Showing posts with label Herman's Hermits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Herman's Hermits. Show all posts

March 28, 2026

45 RPMs 104: Herman's Hermits – I'm Henry VIII, I Am

  ~    
45 RPM front cover 
    
    
In 1965, the first of February to be exact, Herman's Hermits recorded my very favorite song by them, I'm Henry VIII, I Am. It is one of the wackiest songs ever written! It's a bouncy high energy tune that roars along like a train out of control and there's some really great guitar work by Derek Leckenby.  
 
I saw the Hermits on the The Ed Sullivan Show in 1965 and thought the lead singer, Peter Noone, was the cutest thing EVER! He was an energetic 18 year old with skinny legs that rapidly bounced in and out to the beat of the tune.     
 
The song was originally a British music hall song written by Fred Murray and R. P. Weston in 1910 and recorded by Harry Champion in 1911. It is so completely different from the Hermits cover that it is a totally different song with three verses. According to one source, Champion "used to fire off [the chorus] at tremendous speed with almost desperate gusto, his face bathed in sweat and his arms and legs flying in all directions." Noone kept that part of the act in. In later versions recorded by Champion, "Willie" is changed to "William" because the former is a British slang term for "penis".          
 

I'm Henry VIII, I Am lyrics 

I'm 'Enery the Eighth, I am,
'Enery the Eighth I am, I am!
I got married to the widow next door,
She's been married seven times before
And every one was an 'Enery
She wouldn't have a Willie nor a Sam
I'm her eighth old man named 'Enery
'Enery the Eighth, I am!


Herman's Hermits ~ The End of the World 
45 RPM back cover 
 

The "B" side of the record is The End of the World which was originally recorded by Skeeter Davis, who was an American country music singer and songwriter who sang crossover pop music songs.       
 
 
 
 
Herman's Hermits ~ The End of the World 
45 RPM side 2 
 
 
                

        
Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - I'm Henry VIII, I Am, written by Murray*, Weston* - 1:49

Side 2:

B - The End Of The World, I Am, written by Kent*, Dee* - 2:57

Companies, etc.

    Published By – Miller Music
    Published By – Summit Music
    Manufactured By – Reverse Producers Corp.
    Record Company – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.
    Pressed By – MGM Record Manufacturing Division

 Credits:
 
    Producer – Mickie Most  
 
Notes:

Catalog number appears with a hyphen on the picture sleeve.
Catalog number appears without any spaces on disc labels.
Reverse Productions credit is abbreviated. on labels.

from Album E/SE 4295 "Herman's Hermits On Tour"
A Mickie Most Prod.

Mf'd by Reverse Prod. Corp.

MGM Records--a division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.
Made in U.S.A.

Barcode and Other Identifiers         

    Rights Society: ASCAP
    Matrix / Runout (Label side A): 65-XY-453
    Matrix / Runout (Label side B): 65-XY-454
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, variant 1): K13367 65XY453-3
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, variant 1): K13367 65XY454
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, variant 2): K13367 65XY453-2 4 [block S]
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, variant 2): K13367 65XY454-3 [block S]
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, variant 3): K13367 65XY453-2 [block S]
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, variant 3): K13367 65XY454-3 [block S]
 
Herman's Hermits – I'm Henry VIII, I Am / The End Of The World    MGM Records – K-13367, MGM Records – K13367
Format: Vinyl, 7", Single, 45 RPM, MGM Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1965
Genre: Pop
Style: Rock & Roll, Music Hall 
        

        
        
        
        
Viewfinder links:       
        
Harry Champion 
King Henry VIII         
Derek Leckenby         
Peter Noone         
     
Net links:       
         
Fred Murray         
R. P. Weston           
     
YouTube links:      
         
Joe Brown & The Bruvvers ~ I'm Henry the Eighth I Am            
Harry Champion ~ 
         I’m Henry VIII, I Am        
Herman's Hermits ~          
         I'm Henry VIII, I Am (Ed Sullivan Show June 6, 1965)        
         I'm Henry VIII, I Am (live August 10, 1973)        
        
      
        
         
        
        

Styrous® ~ Saturday, March 28, 2026 






      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Skeeter Davis articles/mentions

 ~        
      
     
      
      
      
     
mentions:     
Herman's Hermits ~ 
             I'm Henry the VIII, I am         
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
Skeeter Davis     
date & photographer unknown     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
 
 
 
 






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Harry Champion articles/mentions

 ~        
      
     
      
      
      
     
mentions:     
Herman's Hermits ~ 
             I'm Henry the VIII, I am         
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
Harry Champion     
date & photographer unknown     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
 
 
 
 



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Peter Noone articles/mentions

 ~        
     
      
      
      
     
mentions:     
Herman's Hermits ~ Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter      
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
Peter Noone     
date & photographer unknown     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
 
 
 
 

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King Henry VIII articles/mentions

 ~          
       
       
       
       
       
       
mentions:       
Herman's Hermits ~   
   I'm Henry the VIII, I am              
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Derek Leckenby articles/mentions

 ~        
      
     
      
      
      
     
mentions:     
Herman's Hermits ~ 
             I'm Henry the VIII, I am         
             Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter      
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
Derek Leckenby     
date & photographer unknown     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
 
 
 
 

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June 28, 2024

Herman's Hermits articles/mentions


 ~        
     
      
     
mentions:      
Peter & Gordon ~ Lady Godiva     
     
     
     
     
     
     
        
       
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
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June 21, 2024

20,000 vinyl LPs 366: Peter and Gordon ~ Lady Godiva

 ~  
Peter and Gordon  ~ Lady Godiva
vinyl LP front cover 
 cover photo by Roland Young
photo of album cover by Styrous®


Today is the birthday of Peter Asher who is an English guitarist, singer, manager and record producer. He was born on June 21, 1944, and came to prominence in the 1960s as a member of the pop music vocal duo Peter and Gordon before going on to a career as a manager and record producer, and instrumental in the recording careers of James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt among others.      
 
This is a nice album by the guys but it is not their best. However, I love this album simply for one song, Lady Godiva! It is in the style of Herman's Hermits, the  Beatles (not surprising considering their collaborations) or Harry Nilsonn, in particular, Daddy's Song, which he wrote for the film, Head, by the Monkees in which Davy Jones danced with Toni Basil (link below); it is bouncy and happy with some great instrumentation that includes an infectious banjo played by Peter Asher. 
 
 
Peter and Gordon  ~ Lady Godiva
vinyl LP back cover 
 back cover photos by Rod Dyer 
photo of album cover by Styrous®
 

Who was Lady Godiva? She is mainly remembered for a legend dating back to at least the 13th century, in which she rode naked – covered only by her long hair – through the streets of Coventry to gain a remission of the oppressive taxation that her husband, Leofric, imposed on his tenants. The name "Peeping Tom" for a voyeur originates from later versions of this legend, in which a man named Thomas watched her ride and was struck blind or dead.           
 
 
Lady Godiva by John Collier, c. 1897 
 
 
Lady Godiva was originally released as a single; it only made it to No. 16 in the UK but it became one of the duo's greatest successes in the United States, rising to No. 6 in December 1966.             
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

                            
 



   
Tracklist:
       
Side 1:
        
A1 - Lady Godiva, written by Mills*, Leander* - 2:26
A2 - The Exodus Song, written by Ernest Gold, Pat Boone - 2:57
A3 - Young And Beautiful, written by Aaron Schroeder, Abner Silver - 2:55
A4 - When I Fall In Love, written by Edward Heyman, Victor Young - 3:06
A5 - A Taste Of Honey, written by Bobby Scott, Ric Marlow - 2:35
A6 - Baby I'm Yours, written by McCoy* - 2:39
       
Side 2:
       
B1 - Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing, written by Paul Francis Webster, Sammy Fain - 2:04
B2 - Morning's Calling, written by Gordon Waller, Peter Asher - 2:51
B3 - Start Trying Someone Else, written by Gordon Waller, Peter Asher - 3:28
B4 - If I Fell, written by John Lennon-Paul McCartney* - 2:17
B5 - Till There Was You, written by Meredith Willson - 2:02
       
Companies, etc.
       
