Herman's Hermits

More than another Herman's Hermits album with two hit songs, "Leaning on the Lamp Post" and "A Must to Avoid," this MGM soundtrack features the original version of "Where Were You When I Needed You," the first of 14 hits for the Grass Roots, which landed in the Top 30 four months after Peter Noone sang it. This version, like everything here, sounds very British Invasion, Mickey Most's production emulating early Beatles. Four of the tunes, including the title track "Hold On" and the hit "A Must to Avoid," were written by the team of Steve Barri and P.F. Sloan, the original pairing which helped launch the Grass Roots. This is the West Coast meeting the U.K. in a very pleasant way, and the combination is impressive. Five of the lesser tunes were penned by F. Kargor/B. Weisman/S. Wayne, including the best of that bunch, "Make Me Happy," sung by actress Shelley Fabares. Fabares hit with the song "Johnny Angel" in 1962, and this has that same pop feel. Credited as Shelley Fabares with Herman's Hermits, it is basically Fabares solo with the same backing musicians, presumably, that Noone utilized. Fabares was married for a time to Lou Adler, who was also involved with the Grass Roots, the forces at play creating a unique blend of pop styles for the soundtrack to this '60s film. Peter Noone injects more of that pop into "Where Were You When I Needed You," the thin guitar and boisterous backing vocals making for a great party cut, much different from the Grass Roots' hit. "Leaning on the Lamp Post" is not as strong as "A Must to Avoid," but was a genuine hit as well. No songwriter listed here, "Leaning on the Lamp Post" is credited to a songwriter named Gay on The Best of Herman's Hermits, Vol. 2, where it was reissued along with "A Must to Avoid" and the title track, "Hold On." A short but fun disc, and essential for the fans of Peter Noone. ~ Joe Viglione, Rovi