“Humming Bird” / “Residential Area” (CBS 202584) February 1967
Herbie’s People | “Residential Area” | (CBS) 1967 Like it’s predecessor, ‘Brain Shadows Volume 2’ is once again something of a DIY affair, with a very thick card cover with art / details pasted on both sides of the LP cover.
The compilers provided an insert with details of the records and anything known at that time about the groups under the spotlight.
This is what they said about their series ‘Brain Shadows‘.
“Brain Shadows is a series dedicated to rediscover great pieces of music which never reached the popularity they deserved in their own time. For further information consult the books of Tom Tourville upon Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Chicago, North & South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.”
I bought both volumes from Funhouse Records in the early nineties and still have an enclosed letter from Malcolm Galloway confirming that my copies were both numbered 169 from the 300 pressed.
Herbie’s People | “Residential Area” | (CBS) 1967
There are several tracks on the LP worthy of attention, I’ve even got a few of the 45s used in my archives but I’ll highlight a single that I don’t have.
Herbie’s People were from Bilston, UK but somehow ended up on a garage psych album showcasing records from USA. This feat was probably because the Herbie’s People 45 got a Stateside release on the Okeh label.
Sadly, Herbie’s People didn’t break through into the mainstream pop scene despite being on a major record label, but it seems that CBS didn’t do enough if anything to break the band.
I’ve read some brief reviews in Record Mirror and Disc & Music Weekly but they weren’t that keen on the A-side “Humming Bird” and questioned it’s chances in the Charts.
The flip “Residential Area” would have been a much better number for commercial success. This mod pop beater is propelled on it’s bouncy rhythm and double tracked vocals.
The song had the potential to be even more way-out but unfortunately no fuzz or freakbeat urgency was utilised like it was on so many flip sides in Britain during late 1966 and the early months of 1967.
A great song nonetheless that doesn’t get the credit it’s due. It’s one of the stand-outs on ‘Brain Shadows’ that’s for sure.
Herbie’s People changed their name to Just William for the single “I Don’t Care” / “Cherrywood Green” and then to The Bullring for their final single “Birmingham Brass Band” / “Lady Of The Morning Sun”.
Clockwise from left: Mike Taylor, Pete Walton, Len Beddow, Danny Robinson, Alan Lacey.
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