Herman's Hermits
Gli Herman's Hermits sono stati un gruppo musicale inglese in auge negli anni sessanta.
Storia
Specializzata nella musica beat, nel pop e nel rock and roll, la band si era formata a Manchester nel 1964.Nel 1965 il singolo Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter raggiunge la prima posizione nella Billboard Hot 100 per tre settimane ed in Canada ed il singolo I'm Henry VIII, I Am riporta il gruppo in prima posizione nella Billboard Hot 100.
Hanno fatto parte della cosiddetta british invasion e si sciolsero una prima volta nel 1967, per tornare a suonare insieme nel 1970. Soltanto un anno dopo si sono però sciolti definitivamente.
Il loro più grande singolo di successo è stato il brano I'm Into Something Good (scritta da Gerry Goffin e Carole King) che nel 1964 raggiunse la prima posizione nelle classifiche di vendita in Gran Bretagna. Ottenne molto successo anche in altri paesi fu inserito nella colonna sonora del film Una pallottola spuntata.
Il cantante Peter Noone (Herman) è stato un grande amico di John Lennon, dei Beatles.
Formazione originale
- Peter Noone (1947,voci,chitarra,tastiera)
- Karl Green (1947,voci,basso)
- Keith Hopwood (1946,voci,chitarra)
- Derek Leckenby (1945-1994,voci,chitarra)
- Barry Whitwam (1946,batteria)
Discografia
- Herman's Hermits (1965), EMI/Columbia 33SX 1727
- When the Boys Meet the Girls (Original Soundtrack) (1965), MGM C/CS-8006
- Both Sides of Herman's Hermits (1966), EMI/Columbia SX 6084
- There's a Kind of Hush All Over the World (1967), EMI/Columbia SX/SCX 6174
- Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter (1968), EMI/Columbia SX/SCX 6303
- The Best of Herman's Hermits (1969), EMI/Columbia SX 6332
- The Most of Herman's Hermits (1971), EMI/Music For Pleasure MFP 5216
- The Most of Herman's Hermits Volume 2 (1972), EMI/Music For Pleasure MFP 50008
- Herman's Hermits' Greatest Hits (1977), K-Tel NE 1001
- The Very Best of Herman's Hermits (1984), EMI/Music For Pleasure MFP 41 5685 1
Photo
of Herman's Hermits from a 1968 performance at the Ohio State Fair. The
fair concert was broadcast on NBC as a television special "In
Concert:With Herman's Hermits".
Originally called Herman & The Hermits, they were discovered by Harvey Lisberg, who signed them up to management. Lisberg sent a return plane ticket to Mickie Most so that he could come up from London to see the band play in Bolton. Most became the group's record producer, controlling the band's output. He emphasised a simple, non-threatening, clean-cut image, although the band originally played R&B numbers. This helped Herman's Hermits become hugely successful in the mid-1960s.
Their first hit was a cover of Earl-Jean's "I'm into Something Good" (written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King), which reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 13 in the US in late 1964. They never topped the British charts again, but had two US Billboard Hot 100 No.1s with "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" (originally sung by Tom Courtenay in a 1963 British TV play) and "I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am" (a British music hall song by Harry Champion dating from 1911, which singer Peter Noone's Irish grandfather had been in the habit of singing when Noone was young). These songs were aimed at a US fan base, with Noone exaggerating his Mancunian accent.
In the US, their records were released on the MGM label, a company which often featured musical performers they had signed to record deals in films. The Hermits appeared in several MGM movies, including When the Boys Meet the Girls (1965) and Hold On! (1966). They also starred in the film Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter (1968) and appeared in the 1965 anthology film Pop Gear.
Herman's Hermits had four Top 3 hits in the US in 1965, with the aforementioned No. 1 hits and "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" (US No. 2). They recorded The Rays' "Silhouettes" (US No. 5), Sam Cooke's "Wonderful World" (US No. 4), "Just a Little Bit Better" (US No. 7), and "A Must to Avoid" (US No. 8) in 1965; "Listen People" (US No. 3), George Formby's "Leaning on a Lamp Post" from Me and My Girl (US No. 9), and the Ray Davies song "Dandy" (US No. 5) in 1966; and "There's a Kind of Hush" (US No. 4) in 1967. On Chicago radio station WLS "Mrs. Brown" and "Silhouettes" were 1–2 on 14 May 1965 and exchanged positions the next week, a distinction matched only by The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You" during 14 February–6 March 1964.
