Wow! I never knew this version! Sweet!! Always loved the song (herman's hermits) .. a feel-good song. But I *love* this version. Great stuff! The girl-bands from 50's-60's were absolutely great and never fail to please. Good ole romantic stuff - love it!
Heard it by Hermans Hermits when I was about 8; knew it was a great song but not necessarily a great record; this covers both bases and only heard this version at about 28 - this is THE version
Earl-jean got sick of life on the road & was v nervous bout going on stage so in '65 quit & went back into Church. She, older sis Darlene, Dorothy Jones & Margaret Ross were re-united in '97 as guests on WFUV's Group Harmonies Review
....always preferred this version of the tune over the Hermits' - it disappeared from the charts as soon as the 2nd version was released....a sweet, innocent song about teenage attraction - involving hand-holding only on the first meeting... YES PEOPLE!!
I somehow like *this* original version by Earl-Jean even better than Herman's Hermits' later one. In fact, I'm getting a Seeburg jukebox restored and found a near flawless copy of this original Colpix pressing at a record show last spring. I'm going to put this one in the juke once it's ready (I already made up the title slip on my computer)!
On this day in 1962 {December 21st} the Cookies performed "Chains" on the late Dick Clark's 'American Bandstand'... One month earlier on November 10th it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked at #17 and spent 12 weeks on the Top 100... The very day of their appearance on Bandstand they entered the Top 100 as back-up singers on Neil Sedaka's "Bad Girl"... Group member Earl-Jean charted with "I'm Into Somethin' Good" in 1964... R.I.P. Mr. Clark {1929 - 2012}...
Earl-Jean was Earl-Jean McCrae, lead singer of The Cookies, who had such big hits as "Chains" and "Don't Say Nothin' Bad About My Baby." This version went to No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100, several months before Herman's Hermits had an even-bigger hit with the same song. But in my opinion, Earl-Jean's version is better.
Despite the critics, I agree entirely with you. This was the original and best version, played a lot on pirate radio in 1964. The Herman's Hermits version was weak, insipid and cashed in on the Liverpool connection. And yes, it didn't make the gender switch because it was very obviously written for a girl. I wish you peace and well-being.
I totally agree with splendorella's comments below: except I NOW hearing this for the first time (at least that I can remember) from the box set "One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost and Found" for at least 3 years now. And Herman's Hermits' cover was a huge hit (first one in the USA breakout, I believe), unlike this original Goffin-King penned tune's original; but they DID copy note for note this wonderful arrangement (substituting the guitar for the piano on the instrumental middle break)! Yeah, folks, THIS one is Liked 69 to zero by You-tubers, the first shutout I've ever seen on this website, or any!You GO, girl groups!
You're welcome. I suppose the saving grace is that if contemporary artists didn't murder these marvelous tunes and give them a wider exposure we might never have found the originals. Check out 'Walk Right In' by Gus Cannons Jug Stompers .
@rodgergovea Also, Gene McDaniels, "A Hundred Pounds of Clay", and Lady Antebellum, "Something 'Bout a Woman", and Eddie Hodges "Girls, Girls, Girls (Made to Love)".
@rodgergovea "I mean, what male would worry that something was a one-night stand?" Lots of males. Some males actually *do* care about romance. E.g., check out Bobby Darin, "Dream Lover". Or, for example, Norman Fox and the Rob Roys, "Pizza Pie", which includes this: "Well I got a chick I really dig / I'm gonna love her all my life. / I'm gonna take her home and marry her / And keep her for a wife".
Herman's Hermits' cover of this song is much worse than this original. Among other things, this song was written for a female, and HH did a lame gender-switch on the lyrics. I mean, what male would worry that something was a one-night stand?
I still have my original 45 of this. Play it all the time! A great tune.
I remember this as the "better" version as I heard it before Herman's Hermits, and a more Mod version, which was crucial in the heady summer of 1964.
Wow! I never knew this version! Sweet!! Always loved the song (herman's hermits) .. a feel-good song. But I *love* this version. Great stuff! The girl-bands from 50's-60's were absolutely great and never fail to please. Good ole romantic stuff - love it!
