My friend Charles Buell claims that everything he needs to know he learned 40 years ago while listening to Herman's Hermits.

Herman and the boys were quite the band all right. Essentially, the Hermits consisted of singer, Peter Noone and a revolving cast. For the most part, the group the Hermits, that a person saw on television and in live performances, was NOT the same cast of musicians who played on the studio recordings. Those performers, on the records, were established studio musicians with stronger musical credentials than the Hermits.

Herman and his Hermits were part of the British Invasion and, more so than with most groups, the songs released by the Hermits in the UK were very different than those released in the USA. Some of Herman's biggest UK hits were never released in the USA, and the opposite is true as well.

It is time for another Twin-Pick. This one will, with Charlie's blessing, test your knowledge of that great band known as Herman's Hermits. Despite the gravity of the subject matter, it works the same as it always does. If you get the answer right, then you will see the original artists perform an original hit. Get it wrong and you will be psychologically abused by my rude cyber assistants.

Out of the many Hermit's hits here in the USA, which song was their single biggest American hit?

I'm Henry the VIII, I Am

There's Kind Of A Hush

Listen People 

Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter

Now, if we move over to the the United Kingdom, we find that Herman's Hermits had many hits, yet only one of them ever reached #1 in the homeland. Can you pick out their UK #1 from the choices below?

I'm Into Something Good

Wonderful World

Silhouettes

This Door Swings Both Ways

For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections