The Music of Herman's Hermits Trivia Quiz

Answer: Goffin/King

Herman's Hermits took "I'm Into Something Good" to number one for two weeks on the UK chart in 1964. It reached number 13 on the US pop chart the same year.

Incredible as it seems (to me anyway) this song was the first and only UK number one hit for the brilliant Goffin/King songwriting team. Earl-Jean McCrea's original version (by less that two months) reached number 38 on the US pop chart in 1964. It did not chart in the UK.

Answer: Goldie and the Gingerbreads

US group Goldie and the Gingerbreads had a number 25 hit on the UK chart with "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat?" in 1965, their only UK chart hit. They never had any chart hits in the US.

Herman's Hermits version of "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" reached number two on the US pop chart in 1965. Single not released in the UK. The Goldie and the Gingerbreads version was released a couple of weeks after the Herman's Hermits version which affected its sales. Whether or not it would have been a hit without the Herman's Hermits version we will never know.

Answer: Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter

"Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" was never released as a single in the UK. It was number one for three weeks on the US pop chart in 1965.

It was written by Trevor Peacock (Jim Trott in the BBC sitcom "The Vicar Of Dibley"). It was sung by actor Sir Tom Courtenay in the UK TV play "The Lads" in 1963. Mrs. Green is group member Karl Green's mum. Mrs. Noone is Herman's (Peter Noone's) mum. Mrs Hayes is the Hermits record producer Mickie Most's (Michael Hayes's) mum.

Answer: Sam Cooke

Herman's Hermits had a number seven hit on the UK chart with "Wonderful World" in 1965. It reached number four on the US pop chart the same year.

Co-written by Sam Cooke, he had a number 12 hit on the US pop chart with "Wonderful World" in 1960. It reached number 27 on the UK chart the same year. Re-issued in 1986 it reached number two on the UK chart.
Sam Cooke was shot and killed in 1964 in the US. It was ruled a justified homicide and the case was closed.
Ricky Nelson was killed in a plane crash in the US on New Year's Eve 1985. Cause, mechanical problems.
Eddie Cochran was killed in a single car crash in the UK in 1960 while on his way to Heathrow London. Taxi driver George Martin (not that one) was convicted of dangerous driving and fined £50.
Johnny Burnette was killed in a boating accident in the US in 1964. His small fishing boat was hit by a cabin cruiser after dark and he was thrown overboard and drowned.

Answer: A Must To Avoid

Herman's Hermits had a number six hit on the UK chart with "A Must To Avoid" in 1965. It reached number eight on the US pop chart in 1966.

"Silhouettes" was a number three hit on the UK chart in 1965. It reached number five on the US pop chart the same year. The old music hall song "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" was number one for one week on the US pop chart in 1965. It was not released as a single in the UK. (According to the "New York Times" of November 28 1965 an American expert said "It was the fastest selling song of all time"). "Just A Little Bit Better" was a number 15 hit on the UK chart in 1965. It reached number seven on the US pop chart the same year.

Answer: Swings

Herman's Hermits had a number 18 hit on the UK chart with "This Door Swings Both Ways" in 1966. It reached number 12 on the US pop chart the same year.

Herman's Hermits formed in Manchester UK as Herman & The Hermits in 1963. The group has had various members but the most recognizable line up is Peter Noone (Herman) vocals, Keith Hopwood guitar & vocals, Derek Leckenby guitar & vocals, Karl Green bass and Barry Whitwam drums. The sixth Hermit might be considered to be their producer Mickie Most who had a lot of influence over their material and clean cut image. Seems I've heard that story somewhere before but then they did rival The Beatles in the US for a short while.

Answer: The Kinks

"Dandy" was a number five hit on the US pop chart for Herman's Hermits in 1966. The song was their fourth US top 10 hit of the year and also their penultimate US top ten hit.

"Dandy" was written by Ray Davies of The Kinks. It was track three on side one of their 1966 album "Face To Face". It reached number 12 on the UK album chart after their first four albums had all made the top ten. It did not chart in the US.

Answer: The Carpenters

The Carpenters had a number 12 hit on the US pop chart with "There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World) in 1976. It reached number 22 on the UK chart the same year. Herman's Hermits version reached number seven on the UK chart and number four on the US pop chart in 1967.

Herman's Hermits were not the first to record the song however. Gary & The Hornets (Gary Calvert age 11, Greg Calvert age 14 and Steve Calvert age 7) from Ohio recorded "A Kind Of Hush" in 1966. They never had any chart success. The original "There's A Kind Of Hush" was recorded by The New Vaudeville Band, it was track five on side one of their 1966 album "Winchester Cathedral".

Answer: My Sentimental Friend

Herman's Hermits had a number two hit with their penultimate UK Top Ten entry "My Sentimental Friend" in 1969. It did not chart in the US.

Little did Herman's Hermits suspect that after three consecutive UK Top Ten hits with "My Sentimental Friend" reaching number two, (their highest UK chart position since "I'm Into Something Good" six years previously) it would be all over soon. "Sunshine Girl" was a number eight hit on the UK chart in 1968. "Something's Happening" was a number six hit on the UK chart in 1968. "Years May Come, Years May Go" was a number seven hit on the UK chart in 1970 and their last UK top ten hit. None of the four alternate songs charted in the US.

Answer: Oh! You Pretty Things

Peter Noone had a number 12 hit on the UK chart with "Oh! You Pretty Things" in 1971. It did not chart in the US. It was his one and only solo UK chart hit. David Bowie plays piano on the record, Rick Wakeman plays piano on Bowie's version.

"Oh! You Pretty Things" was track two on side one of the 1971 David Bowie album "Hunky Dory". It reached number three on the UK album chart in 1972. It did not chart in the US. New Musical Express (NME, British music paper) editors Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray said about Peter Noone's performance on this record, quote "One of Rock and Roll's most outstanding examples of a singer failing to achieve any degree of empathy whatsoever with the mood and content of a lyric" end quote.