The return of P.P. Arnold

On a string of 60s soul and rock classics, P.P. Arnold’s backing vocals are the cherry on top. She’s worked with Hendrix and Clapton. Toured with Ike & Tina Turner, the Stones. Her own hits include ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’, ‘(If You Think You’re) Groovy’ and ‘Angel of the Morning’. The collaborations continued with Nick Drake, The KLF, Roger Waters, Oasis, Primal Scream.
“I know! I know! It’s all true,” she giggles. “It’s been a blessing to have a gift that opened so many doors. I can’t even believe I’ve survived it all without having a celebrity big head!”
Since her last tour of Australia in May, the ‘60s Soul/Swinging London icon returns this month for more shows with her band. “We had [members of] You Am I, Talei and the wonderful James Black. This time we also have Eliza Wolfgramm and the entire Rockwiz Orchestra for some shows. I’m over the moon that I’m coming back.”
Born into a family of gospel singers, singing has since been her saving grace. “Singing is something that has always saved me but I never had an ambition to be a professional singer,” she explains. “I was a shy, inhibited young girl in South Central LA going through a hard time in an abusive teen marriage.”
One day, two girlfriends convinced her to join them as Ikettes. “They didn’t take ‘No’ for an answer. Their desperation helped me out of my desperate situation. With two kids, working two jobs, I’m doing laundry… I say a prayer and two hours later I’m in Ike & Tina’s living room singing ‘Dancing in the Streets’!”
The 70s however brought personal tragedy and ‘lost years’ for her solo career, as she explains. “In the 80s I was up against the ageism thing. I wasn’t trying to be a pop star, I was only trying to keep singing! Working with many great artists and in musical theatre kept me going.”
Fast forward to 2018 and The New Adventures Of PP Arnold is her latest album, featuring co-writes with producer Steve Cradock, Paul Weller and – with her son – the single ‘I Believe’. “I love harmony. Background harmonies can give you as much goosebumps as the lead singer! It’s an underrated skill,” she smiles. “You’re supporting that artist; you’ve got their back. Singing lead, if I don’t hear the right thing behind me, it throws my show off. Working with so many great singers, my ear is trained to perfection.”
P.P. Arnold is a picture of 60s style on early clips such as Small Faces’ ‘Tin Soldier’, featuring her blistering refrain. Her ‘look’ has evolved from the age of mini-skirts and beehive hairdos. “We didn’t have stylists back then. Looking back at those music clips, I was so not the celebrity. On tour in London, coming out of the civil rights revolution into the rock & roll revolution, was the first time in my life I was integrated with whites,” she reveals. “It turned me into this universal being. With so many challenges today, [like] we’re back in the 60s, we have to stay positive. Blessed with this energy and this gift, I managed to survive whatever I’ve had to go through. Life is not easy for nobody,” She pauses, then laughs, “I didn’t think it was gonna be this hard though! As an independent artist, I’ve managed to slip through the net and not be controlled.”
She now welcomes the support of a new record label deal as she connects with yet another generation of music lovers.
When & Where: Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – December 7.
Written by Chris Lambie