The Tremeloes and their place in GOS History

"He (Ray) was a phenomenal talent and had some amazing songs, most of which were never recorded."

1967 was a new beginning for the Tremeloes. For the past year or so, they had been redefining themselves and now - although they didn't yet know it - they were to have the most successful period of their career, which had already seen them at the top of the charts and had given them eight years of experience to build on. But why the change? What the need to change themselves? We need to take a quick look at the circumstances, which had brought them to this important crossroads in their illustrious history.

Fronted by Singer Brian Poole, the group had enjoyed several hits since merging from the first wave of the Beat Boom in 1963 - but these were beginning to dry up. The sixties had moved on, but the image of the The Tremeloes hadn't in 1966, the still dressed on the type of suits they had been wearing since the early part of the decade. Poole was seemingly happy for this trend to continue as he had been persuaded that the way forward was in the cabaret circuit and that the age of the group was coming to an end. The rest of the band were not of this opinion and decided to update their image by dressing "trendier" and growing their hair longer - and Poole was heard to refer to their clothes as "fancy dress." They eventually parted from the front man and began recording without him, but their first solo single, a reworking of the Paul Simon song "Blessed", stiffed and their record label Decca promptly dropped them. They were without a recording contract and frontman. But on the plus side, they were highly respected, had loads of experience and were eminently professional. And their musicianship and vocal harmonies were of the highest order. Thanks to Mike Smith their original producer at Decca, who was now a staff producers at CBS, they were signed up and released their debut single for CBS in August 1966. The Lennon/McCartney Revolver classic, "Good Day Sunshine", was backed by the energetic freakbeat gem, "What A State I'm In", but despite serious amounts of radio airplay, it didn't chart. However, they decided on a vocal reshuffle, drafting in new recruit 'Chip" Hawkes to share lead vocal duties with Dave Mundan.

The band was enjoying an upturn in fortune with a new label, new look and some new blood. All they needed was a hit record, and it was to come from an unusual source. Cat Stevens has written and recorded some impressive songs but one of this less spectucular efforts - a lethargic ballad entitled "Here Comes My Baby" - was dusted off and given The Tremeloes treatment. The song was transformed into an uptempo hapopy, party song. Its catchy hook grabbed the public's attention to provide their first chart entry as The Tremeloes.

In the same week as the split from Brian Poole was formally announced, "Here Comes My Baby" c/w "Gentlemen of Pleasure" was released. It entered the British charts on February 2nd, 1967 and two weeks later, it was a Top Ten hit. Its highest placing during the disc's eleven-week chart residency was a two-week stay at number four, earning a Gold disc for sales.

The Tremeloes first solo album was released in May 1967 while "Silence Is Golden" was the top of the charts - though it strangely omitted the hit because the LP had already been completed and readied for release. HERE COME THE TREMELOES (entitled HERE COMES MY BABY in the US) was amazing their only UK hit album. It entered the British charts on June 3rd and spent seven weeks on the listings, reaching number fifteen.

The LP opened with "Here Comes My Baby" and included their other previous 45, "Good Day sunshine." On the second side was a track called "You", originally credited to "Copyright Control", but in fact an early composition by a CBS contracted writer called Ray O'Sullivan, better known as Gilbert O'Sullivan.

About Gilbert, band member, Len Hawkes said the following:

"Mike Smith brought Ray to light. He used to record his demos on an old upright piano on a shed in his back garden, and had been known to bring it in the studios and sit in on some sessions. Alan Blakley and I were stupid really. At the time we were dabbling in management and we let Ray go! He was a phenomenal talent and had some amazing songs, most of which were never recorded."

The second half of 1967 was spent touring and recording their next album. Eager to capitalize on the band's success, CBS rushed out CHIP, DAVE, LAN, RICK just six months after the first LP. It was another excellent collection, boasting another O'Sullivan called "Come On Home."

As most GOS fans know, "You" was to be twice released on CBS. First, as the b-side to "Disappear" in November of 1967 by an artist simply known as Gilbert as well as the b-side to "What Can I Do" in 1968. Gilbert never released the song "Come On Home", although demo recordings probably still exist in his own private record collection. The next artist to record a GOS composition were Tom Rush with "Come To See Me Yesterday" in 1970 and Leapy Lee with "My Advise To You" in 1971.

"What Can I Do/You/Disappear" as well as "I wish I Could Cry", "Mr. Moody's Garden" and five pre-MAM demos were released after Gilbert's number one hits, "Alone Again (Naturally)" and "Clair." The five demo songs were released in Europe as singles, EPs and as part of albums in Italy, the Netherlands and in the USA on the LP "Humble Beginnings of Gerry Dorsey and Gilbert O'Sullivan".

This Tremeloes cd can be purchased at www.101cd.com. The songs are worth adding to your GOS Collection. The above "Tremeloes history" was edited and taken from the liner notes of the cd and they were written by Martin Hutchinson.