Search - Herman's Hermits & Peter Noone :: Into Something Good: The Mickie Most Years 1964-72

A welcome collection which could be better

Archiver | The Heartland | 02/21/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This first fairly comprehensive compilation of the Hermits' material is welcome but is lacking in some respects, and die-hard fans will find it difficult to justify the steep price tag for the few unreleased songs included.



Other reviewers apparently do not realize that the Hermits' producer, Mickie Most, hated stereo and most of the group's songs were only issued in mono. The songs which were issued in stereo but are included here in mono are: "A Must to Avoid," "All the Things I Do for You," "Bidin' My Time" (though the mono version makes its CD debut), "Hold On!" the LP version of "Leaning on a Lamp Post," "The George and Dragon," "Where Were You When I Needed You" and "Wild Love." The shallow stereo mix of "A Must to Avoid" was perhaps wisely omitted, while the other hits simply were not issued in stereo. Disc 4 purports to contain a previously-unissued stereo mix of "Moonshine Man," but it is instead a terrible and completely unnecessary rechanneled mono mix which is rechanneled one way for the first 20 seconds of the song and then shifts to a different type of rechanneling for the rest of the track.



Also omitted are the true stereo, alternate version of "Listen People" (from the film "Where the Boys Meet the Girls") and two key mono tracks: the single version of "Leaning on a Lamp Post" and the much longer mono mix of "Ace, King, Queen, Jack." The set also does not include any of the tracks from the group's unreleased 1968 LP of cover versions which was rejected by MGM.



Seven tracks, five by the Hermits and two by Noone, are previously unissued. Of those by the group, the extended version of "My Old Dutch," with the previously excised "Show Me the Way to Go Home" coda, is interesting, and "The Colder It Gets" is a decent rocker that would have fit well on "Blaze." But "Wait for Me, Here I Come," an awkward ballad, "A Year Ago Today" with its dreadful "glory, hallelujah" chorus, and "Big Ship" (in stereo), a goofy pop song with an embarrassing brass arrangement, were wisely left in the can when they were recorded.



The Noone solo tracks are only those he recorded for Most's Rak label, so his later solo outings for Philips, Casablanca and Bus Stop are omitted. The last two of the Rak recordings included here were apparently recorded for a final, unreleased Rak single, and are worthwhile. Most of the other Rak single sides make their CD debut here, including the excellent "Because You're There," co-written by Noone with Graham Gouldman (and borrowing somewhat from Gouldman's earlier "That's How (It's Gonna Stay)," which he wrote for and recorded with his mid-'60s group, the Mockingbirds). Of course, the Hermits also recorded a number of Gouldman tunes, all included here except their cover version of "Tally Man," written by Gouldman for Jeff Beck. Recorded by the Hermits for their rejected 1968 LP, it is the one track from that LP which deserves to be part of this collection. The set also excludes the Hermits' post-Noone recordings, which are not controlled by Most.



The liner notes are skimpy and offer little insight into the group's impressive history. A much thicker booklet with a more thoughtful and thorough dissertation should have been mandatory and would have made this set a more attractive purchase for the fan who already owns most of the material.

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A Ton of Herman's Hermits

gassy goon | 09/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a huge fan of HERMAN'S HERMITS, this 4 CD set is for you! It has every song that Peter Noone and the Hermits did in the 60's through the early 70's. I had all the hits already on many other CD's, but this one has obscure songs that I was missing. It ties it all together very conveniently to have all the songs in one set. I was surprised that most of their catalog was recorded in mono. I'm puzzled why they used mono tapes. In the US, the albums were released in both stereo and mono. Too bad , as this is probably the only time that we'll see a complete Herman's Hermit's set. Where are the stereo masters? There are some stereo tracks here, mostly starting with their 1966/1967 songs, and after that. Of course, if you just want the hits, buy one of the many greatest hits CD's. This is for the collector, the ultimate completist. The group made some great records, and these songs still live on 40+ years later. Who can not like such great songs as DANDY, NO MILK TODAY, LISTEN PEOPLE, A MUST TO AVOID, and scores of other hits that they had? And their 1967 album " BLAZE " is here , a neglected near classic that has some good original songs.



The rarities are a few unreleased songs, and non-album tracks such as BIG MAN, WINGS OF LOVE and MUM AND DAD , which were on the US Best of, Volume 3. 10 of Peter Noone's solo songs after the Hermits are included , but it does not include the songs he recorded for Casablanca. Still, just finding those will cost you more than this CD probably. My other critique is that they made this set fit into a double sized jewel case. I've heard this described as a " box set " , and it is not. The record company has cut costs by having the printing so condensed into rather a short 8 page booklet that it does not befit the amount of material on here, nor the price tag. They should have spent more money on a book size cover & booklet. After all, this is the complete history of the group, and this was the time to do it, it should be done right. They shortchanged the fans and the group in this regard. It is rather skimpy and short, and it falls short. So, for amount of songs on here, it's great. BUT, they could have done a much better, more thorough job with stereo versions [ if they have them still ] and with packaging. Also, some comments from other members of the group would have made it better [ Peter Noone has some quotes that they used in the booklet and Keith Hopwood is thanked ]."

EXCELLENT TRIBUTE TO FAB SIXTIES HERMAN'S HERMITS

A. POLLOCK | PLYMOUTH, DEVON United Kingdom | 09/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Herman's Hermits were almost as successful in the UK as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones; achieving a similar breakthrough in the USA with their catalogue of happy, catchy tunes which made their impact at first hearing, aided by the group's attractive close harmony vocal style which was smoother and more compatible than their rivals. This was especially true of their chosen easy listening songs which appealed to a wider audience, although livelier elements were often at work for the youngsters. However, it has to be said their cute and mischievous Manchester UK-born front-man had much to do with supplying the feel-good factor whenever the lads appeared on television and in movies during the colourful Sixties.



According to statistics, Herman's Hermits had ten Top Ten hits with a further seven Top Twenty singles and twenty-six such exhilarating sides were recently released by EMI as THE BEST OF HERMAN'S HERMITS.



This expansive four-CD box-set also includes them, with its title number, I'M INTO SOMETHING GOOD - recently purloined by Halifax Bank for TV adverts, heading THERE'S A KIND OF HUSH, SOMETHING'S HAPPENING, SILHOUETTES and NO MILK TODAY amongst the hits squeezed within its 121 tracks and over five hours playing time. That also means inclusion of all the album and EP tracks, film soundtracks, "B" sides, and some previously unreleased performances; adding charismatic Herman's solo sides after he reverted to his real name Peter Noone - all shot through with pop fervour and added simple charm with much credit due to their record producer, Mickie Most.



This release is definitely a must for devout fans, obsessive collector's and those who relate to or were involved in the cosmic shift in the axis of popular music during the crowded world of Sixties pop.







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