Pam Nestor
Encyclopedia
Pam Nestor is a former singer and lyricist who was active in the entertainment industry during the 1970s.
, Guyana
, on 28 April 1948, and came to England in 1961. She auditioned for the musical Hair
in 1969 and landed a part in it. Joan Armatrading also obtained a part in the musical, and the two became friends and started writing songs together shortly afterwards, eventually recording some demo tapes, which were touted around the clubs and studios of the time. The tapes were so popular that the duo signed with London's indie Cube label in 1972, and released a collaborative album in the same year.
, represented their first recorded work. It was produced by Gus Dudgeon
and recorded at Château d'Hérouville
studios (then called Strawberry studios), in the Oise valley, near Paris
; Trident Studios
London; and Marquee Studios London; and released in 1972 by Cube Records
(HIFLY 12).
The album featured fourteen songs, eleven of which were co-written by Pam Nestor. One of them, "Visionary Mountains", was later released by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
on the album Nightingales & Bombers in 1975. The track "Alice" was released as a single later in the same year, with "All The King's Gardens" as its B-side.
Nestor appears on Whatever’s for Us as a collaborator in a role similar to Bernie Taupin
. Her song writing is concerned with social issues – for example the tracks: "My Family", "Alice", and "Gave It A Try"; and also with love, for example the tracks: "Whatever's For Us", "It Could Have Been Better", "Mister Remember Me". She does not play or sing on the album.
The label were not convinced that Nestor had star quality, and considered Armatrading to be the more likely star material and therefore released the album as a ‘Joan Armatrading’ record, and the front cover credited it to her alone. This caused friction between the two writers, and contributed to the breakup of the duo. The decision was also responsible for causing a rift between Armatrading and Cube Records.
The album drew critical acclaim but sold few copies and was not a commercial success.
She is also thought to be co-writer of one or more of thirteen songs by the Neville Brothers, quoted as being written by: Timothy Garagan, Pam Nestor, Arthur Neville, Robert Quinn and Robert Richmond. ("Bad Scene", "Confraction", "Crazy Wandering Fool", "Don't Tell Lies", "Heartbreak Woman", "Hometown Girl", "I'm Left Alone", "Instrumental," "Love Needs A Keeper", "Out Of Your Life", "Piece Of Mind", "Shine Light Shine" and "Walk In The Sunshine".)
In 1977, Pam Nestor was associated with the reggae band Merger, at the time fronted by the reggae artist Barry Ford. Merger recorded a definitive reggae album Exiles Ina Babylon on the Sun Star Label, which was released in 1977. Merger played the title track, "Exiles Ina Babylon" on an edition of The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1977, and Pam Nestor appeared with them as a backing singer. She is credited on the album notes as providing backing vocals and percussion. The band released one more album before breaking up. Exiles Ina Babylon was re-released as a CD in 2009 by Makasound, the independent French reggae label, with the album notes again crediting Pam Nestor.
In 1979 Pam Nestor released a single: "Hiding & Seeking (No More)". After leaving the band Merger, Barry Ford went to Jamaica, where he teamed up with Dennis Brown
to produce "Hiding & Seeking (No More)" for Nestor. The single was released on the Tempus Records label.
There is no record of "Hiding & Seeking (No More)" having been a commercial success, and little is known of Nestor from that date. She has kept a low profile and seems to have left the music business entirely.
In 2000, she was one of an organising team for a three-day conference at Birkbeck College, University of London, entitled The Black Gaze.
Early days
Pam Nestor was born in BerbiceBerbice
Berbice is a region along the Berbice River in Guyana, which was between 1627 and 1815 a colony of the Netherlands. After having been ceded to the United Kingdom in the latter year, it was merged with Essequibo and Demerara to form the colony of British Guiana in 1831...
, Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
, on 28 April 1948, and came to England in 1961. She auditioned for the musical Hair
Hair
Hair is a filamentous biomaterial, that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Found exclusively in mammals, hair is one of the defining characteristics of the mammalian class....
in 1969 and landed a part in it. Joan Armatrading also obtained a part in the musical, and the two became friends and started writing songs together shortly afterwards, eventually recording some demo tapes, which were touted around the clubs and studios of the time. The tapes were so popular that the duo signed with London's indie Cube label in 1972, and released a collaborative album in the same year.
Whatever’s For Us
The album, Whatever's for UsWhatever's for Us
Whatever’s for Us is an album representing the first recorded work of Joan Armatrading and Pam Nestor. It is the first album that Armatrading recorded.- Recording history :...
