Bill Nelson - 'Smiles' (1971, «Northern Dream»)

Debut 1971 solo album prior to his fame as the guitarist for Be-Bop Deluxe.

"When we started we had no great ambition ... it seemed impossible, we were working class guys from wakefield and we saw people on tv, and that was another world that wasn't accessible to us, and the idea of us ever making a record other than say at a local studio just seemed an impossible dream. And when we started that whole kind of glam thing was a bit of fun, you know, it was a way to get up the noses of a lot of people in working men's clubs, where we used to play, and we never really took it too seriously, that aspect of it but it worked in our favour that we very quickly built up a younger following and it was through the northern dream album that I had done in wakefield locally that John Peel played, EMI got in touch and eventually led to us getting a deal." (Bill Nelson interviewed a couple of years ago)

[aldocoffee]

I bought the album in a record store in Stamford CT in 1976, and was suprised to find it. I miss the days when good record stores carried at least one of pretty much everything in existence and you'd thumb through the bins, having never heard of 90% of the artists, but looked at everything anyway just to see the cover art. Anyway, still have it along with the rest of the BBD catalog, all on vinyl.

[PM-ecvm]

Got one on vinyl. 1970s Leeds shopping…..
1 vinyl disc in a gatefold sleeve - front cover (as shown) back cover (photo, hippie garb, playing acoustic guitar, duffle bag …sat on steps in the park in his hometown) ….. Inside, the disk is in a standard paper sleeve with the main card folded up at the bottom ( small folded strip to ‘hold’ the vinyl disc in place ). It says “Limited Edition” copy number —- there’s a blank space where the ‘stamp’ should go….. Recorded at HOLYGROUND, Wakefield in West Yorkshire 1971 …..[q] “special thanks to Ken and Betty of the Wakefield Record Bar for their patience, kindness and trust and for making this album possible “ .. MONO ! …

[paulressler]

Bill Nelson is one of my favorite Guitarists and Songwriters of all time! I dig his guitar work; and I'm a big Be-Bop Deluxe admirer. Thank you very much for posting!!

[emilyoshiro]

have this lp, its great that you popp'd this up! never tire of mr. nelson

[MrNigalia]

Hey, This is Fabulous.
A Fore-runner to the Legend that is Bill Nelson.
Excellent.

[squintchy]

Got here after listening to the Cherry TV interview. Thanks for putting it up.

[luaroregxxiii]

The magnificent B.N. BeBop
Luxin' next !

[timothymatthews]

Believe it or not there is even a cassette version too, which I spotted it n a second hand record Rd shop down in Newquay! God's knows how many times this record has been reproduced over the years. There could be as many as 500, 000 in various formats around the world!

[CRASHOLA]

Wow this is amazing... All of his BBD riffs and arrangements are in this lil' nine minute medley... what the fxxk was in that bedroom? Thank you for posting this 🙏

[andrewkeeling]

It was recorded at Smile Studios in Manchester, I believe? Ten years later I was in a band called Thruaglas Darkly and we recorded an EP and single there. Owned by Steve Foley. AK

[robertdavidson]

Have the cd but not the album it's rather rare!

[flashcracker]

A really great album. I believe it was recorded in Bill's bedroom.

[richardfinlayson]

I wonder how many copies were pressed, of Northern dream, I would imagine it is quite scarce

[tenochtitlanprod]

Pappo blues en el cuadro de la izquierda??!