    Manufactured By – Capitol Records, Inc.
    Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Jacksonville
       
Credits:
       
    Photography By [Cover] – Roland Young (3)
    Photography By [Liner] – Rod Dyer
    Producer – John Burgess
       
Notes:
       
"New Improved Full Dimensional Stereo"

1st catalog number appears on labels, the 2nd appears on the cover

All selections are ASCAP, except A1 & B4, which are BMI
       
Barcode and Other Identifiers
       
    Rights Society: ASCAP
    Rights Society: BMI
    Matrix / Runout (Label Side A): ST-X-1-2664
    Matrix / Runout (Label Side B): ST-X-2-2664
    Matrix / Runout (Stamped Side A): ST1-2664-W1 0
    Matrix / Runout (Stamped Side B): ST2-2664-W1 0
 
Peter & Gordon – Lady Godiva
Label:    Capitol Records – ST-2664, Capitol Records – ST 2664
Format:    Vinyl, LP, Stereo, Jacksonville Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1967
Genre:    Rock
Style:    Pop Rock

         
Viewfinder links:        
        
Peter Asher         
Toni Basil           
Herman's Hermits            
Davy Jones         
Peter and Gordon         
Linda Ronstadt          
James Taylor         
Gordon Waller        
         
        
Net links:        
        
         
        
        
         
        
        
YouTube links:        
        
Lady Godiva        
        
        
         
        
        
        
Styrous® ~ Friday, June 21, 2024       
       
 
 
















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January 13, 2021

20,000 vinyl LPs 264: New Girl in Town ~ Gwen Verdon

  ~       
         
Today, January 13, is the birthday of Gwen Verdon, an actress and dancer, one of the greats of Broadway.       
 
I never actually saw her perform but I bought every vinyl LP of the shows she was in; her most famous, of course, was as Lola in Damn Yankees. But of all of them, my favorite was her show New Girl in Town.       
      
     
     
vinyl LP front cover detail 
cover design by Oscar Liebman 
detail photo by Styrous®
         
         
New Girl in Town is a musical that opened on May 14, 1957. It is based upon the  Eugene O'Neill play, Anna Christie, the story of Anna (Gwen Verdon), an ex-street walker who has returned home to her Swedish father, Chris Christopherson (Cameron Prud'homme), a retired sailor who knows nothing of her past with she, determined to forget it.        


vinyl LP front cover 
cover design by Oscar Liebman
photo by Styrous®


In addition to Gwen Verdon, veteran Broadway and film actress, Thelma Ritter was her co-star. Ritter was the recipient of a Tony Award and six nominations for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, more than any other actress in the category.         
 
 

vinyl LP front cover detail
cover design by Oscar Liebman
detail photo by Styrous®
 
 
Gwen Verdon center
New Girl in Town
photographer unknown
 
 
The basic story line is Anna (Gwen Verdon) is trying to live down her past and find love with a young sailor, Mat Burke (George Wallace), but Marthy (Thelma Ritter), the jealous common law wife of Christopherson, tries to prevent her from accomplishing that (plot link below).       


Gwen Verdon as Anna - 1957
New Girl in Town
photographer unknown


There are some great songs in the production; as with most musicals of that period the songs range from the raucous to the romantic. The music and lyrics are by Bob Merrill who went on to work on many other shows: Take Me Along with Jackie Gleason in 1959, Carnival! which is is based on the 1953 film Lili and starred Anna Maria Alberghetti, Funny Girl with Barbra Streisand and many other shows.              
 
 
vinyl LP front cover detail
cover design by Oscar Liebman
detail photo by Styrous®


The show takes place on the docks of the New York City waterfront at the beginning of the twentieth century and the music brilliantly reflects the time and local. The song, The Sunshine Girl (not to be confused by the 1968 song of the same name by Herman's Hermits), is a ragtime cakewalk complete with banjo and some great harmonizing by a quartet of men.        


