Label: Fontana 1541
Year: 1966
Condition: M-
Price: $20.00

Riding the wave of the British invasion, The Mindbenders had a knack for releasing catchy singles but somehow missing out on the celebrity fame of fellow bands like the Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Hollies, Herman's Hermits, Rolling Stones, Yardbirds, Kinks, Who, etc. Like John Lennon and Paul McCartney, lead singer Wayne Fontana typically sang without showcasing his British accent, so some fans might have mistaken them for an American band. In fact, they were more successful in the U.S. than in their native country. Besides great tunes and a great lead vocalist, the band also featured lead guitarist and songwriter Eric Stewart, who later became a founding member of 10cc. Another 10cc member, Graham Gouldman, joined the Mindbenders in 1968, so all in all the band had a lasting pedigree even if their overall impact at the time was understated.

This particular single, their second Top 10 U.S. hit, bundled a terrific rocker on the flip that is among their best (IMHO). Its raw sound and brash lead guitar put it firmly in the school of Garage Rock, and showed how even their B sides were worthy of the label "classic," though they failed to make an impression on the airwaves. Take a listen to the jukebox snippet to see if you don't agree. :-) Note: This copy comes in a vintage Fontana Records factory sleeve. It grades Near Mint across the board (Labels, Vinyl, Audio).!