Beat

Lennon gave the song to Bill J. Kramer. It was first released with Billy J. Kramer backed by The Dakotasin the U.K. in 1963 and went to #1 on the U.K. Singles Chart. They released it  in the U.S. in 1964 and went to #9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was the first time a Lennon-MCartney song was in the U.S. top 40 recorded by an artist other than The Beatles. The B-side of the single was “I Call Your Name,” which was also credited to Lennon-McCartney. The Beatles  recorded it and released it a year later in the U.S. on the 1964 album The Beatles’ Second Album.

Billy J. Kramer was born William Howard Ashton in Bootle, Lancashire, England. He was pursuing an engineering apprenticeship with British Railways and was pursuing his guitar-playing and singing in his spare time. Brian Epstein, who also managed The Beatles, was scouting for new talent and discovered him.  The stage name of Kramer came from a random search of the telephone directory. Lennon recommended the middle initial of J. to give the name more of an edge, as it were. Epstein used The Dakotas, a Manchester-based band, to back Kramer. They had a separate contract and wished to remain separate, hence “with The Dakotas.” They also had charting success with “I’ll Keep You Satisfied,” “Little Children,” From a Window,” and more.

Here are the lyrics to “Bad to Me” by Billy J Kramer with The Dakotas:

“If you ever leave me, I’ll be sad and blue,
don’t you ever leave me, I’m so in love with you.
The birds in the sky would be sad a lonely,
if they knew that I lost my one and only,
they’d be sad, if you’re bad to me.
The leaves on the trees would be softly sighin’,
if they heard from the breeze that you left me cryin’,
they’d be sad, don’t be bad to me.
But I know you won’t leave me ’cause you told me so,
and I’ve no intension of letting you go,
just as long as you let me know, you won’t be bad to me.
So the birds in the sky won’t be sad and lonely,
’cause they know I got my one and only,
they’ll be glad, you’re not bad to me.
But I know you won’t leave me ’cause you told me so,
and I’ve no intension of letting you go,
just as long as you let me know, you won’t be bad to me.
So the birds in the sky won’t be sad and lonely,
’cause they know that I’ve got my one and only,
they’ll be glad, you’re not bad to me.”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Bad to Me” by Billy J Kramer with The Dakotas.