“Moonshine Man” is my pick from the LP | Herman’s Hermits – ‘Blaze’ (MGM SE-4478) October 1967
Herman’s Hermits | Blaze | (MGM) 1967 | My copy is not the original LP on MGM, it’s the 2015 Record Store Day release, on ABKCO which sounds just great and is strangely turning around on my turntable at 45rpm. Perhaps it’s because the album is very short, running from start to finish at just under 24 minutes.
“Blaze” is the sixth album but not released in the UK during the time. EMI/Columbia, the group’s UK label, did press the LP, but for export sales only.
What we have here is nothing short of the redemption of Herman’s Hermits. Indeed, each song appears as a new surprise on this very hip and happening LP.
From the slowed-down cover of Donovan’s “Museum” to the Diddley freak-out of “Ace, King, Queen, Jack”. In between lies a world of pure British pop with just a pinch of psychedelia, the beauty of which is expertly magnified by superb string arrangements, and Mickie Most’s pleasant, understated production.
As for Peter Noone, he navigates with remarkable ease between the country rhythms of “I Call Out Her Name” and the Donovan-like mannerisms of “Moonshine Man”, even making a little Ray Davies of himself on “Green Street Green”.
The highlights of this album remain the oh-so-sweet “Busy Line”, as well as the formidably melodic “Upstairs, Downstairs”, which at first uncannily resembled the Hollies to these ears, an impression verified by the Graham Gouldman songwriting credit.
Herman’s Hermits | Blaze | (MGM) 1967
HERMAN’S HERMITS – ’Museum’/’Last Bus Home’ (MGM K13787) July 1967
British Psychedelia Unveiled Forgotten 60s singles: One of the most unlikeliest 60s groups catching the psychedelic wave must have been Herman’s Hermits.
They’re not a combo that has attracted much attention at EXPO67 HQ but I recently undertook a project to collect the more enterprising Donovan cover versions from 1965-1970 and someone suggested that I should check out ’Museum’ recorded in 1967 by the Hermits.
I must admit that I was blown away by their version. It’s a super rendition and it surely must go down as one of their finest. As far as I know ’Museum’ sank without trace (at least in England).
It appears that the song was lost on their usual teeny-bopper girl fans and of course the psych underground wouldn’t have touched the Hermits as they were considered way too uncool for them.
The flip ’Last Bus Home’ is also good and is another tune with a psychy feel, this one being a little ’Revolveresque’. The UK release had ’Moonshine Man’ on the B-Side.
Leave a Reply