The group appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show and The Jackie Gleason Show. Continued success in the US proved elusive beyond 1967, although they had as many Top Ten hits in Britain in the period 1967 through 1970 as they had had there in the years of the mid-'sixties when the band were wowing American audiences and British audiences seemed more diffident. By the time the group recorded their final album of the 1960s, Rock 'n' Roll Party, the band's success in the US was history and the album was not released by MGM there. Peter Noone left the band in 1971. Herman's Hermits reunited in 1973 to headline a successful British invasion tour of the US culminating with a standing-room-only performance at Madison Square Garden and an appearance on The Midnight Special. A later lineup with lead guitarist Derek Leckenby and drummer Barry Whitwam as the remaining original members opened for The Monkees on their 80s reunion tours of the US. The band still continues to tour today, with Whitwam as the only remaining member from the original lineup.
History
1963–1971
Herman's Hermits was formed from two different local bands. Keith Hopwood (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Karl Green (lead guitar, backing vocals), Alan Wrigley (bass), Steve Titterington (drums) and Peter Noone (lead vocals) came from the Heartbeats. The second-youngest member of a young group (four months older than Karl Green), 15-year-old Noone was already an experienced actor on the popular British TV soap opera, Coronation Street. Derek "Lek" Leckenby (lead guitar) and Barry Whitwam (drums) (born Jan Barry Whitwam) joined later from another local group, the Wailers. Whitwam replaced Titterington on drums, Green switched to bass guitar (replacing Wrigley), and Leckenby took over for Green as lead guitarist. After Leckenby joined the band, the group made a deal with producer Mickie Most and signed with EMI's Columbia label in Europe and MGM Records in the United States.The band's name came from a resemblance, noted by a publican in Manchester, England, between Noone and Sherman in the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon. Sherman was shortened to Herman, and then became Herman and his Hermits, which was soon shortened to Herman's Hermits. The band played on most of its singles, including "I'm into Something Good", "Listen People", "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat", "Leaning on a Lamp Post", "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter", "A Must to Avoid", "You Won't Be Leaving", and "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" (the last said at the time to be "the fastest-selling song in history"). Leckenby soloed on "Henry", and Hopwood played rhythm guitar on "Mrs. Brown".
Despite the group's competent musicianship, some subsequent singles employed session musicians – including Big Jim Sullivan, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Vic Flick and Bobby Graham – with contributions from the band, although the role of session players on Herman's Hermits records has been exaggerated in the rock media[citation needed] and in liner notes on their ABKCO Records Retrospective (which does not credit the Hermits' playing). Mickie Most used session musicians on many records he produced — this was industry practice at the time. Even such respected groups as The Yardbirds were required by Most to use session musicians (except Jimmy Page) on their Most-produced recordings.
Continuing acrimony between former members of Herman's Hermits has increased the amount of misinformation about the group's role on their records; the late Derek Leckenby, in particular, was a skilled guitarist.[citation needed] Mickie Most commented on the VH1 My Generation: Herman's Hermits episode that the Hermits "played on a lot of their records, and some they didn't." The group played on all their US and UK No.1 hits ("I'm into Something Good", "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter", and "I'm Henry VIII, I Am"), on most of their Top Ten US singles, on a number of other singles and most album cuts. According to Peter Noone, Leckenby played the muted lead on "This Door Swings Both Ways". The riff in "Silhouettes" has been variously credited to Jimmy Page, Big Jim Sullivan and Vic Flick; however, according to Keith Hopwood and Karl Green, Leckenby replaced Flick in the studio and played the signature riff under Most's direction. According to Hopwood, Green and Noone, Jimmy Page played on the single "Wonderful World" (although Big Jim Sullivan lists the song as part of a session he played); both may have added to the backing track. Several writers have claimed that session players played on "I'm into Something Good"; according to the surviving band members, the song was recorded on a two-track recorder, with only a piano player in addition to the Hermits.
Karl Green has noted that he preferred harder rock, but was grateful for the hand he was dealt. The band's singles were written by some of the top songwriters of the day, but Noone, Leckenby, Hopwood and Green contributed lesser-known songs such as "My Reservation's Been Confirmed", "Take Love, Get Love", "Marcel's", "For Love", "Tell Me Baby", "Busy Line", Moon Shine Man", "I Know Why" and "Gaslight Street". "I Know Why" enjoyed a limited "A"-side release.
