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ROCKOLLECTIONS: ‘ERMAN’S ‘ERMITS PT.2 END

Like all the British bands, Herman’s Hermits were no exception when it came to doing good old American Rock & Roll.
But these bands would put their own unique stamp on them, making them sound fresh and new.
So, I will open this episode up with the Hermits interpretation of a Rays song done here in the 50’s.
The next one I call the CPR song.
After that they had a big hit over here with a tune that was written and originally done by my man Ray Davies, with the Kinks.
I’ll be telling you how they happened to get the name Herman (in this case, something misheard).
Another Yank song by them, this one originally done by the great Sam Cooke.
Peter Noone left the group in 1971, and since has appeared on numerous sitcoms and dramas- and we’ll even throw in a mid 70’s hit he had solo.
Then I will go out with a flurry of songs to make your memory bank dizzy and will shave decades off your chronological age.
And ala Ed Sullivan, I will make you wait till the end to hear my favorite Herman’s Hermits song- and the first one we ever heard here in this country back in 1964.
All in all, a nice way to spend some of that time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Mike

Tags: 1964, American Rock & Roll, British Bands, Christmas, CPR, Denise Decker, Ed Sullivan, Engineer Ken Stanley, Herman’s Hermits, Peter Noone, Ray Davies, Sam Cooke, thanksgiving, The 50’s, the kinks, The Rays

ROCKOLLECTIONS: ‘ERMAN’S ‘ERMITS PT.1

The featured artists for this week are Herman’s Hermits, one of the early British Invasion bands that swept this country.
They were considered part of the Merseybeat Sound despite being from Manchester and not Liverpool.
These 2 parts are dedicated to a great friend of mine, Denise.
And you will hear me debating with myself just how important a group they were.
Didn’t want to tick Denise off, lol!
Ironically, the more serious songs they did were relegated to B-sides.
But there is no denying the FUN factor of their music.
The first 2 songs I will play were huge here, yet oddly not even released as singles in Britain.
While I may be a little peculiar (yeah, that’s NEW, lol!) with my selections in this Part One, by the time we get through the next episode, I guarantee I will have awakened many memory cells!
In fact, there is one here from 1965 that even I had forgotten- and listen for the Buddy Holly hiccup in it.
Although many critics dismissed them, they had players like Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones sitting in on their sessions.
So what if they weren’t the Beatles, Stones or Dylan.
Like I say, they were, and are, a FUN listen.
Enjoy!

Mike

Tags: B-Sides, Beatles, Britain, British Invasion Bands, Buddy Holly Hiccup, Denise Decker, Dylan, Engineer Ken Stanley, Herman’s Hermits, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Led Zeppelin, Liverpool, Manchester, Merseybeat Sound, Stones

ROCKOLLECTIONS: CALLING ALL ANGELS PT.2

Around 2000-2001, I visited Angel out in Pennsylvania.
I brought with me a movie I thought she would like- City Of Angels.
It had nothing to do with her name, it was just that after going together for a long time, I kind of knew what she might like (I wasn’t always correct, lol!).
She flipped over the movie, bought it and watched it many times.
However, I knew it was based on a German movie, directed by Wim Wenders, called Wings Of Desire, but I hadn’t seen it at that time.
Well, to me, now that I have, there is no comparison.
The Wenders film is in black & white, is much darker in mood, and has subtitles except when Peter Falk is speaking.
It is far superior- although that’s just my opinion.
So, I thought I would open this chapter up with my favorite scene from the movie- of course it is with Peter Falk and in English.
What he says about living as a human is so simple and beautiful- just a wonderful moment captured on film.
A COMPANERO!
And this will not be our last trip to the movies for Angels.
As for the rest of this episode, I think I will say nothing and just let you listen to the directions we will go in.
However, I do want to thank a dear friend, Denise Decker, for making me listen closer to a beautiful song from the City Of Angels soundtrack I might have overlooked.
And one other thing, I will bring us to this halfway point with a song that has taken on a new meaning for me.
You will understand what I mean.
Many more Angels to come in the next 2 installments.

Mike

Tags: City Of Angels, Companero, Denise Decker, Peter Falk, Wim Wenders, Wings Of Desire