Gwen Verdon center 
New Girl in Town
photographer unknown
 
 
In down-home, 1910 New York style, there are Roll Yer Socks Up, a joyous and lively tune by the dock workers, their wives, girlfriends, whatever; At The Check Apron Ball and There Ain't No Flies On Me: "When I get dressed in all my best, I win every prize, I ain't got no flies."            


vinyl LP front cover detail
cover design by Oscar Liebman
detail photo by Styrous®


In the lovely vein there is a beautiful paean of the love only a father can have for his daughter; Anna Lilla, is sung by Anna's father, Cameron Prud'homme, when she first returns home..               
 
 
New Girl in Town
production photo
photographer unknown




In the romantic vein are plenty of tunes; there is the beautiful, Did You Close Your Eyes?, sung by Gwen Verdon and George Wallace; It's Good To Be Alive sung by Verdon and Look At 'Er sung by Wallace.  
               
 


vinyl LP back cover detail 
detail photo by Styrous®


Of course there has to be the broken heart song or two; it has that If That Was Love, sung by Verdon, is a reflection on the disappointment of  a love gone sour.           


-
vinyl LP back cover detail 
detail photo by Styrous®


There has to be a fun song; there are several. The song, Flings, sung by Lulu Bates, Mara Landi and Thelma Ritter is one. "Flings is wonderful things but they've gotta be flung while young." Carol Burnett and Martha Raye did a cover of the song.       




Yer My Friend Ain'tcha? (Cameron Prud'homme and Thelma Ritter) and Ven I Valse (Verdon and Prud'homme) fit into the fun slot.                
 
 
 

vinyl LP back cover detail 
detail photo by Styrous®


Gwen Verdon was born in Culver City, California, in 1925. As a toddler, she had rickets, which left her legs so badly misshapen she was called "Gimpy" by other children and spent her early years in orthopedic boots and rigid leg braces. Her mother put the three-year-old in dance classes. Further ballet training strengthened her legs and improved her carriage.           
         

 
vinyl LP back cover detail 
detail photo by Styrous®


 
Gwen Verdon was married to Broadway theater choreographer Bob Fosse, whom she met in 1963 while he was choreographing Damn Yankees, in which she starred. 


    Damn Yankees    
photographer unknown


Verdon won four Tony Awards for her musical comedy performances, and served as an uncredited choreographer's assistant and specialty dance coach for theater and film. With flaming red hair and a quaver in her voice, she was a critically acclaimed performer on Broadway in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Having originated many roles in musicals she is also strongly identified with her second husband, director–choreographer Bob Fosse, remembered as the dancer–collaborator–muse for whom he choreographed much of his work and as the guardian of his legacy after his death.      
 
 
 
 
vinyl LP, side 1 
detail photo by Styrous®
 




 
vinyl LP, side 1 
detail photo by Styrous®
 
 
   
Tracklist:

Side 1:

A1 – Orchestra* - Overture    
A2 – H. F. Green And Chorus* - Roll Yer Socks Up    
A3 – Cameron Prud'homme - Anna Lilla    
A4 – Del Anderson, Eddie Phillips (2), Mark Dawson (6) - Sunshine Girl    
A5 – Gwen Verdon - On The Farm    
A6 – Thelma Ritter, Lulu Bates, Mara Landi - Flings    
A7 – Gwen Verdon - It's Good To Be Alive    
A8 – George Wallace* - Look At 'Er    
A9 – George Wallace* - It's Good To Be Alive (Reprise)

Side 2:

B1 – Thelma Ritter, Cameron Prud'homme - Yer My Friend Ain'tcha?    
B2 – Gwen Verdon, George Wallace* - Did You Close Your Eyes?    
B3 – Chorus* - At The Check Apron Ball    
B4 – Chorus* - There Ain't No Flies On Me    
B5 – Gwen Verdon, Cameron Prud'homme And Chorus* - Ven I Valse    
B6 – Chorus* - Sunshine Girl (Reprise)    
B7 – Gwen Verdon - If That Was Love    
B8 – Thelma Ritter And Chorus* - Chess And Checkers    
B9 – George Wallace* - Look At 'Er (Reprise)    

Companies, etc.

