A Repackaging of the Hermits' First Two U.S. LPs
Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 04/13/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In 1965 the only group to chart more singles than Herman's Hermits were the Beatles. The Hermits placed six songs in the Top Ten: "Can't You Hear My Heart Beat" (No. 2), "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" (No. 1), "Silhouettes" (No. 5), "Wonderful World" (No. 4), "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" (No. 1) and "Just a Little Bit Better" (No. 7). And they're all here--along with their debut single from 1964, "I'm Into Something Good." Essentially this is a repackaging of the Hermits' first two U.S. albums Introducing Herman's Hermits and Herman's Hermits On Tour. [Note: "Kansas City Loving" from their debut is missing, but it does show up on Repertoire's Both Sides of Herman's Hermits which essentially repackages the Hermits' third and fourth album. I know, it doesn't make sense to me either!]This is lightweight pop to be sure, but remember that when they released their first single Peter Noone was only 16 and all of the Hermits were still in their teens. [Although there are conflicting birth dates for the late Derek Leckenby. On the original album notes his birth date is listed as 5-14-43; the Rolling Stone Encyclopedia and the All-Music Guide list the birth date as 1945 and the reference book Rock Movers & Shakers lists it as 1946.] Introducing Herman's Hermits was one of the first five albums I ever bought and I was thrilled to be able to get it on CD. I only wish the original artwork from the U.S. albums had been used, like with Capitol's two-fer reissues of the Beach Boys. It should also be noted that although the Hermit's enjoyed chart success in the UK ("I'm Into Something Good" went to No. 1 in 1964), they had two albums released in the U.S. before they released an LP in Britain!While I enjoyed EMI's excellent 25-track anthology The Very Best of Herman's Hermits, this Repertoire release gives you not only seven of their biggest hits, but album tracks too. You get wonderful covers of Buddy Holly's "Heartbeat," Skeeter Davis' "The End of the World," Frankie Ford's "Sea Cruise," the G-Clefs' "I Understand" and Ernie K-Doe's "Mother-In-Law." Sure, the Hermits were infrequently used in the studio, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying these pop gems from the early days of the British Invasion. RECOMMENDED"
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1