Beverly Noble - BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU (Gold Star Studios) (1965)

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED - (Rally 502) Out of Los Angeles, if there ever was a record that deserved to be a massive hit but it's fate was ultimately relegated to obscurity, then 'Better Off With Out You' by Beverly Noble is the one. Recorded at Hollywood's Gold Star Studio in May of 1965, this 'Wall Of Sound' masterpiece was given the full bore, Phil Spector treatment with a lushly orchestrated arrangement by Don Ralke. Slathered in spine-tingling echo, the production is a wonderful mix in the styles of the Ronettes' 'Born to Be Together', Clydie King's 'The Thrill Is Gone' and Jill Jackson's 'Here Comes The Night'. L.A.s cream of the crop session musicians, now known as the 'Wrecking Crew', gave yet another of their stellar performances on this unforgettable backing track that if Phil Spector was given the opportunity to hear, it no doubt would have put a big, goofy smile on his hit-record-making face.
Written by a couple of movers & shakers within the L.A. music scene at that time, Ricky (Rickie) Page and husband, George Motola, they recruited the marvelously impassioned lead vocals of an unknown fourteen year old, Beverly Noble who happened to be a school mate of their daughter, Rebecca. (The duo had already recorded a version of the Shields hit, 'You Cheated' with Beverly on the Sparrow label just a few months earlier in 1964 in typical Doo-Wop fashion.)
In the famous words of legendary Brill Building songwriter, Gerry Goffin, "In the 1960's, God was a young black girl who could sing". Beverly Noble unmistakably fit that definition. Produced by Motola and Joe Saraceno who was a big shot record producer at the time being the mastermind behind the records by the Marketts, 'Better Off Without You' was issued on the microscopic L.A. label, Rally records which only released a handful of singles in 1965-1966. Had 'Better Off Without You' been put out on a major label with the means of giving it some decent promotion, one can only imagine what alternate path would have been for Miss Beverly Noble.
I place this record in my 'Top 5 - Absolute, All-Time Favorites'.

In January 2014 when complimenting co-composer of 'Better Off Without You', RICKIE PAGE about what a magnificent recording it was, she replied, ".....What is so ironic is back then I was so trying to prove myself as a writer. I didn't get a lot of encouragement from George. So thank you so much."

To hear a recording in a similar style from just months after this was released, take a listen to 'I Cry Inside' by RICKIE PAGE on Epic records.
   • Rickie Page - I CRY INSIDE  (1965)  

A short list of some of the recordings that feature the vocals of Rickie Page:
SHEILA NORTH on Catch records
The BERMUDAS on Era records
The MAJORETTES on Troy records
BECKY and The LOLLIPOPS on Epic records
JOANNE and The TRIANGLES on V.I.P. records

A big thank you goes to REBECCA PAGE for sharing the photo of Rickie Page & George Motola.