    Copyright (c) – RCA
    Copyright (c) – Radio Corporation Of America
    Pressed By – RCA Records Pressing Plant, Indianapolis

Credits:

    Adapted By (Text) [Book By] – George Abbott
    Arranged By [Dance Music Devised By] – Roger Adams
    Choreography [Dances & Musical Numbers Staged By] – Bob Fosse
    Cover – Oscar Liebman
    Directed By [Production] – George Abbott
    Liner Notes – Douglas Watt
    Music By, Lyrics By – Bob Merrill
    Music Consultant [Dance Music Devised By] – Roger Adams
    Music Director [Musical Direction] – Hal Hastings*
    Orchestrated By [Orchestrations By] – Philip J. Lang, Robert Russell Bennett
    Presenter – Frederick Brisson, Harold S. Prince*, Robert E. Griffith
    Set Designer [Production Designed By] – Rouben Ter-Arutunian
    Text By [Based On The Play "Anna Christie" By] – Eugene O'Neill

Notes:

 Stereo-Orthophonic High Fidelity Recording
 Living Stereo

Made in U.S.A.

Front cover: © RCA Printed in U.S.A.
 
Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Matrix / Runout (Label side A): J2PY-2227
    Matrix / Runout (Label side B): J2PY-2228
    Matrix / Runout (Runout stamped side A): J2 PY-2227-5S I A 1
    Matrix / Runout (Runout stamped side B): J2 PY-2228-5S I
 
Gwen Verdon, Thelma Ritter ‎– New Girl In Town (Original Cast Recording)
Label: RCA Victor ‎– LSO-1027
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Indianapolis Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1958
Genre: Stage & Screen
Style: Musical
 
   
         
Viewfinder links:        
         
Carol Burnett         
Bob Fosse         
Oscar Liebman         
Martha Raye       
Thelma Ritter          
Gwen Verdon        
        
Net links:        
        
Alchetron ~ Gwen Verdon         
Mark Robinson Writes ~ Broadway Blip: New Girl in Town      
Masterworks Broadway ~  Synopsis       
        
YouTube links:        
        
New Girl In Town ~        
        Ensemble ~ Roll Yer Socks Up       
        Cameron Prud'homme ~ Anna Lilla      
        Del Anderson, Mark Dawson & Eddie Phillips ~ Sunshine Girl  
        Gwen Verdon ~ On the Farm             
        Lulu Bates, Mara Landi & Thelma Ritter ~ Flings    
        Gwen Verdon ~ It's Good To Be Alive      
        George Wallace ~ Look at 'Er     
        Thelma Ritter & Cameron Prud'homme ~ Yer My Friend Ain'tcha?  
        Gwen Verdon& George Wallace ~ Did You Close Your Eyes?    
        Ensemble ~ At the Check Apron Ball     
        Ensemble ~ There Ain't No Flies on Me   
        Gwen Verdon & Cameron Prud'homme ~ Ven I Valse 
        Gwen Verdon ~ If That Was Love       
        Thelma Ritter ~ Chess and Checker s      
Carol Burnett & Martha Raye ~ Flings      
Eddie Fisher ~ Sunshine Girl       
Herman's Hermits ~ Sunshine Girl      
Bob Merrill ~ New Girl in Town documentary  
42nd Street Moon ~ New Girl In Town       
         
        
        
        
        
        
Styrous® ~ Wednesday, January 13, 2021       
       
















 
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