not sure either of them was much of an answer. More like echoes of something.



I daresay Lonnie Donegan was more of an answer to be honest.