The group was nominated for two Grammy awards in 1965 for "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter". According to Noone and Hopwood, the song was recorded as an afterthought in two takes – using two microphones, with Hopwood on guitar, Green on bass guitar and Whitwam on drums. Noone and the band deliberately emphasised their English accents on the record, never intended to be a single. Hopwood recalls playing a Gretsch Country Gentleman guitar in the studio, with its strings muted to create the distinctive sound. When playing the song live, Hopwood often used a Rickenbacker guitar with a rag under the bridge to duplicate the sound, which can be seen clearly in old performance clips.
Ray Davies of The Kinks wrote "Dandy" – a 1966 US Top Five hit for Herman's Hermits. Graham Gouldman wrote "No Milk Today", Herman's Hermits first UK Top Ten hit in over a year in late 1966, backed with "My Reservation's Been Confirmed".
For the US release of "No Milk Today" in 1967, MGM backed it with "There's A Kind of Hush". Even though MGM put it on the B-Side, American radio stations realized "There's A Kind of Hush" was the Herman's Hermits style US audiences preferred, and it became the "hit" side, climbing to No. 4, though "No Milk Today" was also played on many radio stations and reached No. 35.
The 1967 album Blaze received critical acclaim,[citation needed] but barely made the Top 100 in the US and was not released in the UK. Highlights according to some included original songs by Leckenby, Whitwam, Hopwood, Green and Noone, including "Ace King Queen Jack" and the psychedelic "Moon Shine Man".
1971–present
When Noone left the group in 1971, the Hermits continued on, first with singer Pete Cowap. They signed with RCA Records in the UK and, as "The Hermits", recorded two singles at Strawberry Studios and an unreleased album (under the name "Sour Mash") produced by Eric Stewart. They subsequently cut singles for Buddah, Private Stock and Roulette, with little success. After a short-lived reunion with Noone, Whitwam, Leckenby and Green (who took over lead vocals until he retired in 1980) continued to tour with newer members, including Rod Gerrard (formerly with Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders and Salford Jets).[citation needed]Hopwood and Leckenby eventually started a music company, Pluto Music, which is still in business as of 2011 working primarily on commercial and animation soundtracks. Hopwood has since become a composer of scores for film and television. Green has become a manager of sound systems for concert venues along London's South Bank.
Leckenby died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 1994, leaving Whitwam as the only original member of the band. The band's current lineup consists of Whitwam, lead singer and bassist Geoff Foot, guitarist Paul Cornwell, and keyboardist Tony Hancox. Noone continues to play solo shows billed as "Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone". Legal disputes between Whitwam and Noone have forced the former to rename the band "Herman's Hermits starring Barry Whitwam" when they tour in North America, but they remain billed as "Herman's Hermits" worldwide.
In March 2015, the German label "Bear Family" released a two-CD "50th Anniversary" set containing 66 of their most significant recordings. 59 of them are in first-time-ever stereo, mixed by Ron Furmanek, a well-known CD reissue producer.[citation needed]
Discography
- 1965 — Herman's Hermits
- 1965 — Herman's Hermits on Tour
- 1966 — Hold On!
- 1966 — Both Sides of Herman's Hermits
- 1967 — There's a Kind of Hush All over the World
- 1967 — Blaze
- 1968 — Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter
- 1986 — Classic Collection
- 1991 — Live, in Salem, Oregon
Filmography
- 1965 — When the Boys Meet the Girls
- 1966 — Hold On!
- 1968 — Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter
Band members
Original members are listed in bold.- Current members
- Barry Whitwam – drums (1964–present)
- Geoff Foot – lead vocals, bass (1980–present)
- Paul Cornwell - lead guitar, backing vocals (2013–present)
- Tony Hancox – keyboards, backing vocals (2017–present)
- Former members
- Peter Noone – lead vocals (1964–1971, 1973)
- Derek Leckenby – lead guitar (1964–1994; died 1994)
- Keith Hopwood – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1964–1972)
- Karl Green – bass, backing and lead vocals (1964–1980)
- Pete Cowap – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1971–1972; died 1997)
- John Gaughan – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1972–1975)
- Frank Renshaw – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1975-1982)
- Rod Gerrard – guitar, vocals (1986-1995)
- Eddy Carter - lead guitar, backing vocals (1994-2013)
- Kevan Lingard – keyboards, backing vocals (2006–2016)
- Paul Robinson – keyboards, backing vocals (2016–2017)
Herman's Hermits circa 1965.
