Search - Herman's Hermits :: Hermhits

Three Missing Songs Keep This From Being Perfect

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 05/06/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A thorough overview of Herman's Hermits run of 18 Top 40 hits in the Sixties has been long overdue. EMI's 1997 import "The Very Best of Herman's Hermits" with 25 tracks came close, but it failed to include "Leaning on a Lamp Post" and "Don't Go Out into the Rain (You're Going to Melt)." Both of those tracks are included here, but they leave off "This Door Swings Both Ways" and "East West." So what you have here is a very solid, but still incomplete collection of one of the era's most infectious singles bands.This release also differs from the EMI anthology in another significant way. The EMI anthology covered 1964-1970, which meant you got several post-1968 singles that charted only in the UK. "Hermhits" covers only the band's peak years of popularity in the US: 1964-1968. So unlike the EMI release, this one is geared more toward the band's American fans. Songs included here not found on the EMI album include three cover songs from their debut ("I Understand," "The End of the World" and "Sea Cruise"), two songs from the soundtrack LP "Hold On!" ("Leaning on a Lamp Post" and "Hold On") and one track from their last studio album (the No. 18 single "Don't Go Out into the Rain (You're Going to Melt"). [Note: That final album--1967's "Blaze"--is currently available as an import on Germany's Repertoire label with 12 bonus tracks, including "Something is Happening."]What is missing from both the EMI and Akarma collections is the Donovan-penned "Museum" (No. 39, 1967); it was their next to last US single. [To get that song, you'll have to purchase the 2001 import reissue of "Blaze" mentioned above. It's also the band's strongest studio album.]As a teenager in the Sixties, I was a big fan of the Hermits. In fact, one of the first albums I ever bought was their debut, "Introducing Herman's Hermits"--and six of these songs are taken from that album. Songs are not presented in chronological order, but that's not a real problem. What is a problem is that this set is three songs short of having all of their hits. Bottom line: the perfect Herman's Hermits anthology is still waiting to be released, but this one is a pretty good substitute in the meantime. RECOMMENDED"

Hermits with tailor-made Italian sleeve!

Olaf Owre | Finnsnes, Norway | 08/13/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This Italian CD compilation can make you feel nostalgic for more reasons than one. Firstly it comes with a deluxe cardboard gatefold «mini-LP» sleeve that almost in itself can bring you back to the 60's and the good, old 12" vinyl album era! The colorful psychedelic pop art sleeve design is a real beauty, and a 20-page booklet with lyrics, discography and a biography (albeit brief and flawed) is also included. Secondly the CD contains 20 original tracks by the group - an excellent selection of the group's most popular American hits from 1964-68, spiced with a few album tracks. What is a bit peculiar is that these are exactly the same 20 songs that the Hermits minus Herman re-recorded in 1976 with Karl Green on lead vocals. Recordings which have later been released without the Hermits' consent by a variety of labels around the world, mostly licensed from San Juan Music Group, Indigo Music or Music City Associates. According to the sleeve the tracks on this Italian CD are also licensed from San Juan Music Group, New Jersey, USA, so when I bought this CD I was sure it contained the re-recordings from 1976. But to my surprise I got the original versions! The only thing is that the US release rights to the original recordings from the 60's are owned by ABKCO Records, NY, which makes the whole story around this release a bit puzzling. Anyway, if you like Herman's Hermits, this 20-track CD is not a bad choice, and the unique sleeve is another incentive to buy this one."