, represented their first recorded work. It was produced by Gus Dudgeon
Gus Dudgeon
Angus Boyd Dudgeon , most commonly known as Gus Dudgeon was an English record producer, most notable for production of many of Elton John's recordings.-Early career:...
and recorded at Château d'Hérouville
Château d'Hérouville
The Château d'Hérouville is a French château of the 18th century located in the village of Hérouville, in the Oise valley near Paris. The castle was built in 1740 by Gaudot, an architect of the school of Rome. In the 19th century, it was used as courier relay station and stabled a hundred...
studios (then called Strawberry studios), in the Oise valley, near Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
; Trident Studios
Trident Studios
Trident Studios was a British recording facility, originally located at 17 St. Anne's Court in London's Soho district. It was constructed in 1967 by Norman Sheffield a drummer of former 1960's group The Hunters and his Brother Barry....
London; and Marquee Studios London; and released in 1972 by Cube Records
Cube Records
Cube Records was launched on 26 May 1972 by independent music publisher David Platz, and was based at his UK offices for Essex Music.-History:...
(HIFLY 12).
The album featured fourteen songs, eleven of which were co-written by Pam Nestor. One of them, "Visionary Mountains", was later released by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band is a British progressive rock group formed in 1971 by Manfred Mann.-Formation:Having started in the 1960s with a British band that had such hits as "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "The Mighty Quinn", then moving on to Jazz Fusion with Manfred Mann's Chapter Three, Manfred's third...
on the album Nightingales & Bombers in 1975. The track "Alice" was released as a single later in the same year, with "All The King's Gardens" as its B-side.
Nestor appears on Whatever’s for Us as a collaborator in a role similar to Bernie Taupin
Bernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
. Her song writing is concerned with social issues – for example the tracks: "My Family", "Alice", and "Gave It A Try"; and also with love, for example the tracks: "Whatever's For Us", "It Could Have Been Better", "Mister Remember Me". She does not play or sing on the album.
The label were not convinced that Nestor had star quality, and considered Armatrading to be the more likely star material and therefore released the album as a ‘Joan Armatrading’ record, and the front cover credited it to her alone. This caused friction between the two writers, and contributed to the breakup of the duo. The decision was also responsible for causing a rift between Armatrading and Cube Records.
The album drew critical acclaim but sold few copies and was not a commercial success.
Later writing and other work
Armatrading and Nestor released a second single in late summer 1973, this time with two songs not from the album: "Lonely Lady" and "Together In Words And Music". (Cube Records, 7" single, BUG-31). Both tracks were produced by Gus Dudgeon and were later added to the Whatever's For Us album as bonus tracks on the 2001 Metro remaster. Pam Nestor is also credited with co-writing two songs from Armatrading’s 1975 album Back To the Night, the songs "Dry Land" and "Come When You Need Me", both of which have since featured on many compilations of Armatrading's songs.She is also thought to be co-writer of one or more of thirteen songs by the Neville Brothers, quoted as being written by: Timothy Garagan, Pam Nestor, Arthur Neville, Robert Quinn and Robert Richmond. ("Bad Scene", "Confraction", "Crazy Wandering Fool", "Don't Tell Lies", "Heartbreak Woman", "Hometown Girl", "I'm Left Alone", "Instrumental," "Love Needs A Keeper", "Out Of Your Life", "Piece Of Mind", "Shine Light Shine" and "Walk In The Sunshine".)
In 1977, Pam Nestor was associated with the reggae band Merger, at the time fronted by the reggae artist Barry Ford. Merger recorded a definitive reggae album Exiles Ina Babylon on the Sun Star Label, which was released in 1977. Merger played the title track, "Exiles Ina Babylon" on an edition of The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1977, and Pam Nestor appeared with them as a backing singer. She is credited on the album notes as providing backing vocals and percussion. The band released one more album before breaking up. Exiles Ina Babylon was re-released as a CD in 2009 by Makasound, the independent French reggae label, with the album notes again crediting Pam Nestor.
In 1979 Pam Nestor released a single: "Hiding & Seeking (No More)". After leaving the band Merger, Barry Ford went to Jamaica, where he teamed up with Dennis Brown
Dennis Brown
Dennis Emmanuel Brown was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock, a sub-genre of reggae...
to produce "Hiding & Seeking (No More)" for Nestor. The single was released on the Tempus Records label.
There is no record of "Hiding & Seeking (No More)" having been a commercial success, and little is known of Nestor from that date. She has kept a low profile and seems to have left the music business entirely.
In 2000, she was one of an organising team for a three-day conference at Birkbeck College, University of London, entitled The Black Gaze.
External links
- http://www.connollyco.com/discography/joan_armatrading/whatevers.html