Testo
Woke up this mornin' feelin' fine
There's somethin' special on my mind
Last night I met a new girl in the neighbourhood, whoa yeah
Somethin' tells me I'm into something good (Somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
There's somethin' special on my mind
Last night I met a new girl in the neighbourhood, whoa yeah
Somethin' tells me I'm into something good (Somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
She's the kind of girl who's not too shy
And I can tell I'm her kind of guy
She danced close to me like I hoped she would (she danced with me like I hoped she would)
Somethin' tells me I'm into something good (Somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
And I can tell I'm her kind of guy
She danced close to me like I hoped she would (she danced with me like I hoped she would)
Somethin' tells me I'm into something good (Somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
We only danced for a minute or two
But then she stuck close to me the whole night through
Can I be fallin' in love
She's everthing I've been dreamin' of
She's everthing I've been dreamin' of
But then she stuck close to me the whole night through
Can I be fallin' in love
She's everthing I've been dreamin' of
She's everthing I've been dreamin' of
I walked her home and she held my hand
I knew it couldn't be just a one-night stand
So I asked to see her next week and she told me I could
(I asked to see her and she told me I could)
Somethin' tells me I'm into something good (somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
(Somethin' tells me I'm into somethin', ahhh)
I knew it couldn't be just a one-night stand
So I asked to see her next week and she told me I could
(I asked to see her and she told me I could)
Somethin' tells me I'm into something good (somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
(Somethin' tells me I'm into somethin', ahhh)
I walked her home and she held my hand
I knew it couldn't be just a one-night stand
So I asked to see her next week and she told me I could
(I asked to see her and she told me I could)
Somethin' tells me I'm into something good (somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
Somethin' tells me I'm into something good (somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
To something good, oh yeah, something good (somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
To something good, something good, something good
I knew it couldn't be just a one-night stand
So I asked to see her next week and she told me I could
(I asked to see her and she told me I could)
Somethin' tells me I'm into something good (somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
Somethin' tells me I'm into something good (somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
To something good, oh yeah, something good (somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
To something good, something good, something good
Compositori: Carole King / Gerry Goffin
Testo di I'm Into Something Good © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Trade ad for Herman's Hermits' single "I'm Henry the VIII, I Am".
Hermans Hermits - Cant You Hear My Heartbeat (1965) - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9keoxorV-ZI
Photo of Herman's Hermits from a 1967 CBS television special on rock music.
Hermans Hermits - Mrs. Brown you've got a lovely daughter 1965 ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv8k0VI9tBc
Testo
Mrs. Brown you've got a lovely daughter
Girls as sharp as her are somethin' rare
But it's sad, she doesn't love me now
She's made it clear enough it ain't no good to pine
Girls as sharp as her are somethin' rare
But it's sad, she doesn't love me now
She's made it clear enough it ain't no good to pine
She wants to return those things I bought her
Tell her she can keep them just the same
Things have changed, she doesn't love me now
She's made it clear enough it ain't no good to pine
Tell her she can keep them just the same
Things have changed, she doesn't love me now
She's made it clear enough it ain't no good to pine
Walkin' about, even in a crowd, well
You'll pick her out, makes a bloke feel so proud
You'll pick her out, makes a bloke feel so proud
If she finds that I've been round to see you (round to see you)
Tell her that I'm well and feelin' fine (feelin' fine)
Don't let on, don't say she broke my heart
I'd go down on my knees but it's no good to pine
Tell her that I'm well and feelin' fine (feelin' fine)
Don't let on, don't say she broke my heart
I'd go down on my knees but it's no good to pine
Walkin' about, even in a crowd, well
You'll pick her out, makes a bloke feel so proud
You'll pick her out, makes a bloke feel so proud
If she finds that I've been round to see you (round to see you)
Tell her that I'm well and feelin' fine (feelin' fine)
Don't let on, don't say she broke my heart
I'd go down on my knees but it's no good to pine
Tell her that I'm well and feelin' fine (feelin' fine)
Don't let on, don't say she broke my heart
I'd go down on my knees but it's no good to pine
Mrs. Brown you've got a lovely daughter (lovely daughter)
Mrs. Brown you've got a lovely daughter (lovely daughter)
Mrs. Brown you've got a lovely daughter (lovely daughter)
Mrs. Brown you've got a lovely daughter (lovely daughter)
Mrs. Brown you've got a lovely daughter (lovely daughter)
Mrs. Brown you've got a lovely daughter (lovely daughter)
Mrs. Brown you've got a lovely daughter (lovely daughter)
Compositori: Trevor Peacock
Testo di Mrs Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits)
