Jimmy Helms

Although vocalist Jimmy Helms was born in Florida in 1944, he scored his hits and marked his career almost entirely in the United Kingdom. An early, burning, desire for music was fed during his years in the United States Army, where he played in the Fort Jackson Army Band. Switching from band to song and changing his home base from America to Britain after his stint in the service, Helms released his first single, "Ragtime Girl", on Pye records in 1963. He followed up with one further, early, single in 1969 when London released "If you let Me". Neither managed to do anything, but they certainly helped build the forward momentum that pushed Helms to the spotlight during the 1970s. Signing to Fly/Cube records in 1972, Helms released the well-received "So Long Love", but it was the following year's stunning "I'm Gonna Make you An Offer you Can't Refuse" that finally brought him the breakthrough he deserved. Produced by John Worth, the song was a Top 10 hit that spring. However, two further singles, "I'll Take Good Care Of You" and "Jack Horner's Holiday", failed to match their predecessor's might, while the following year's I'm Gonna Make You An Offer album, recorded with a session band featuring former Affinity/Fancy member Mo Foster, similarly failed to do anything on the charts. Despite seeming doomed to one-hit-wonderdom, Helms remained undeterred. Returning to his first label, Pye, he recorded the Songs I Sing LP and the single, "Don't Pull your Love" during 1975, while he was also in-demand as a guest on a number of other artist's releases -- Helms appeared as the kingfisher in Roger Glover's Butterfly Ball, while 1976 brought a role in Eddie Hardin's Wizard's Convention superstar album. Helms also contributed to early-mid 1970s albums by Mick Greenwood and...