Vic Flick and A World Without Love

 

Yesterday it was announced that Vic Flick, the English guitarist behind distinctive riff on the James Bond theme, had died at the age of 87. Vic Flick is arguably the most influential session guitarists that this country has produced. Flick’s guitar playing was an essential part of the success of the big hits by Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, Shirley Bassey, Cliff Richard, Petula Clarke, Herman’s Hermits, Nancy Sinatra, and many others. So many great songs are connected to Flick one song I feel is a bit neglected and underrated is A World Without Love which was composed by Paul McCartney and made famous by Peter and Gordon.

When Paul McCartney and John Lennon began writing songs together they would often work in the bathroom of Lennon’s home in Menlove Avenue. After the sessions the young McCartney would have to walk home in the dark. The worst part of this journey was crossing a golf course. McCartney would often sing to himself and on one occasion, whilst walking across a golf course in total darkness he came up with the song A World Without Love.

When McCartney played the song to Lennon it was met with derision. It was the opening line of the song (“Please lock me away”) that Lennon thought was unintentionally hilarious, maybe it reminded him of the sort of thing Peter Sellers would say in The Goon Show? It was agreed that the song wasn’t good enough for The Beatles and no more was said about it. Two years later, In April 1964 however the song was released in the U.K. by the duo Peter & Gordon and it spent 2 weeks at number one. It was also number one in Ireland and New Zealand. And in the U.S it topped both the Billboard and Cashbox Hot 100.

The producer of A World Without Love was the head of EMI records Norman Newell. Newell wrote lyrics for singers such as Mat Monroe. He also enjoyed working with comedians such as Ken Dodd, Norman Wisdom, and Joyce Grenfell and Newell also had great success with musicals the only genre of popular music he didn’t really understand Rock and Roll. So it was fortunate for everyone that Vic Flick was on board to deliver the perfect guitar part. Without Vic I don’t think the song would have knocked Can’t Buy Me Love off the number one spot.

Although The Supremes recorded a cover version of World Without Love for their third album it’s not a McCartney track many other artists have performed or recorded. Doc Pomus (who co-wrote classics singles by The Drifters, the Searchers, Dion and several of Elvis Presley’s biggest hits) said that out of all the songs Lennon and McCartney wrote together or apart, World Without Love was his personal favourite. Maybe the song's magic comes from the combination of Vic's slick guitar and the innocence of Paul’s lyrics.

So I wait and in a while

I will see my true love smile

She may come, I know not when

When she does, I'll know, so baby, until then

Lock me away

And don't allow the day

Here inside

Where I hide

With my loneliness

I don't care what they say

I won't stay in a world without love

This text by Roberta Ann-Smith originally appeared in What Goes On?