in a dairy company in Hilversum (the Netherlands), after the handing
over of a gold record because of record sales of the single No milk today (Dec. 1966)
Herman's Hermits - Listen People (HQ) - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss4jYTd8KUo
Testo
Listen people to what I say
I say everybody's got to have their day
I say everybody's got to have their day
And don't you know that
Everybody's got to love somebody sometime
Everybody's got to win a heart
Everybody's got to love somebody sometime
When you do, I hope you never part
Everybody's got to love somebody sometime
Everybody's got to win a heart
Everybody's got to love somebody sometime
When you do, I hope you never part
I once found love, found love just like you
But then he came, he might come to you
But then he came, he might come to you
And don't you know that
Everybody's got to lose somebody sometime
But everybody can part
Everybody's got to lose somebody sometime
So take care that you don't lose your heart
Everybody's got to lose somebody sometime
But everybody can part
Everybody's got to lose somebody sometime
So take care that you don't lose your heart
Take my advice and you'll always find
You'll be happy all of the time
Take my advice and you will see
You'll be happy as you can be
You'll be happy all of the time
Take my advice and you will see
You'll be happy as you can be
Listen people to what I say
I say everybody's got to have their day
I say everybody's got to have their day
And don't you know that
Everybody's got to love somebody sometime
Everybody's got to win a heart
Everybody's got to love somebody sometime
When you do, I hope you never part
You never part
Listen people
Listen people
Everybody's got to love somebody sometime
Everybody's got to win a heart
Everybody's got to love somebody sometime
When you do, I hope you never part
You never part
Listen people
Listen people
Compositori: Ernestine Madison / Frank Wilson / Frank Edward Wilson
Testo di Listen People © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
Testo
No milk today my love is gone away
The bottle stands forlorn a symbol of the dawn
No milk today it seems a common sight
But people passing by don't know the reason why
The bottle stands forlorn a symbol of the dawn
No milk today it seems a common sight
But people passing by don't know the reason why
How could they know just what this message means
The end of all my hopes the end of all my dreams
How could they know a palace there had been
Behind the door where my love reigned as queen
No milk today it wasn't always so
The company was gay we turn'd night into day
The end of all my hopes the end of all my dreams
How could they know a palace there had been
Behind the door where my love reigned as queen
No milk today it wasn't always so
The company was gay we turn'd night into day
But all that's left is a place dark and lonely
A terraced house in a mean street back of town
Becomes a shrine when I think of you only
Just two up to down
A terraced house in a mean street back of town
Becomes a shrine when I think of you only
Just two up to down
No milk today it wasn't always so
The company was gay we turn'd night into day
As music played the faster did we dance
We felt it both at once the start of our romance
The company was gay we turn'd night into day
As music played the faster did we dance
We felt it both at once the start of our romance
How could they know just what this message means
The end of all my hopes the end of all my dreams
How could they know a palace there had been
Behind the door where my love reigned as queen
No milk today my love is gone away
The bottle stands forlorn a symbol of the dawn
The end of all my hopes the end of all my dreams
How could they know a palace there had been
Behind the door where my love reigned as queen
No milk today my love is gone away
The bottle stands forlorn a symbol of the dawn
But all that's left is a place dark and lonely
A terraced house in a mean street back of town
Becomes a shrine when I think of you only
Just two up to down
A terraced house in a mean street back of town
Becomes a shrine when I think of you only
Just two up to down
No milk today my love is gone away
The bottle stands forlorn a symbol of the dawn
No milk today it seems a common sight
But people passing by don't know the reason why
The bottle stands forlorn a symbol of the dawn
No milk today it seems a common sight
But people passing by don't know the reason why
How could they know just what this message means
The end of all my hopes the end of all my dreams
How could they know a palace there had been
Behind the door where my love reigned as queen
No milk today it wasn't always so
The company was gay we turn'd night into day
The end of all my hopes the end of all my dreams
How could they know a palace there had been
Behind the door where my love reigned as queen
No milk today it wasn't always so
The company was gay we turn'd night into day
But all that's left is a place dark and lonely
A terraced house in a mean street back of town
All that's left is a place dark and lonely
A terraced house in a mean street back of town
A terraced house in a mean street back of town
All that's left is a place dark and lonely
A terraced house in a mean street back of town
But all that's left is a place dark and lonely
A terraced house in a mean street back of town
A terraced house in a mean street back of town
Compositori: Graham Gouldman
Testo di No Milk Today © Schubert Music Publishing Inc.
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