Heard it by Hermans Hermits when I was about 8; knew it was a great song but not necessarily a great record; this covers both bases and only heard this version at about 28 - this is THE version
Earl-jean got sick of life on the road & was v nervous bout going on stage so in '65 quit & went back into Church. She, older sis Darlene, Dorothy Jones & Margaret Ross were re-united in '97 as guests on WFUV's Group Harmonies Review
Thank you gnomely. It's funny how people evaluate something written 50 years ago by standards of today. And how they judge without knowing anything.
Thanks SO much for this.....its wonderful
Fresh and original.
FANTASTIC !
I like this version and Herman's Hermits' version of this song as well. It's a really great song!
....always preferred this version of the tune over the Hermits' - it disappeared from the charts as soon as the 2nd version was released....a sweet, innocent song about teenage attraction - involving hand-holding only on the first meeting... YES PEOPLE!!
I somehow like *this* original version by Earl-Jean even better than Herman's Hermits' later one.
In fact, I'm getting a Seeburg jukebox restored and found a near flawless copy of this original Colpix pressing at a record show last spring. I'm going to put this one in the juke once it's ready (I already made up the title slip on my computer)!
My favorite
I used to have that 45 and still wish I knew what I did with it. I agree that this is my first and favorite version. She does a fantastic job too!
On this day in 1962 {December 21st} the Cookies performed "Chains" on the late Dick Clark's 'American Bandstand'...
One month earlier on November 10th it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked at #17 and spent 12 weeks on the Top 100...
The very day of their appearance on Bandstand they entered the Top 100 as back-up singers on Neil Sedaka's "Bad Girl"...
Group member Earl-Jean charted with "I'm Into Somethin' Good" in 1964...
R.I.P. Mr. Clark {1929 - 2012}...
Earl-Jean was Earl-Jean McCrae, lead singer of The Cookies, who had such big hits as "Chains" and "Don't Say Nothin' Bad About My Baby." This version went to No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100, several months before Herman's Hermits had an even-bigger hit with the same song. But in my opinion, Earl-Jean's version is better.
Thank you!
Despite the critics, I agree entirely with you. This was the original and best version, played a lot on pirate radio in 1964. The Herman's Hermits version was weak, insipid and cashed in on the Liverpool connection. And yes, it didn't make the gender switch because it was very obviously written for a girl. I wish you peace and well-being.
I'm with you, Rodger! The examples by seven are probably the only ones in the history of mankind.
Without a doubt, this original
by Earl-Jean McCrea is the better
version of this tune!
You mean the Cookies right?
I totally agree with splendorella's comments below: except I NOW hearing this for the first time (at least that I can remember) from the box set
"One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost and Found" for at least 3 years now. And Herman's Hermits' cover was a huge hit (first one in the USA breakout, I believe), unlike this original Goffin-King penned tune's original; but they DID copy note for note this wonderful arrangement (substituting the guitar for the piano on the instrumental middle break)!
Yeah, folks, THIS one is Liked 69 to zero by You-tubers, the first shutout I've ever seen on this website, or any!You GO, girl groups!
You're welcome. I suppose the saving grace is that if contemporary artists didn't murder these marvelous tunes and give them a wider exposure we might never have found the originals. Check out 'Walk Right In' by Gus Cannons Jug Stompers .
Earl Jean, was real smooth. A step above the average girl group singer. Check out "I Want A Boy For My Birthday".
@rodgergovea
Also, Gene McDaniels, "A Hundred Pounds of Clay", and Lady Antebellum, "Something 'Bout a Woman", and Eddie Hodges "Girls, Girls, Girls (Made to Love)".
Good song by a good singer...plus Carole King's input helped make this something good.
Brilliant. check out The Melodians 'Rivers of Babylon'
@MrTimBranston Done! Thank you! :D
This is just as good as Herman's Hermit's version.
@rodgergovea
"I mean, what male would worry that something was a one-night stand?"
Lots of males. Some males actually *do* care about romance. E.g., check out Bobby Darin, "Dream Lover".
Or, for example, Norman Fox and the Rob Roys, "Pizza Pie", which includes this: "Well I got a chick I really dig / I'm gonna love her all my life. / I'm gonna take her home and marry her / And keep her for a wife".
Is this at the right speed? Good lord! lol
Great song and, yes, I perfer this version to the HH version. and I am a guy and never into 1 nighters. so there.
Herman's Hermits' cover of this song is much worse than this original. Among other things, this song was written for a female, and HH did a lame gender-switch on the lyrics. I mean, what male would worry that something was a one-night stand?