Brian's Weekly Sleevenotes - 13 September 14

Although first released in 1966, this single made little impact first time round in the UK. However, it was decided to re-release it in 1969, a good decision as it climbed to number ten on the charts. Most of the group were against ever releasing the song as a single but after its success, it became their opening number for their stage shows and remains so today.

1-2-3 - Len Barry

Born in Philadelphia as Leonard Botrisoff, this became Len Barry’s first solo hit after his departure as lead singer with The Dovells. He co-wrote the song with John Medora and David White with an arrangement by Jimmy Wisner. The writers were sued by Motown records who claimed that the song was too similar to 'Ask Any Girl', written by Holland, Dozier and Holland and released on the ‘B’ side of their hit, 'Baby Love'. Although they denied the claim, a ruling was made that they gave 15% of the earnings to Holland, Dozier and Holland who have since been listed as co-writers.

Backfield In Motion - Mel & Tim

Mel and Tim were cousins Melvin McArthur Hardin and Hubert Timothy McPherson from Mississippi who travelled to Chicago where they gained a recording contract with the small Bamboo label owned by a relation of the two singers. They recorded their song, 'Backfield In Motion' that was an immediate success and became a 1969 American top ten hit selling over a million copies. In 1972 they signed to Stax where they had a further top twenty hit with 'Starting All Over Again'.

I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts of Town - Rod Stewart

In his early days, Rod was recognised as a blues and folk singer and got his break with Long John Baldry in his group, The Hoochie Coochie Men first as a harmonica player then when Baldry discovered he could sing, he took over vocals on some of their material. During this period he began pursuing a solo career and in 1964 was signed to Decca and in October, 1964 left the group. His first single, 'Good Morning Little Schoolgirl' failed to chart although the ‘B’ side, 'I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts of Town' established Rod as a future star.

Our Favourite Melodies - Craig Douglas

Became his eighth top twenty hit and was a cover of an American single by Gary Criss. It was also his fourth consecutive hit to peak at number nine on the charts. All Craig’s previous releases had been on the Top Rank label that had been purchased by EMI in 1960 but by the time 'Our Favourite Melodies' was released, the label had ceased trading and Craig was switched to Columbia for this his last release with EMI before returning to Decca where he began his recording career back in 1958.

Mashed No. 5 - B. Bumble & The Stingers

After the success of 'Nut Rocker' by B. Bumble & The Stingers, every major music copyists were busy preparing newly arranged beat adaptations of every piece of well known classical music they could bring to mind. B. Bumble and his band went on to rock up works by Rachmaninov, Rossini, Grieg and in 1962 took the first movement from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 5 and aptly named it 'Mashed No. 5'.

Galveston - Glen Campbell

Written by Jim Webb and first recorded by Hawaiian singer Don Ho as the ‘B’ side to his 1968 release, 'Has Anybody Lost A Love'. When Ho made a guest appearance on Campbell’s American TV show he gave him a copy of his record saying that he hadn’t had any luck with the song, maybe you will. The song has since been considered as the official anthem of Galveston Island and the City of Galveston, Texas and also sent the collector on a mission to find a copy of the Don Ho recording.

It's A Happening Thing - The Peanut Butter Conspiracy

The group were formed in Los Angeles in 1966 out of the folk rock act, The Ashes and were originally named The Young Swingers. It was later in the same year they were signed to Columbia as The Peanut Butter Conspiracy and this, their debut single, 'It’s A Happening Thing' was produced by Gary Usher as was their first album, 'The Peanut Butter Conspiracy Is Spreading' but included session musicians, Glen Campbell and James Burton on several of the tracks. After further releases and a move to Challenge, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers’ in 1968, the group took on a final tour before calling it a day early in the seventies.

Black Roses - Clear Light

The group’s album suffered sales and promotion wise when it was released by Elektra alongside several big named acts such as The Doors and Love but still recognised as one of the label’s classic LP’s. The group were quite unique by the fact they had two drummers, one of them being Dallas Taylor who later joined Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s backing band. This is the title track from their self titled album and it’s believed that they arrived at their name when group member Paul Rothchild spent some time zonked out high on a hilltop with Jim Morrison who turned to Paul and challenged him to a race into the ‘clear light.’

Baby Don't Go - Sonny & Cher

Sonny met Cher at a Hollywood coffee shop that was a popular meeting place for musicians. He was working for Phil Spector at the time and brought her to meet his boss who invited them both to sing backing vocals on some of his productions. He then borrowed some money to produce his own record with Cher but at the last minute, she asked him to sing with her so 'Baby Don’t Go' was recorded as a duet. Reprise bought the rights but no contracts were signed and in the meantime they signed with Atco.

Chains of Love - Esther Marrow

The late sixties saw several record labels achieving great success by moving gospel based singers into the world of R&B, the most obvious example was Aretha Franklin so when clarinet player and record producer, Bob Thiele started his Flying Dutchman label in 1969 decided he should get in on the action and sign Esther Marrow. Born in Virginia, she moved to New York in the early sixties where she acquired work as a jazz singer and in Duke Ellington booked her to tour with his orchestra around Europe and the USA singing gospel songs. Subsequently she performed with Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Belafonte and B. B. King. Esther was involved with the Flying Dutchman label from its inception and her debut album, 'Newport News Virginia' was produced by Thiele with arrangements by Gene Page and Artie Butler who scored 'Chains Of Love'.

With A Girl Like You - The Troggs

The only UK number one for the group that had previously been named The Troglodytes, and was recorded on the same session as their debut hit, 'Wild Thing'. The group were discovered by Larry Page who took them to CBS where they released one failed single before signing to Fontana where they achieved a string of hits. If you want to find out more about The Troggs, you can check out music journalist and author, Bob Stanley's blog, here.