More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: The Merseybeats "Don't Let it Happen To Us"

THE MERSEYBEATS-Don't Let It Happen To Us/It Would Take A Long Time U.S. Fontana F-1513 1965

The Merseybeats released five singles in the U.S. and today's specimen was their fourth, launched in June of 1965. It was released in the U.K. as Fontana 568 the previous month where it was their sixth single.

I'm going to be dead and honest and admit that I think this is probably the band's weakest single. It also marked the return of the band's original bassist Billy Kinsley, who though not as vocally strong as his temporary replacement John "Gus" Gustafson still isn't a bad vocalist (him and Tony Crane later became a singing duo The Merseys).

"Don't Let It Happen To Us" is a tepid number, wonderfully executed with great harmonies and moody/jangly guitar but the song itself is just plain boring.

The flip is a band original "It Would Take A Long Time". It's a slow countrified group original ballad, wonderfully executed but equally mundane. It was originally recorded with John Gustafson but added Billy Kinsley's vocals upon his return. It was penned by band members Tony Crane and Aaron Williams. 

Both tracks are available on the thoroughly comprehensive 2021 Grapefruit two CD collection "I Stand Accused" which collected everything the band and it's members recorded in the 60's. 

Hear "Don't Let It Happen To Us": 

 https://youtu.be/5vxsenNOZPg?si=NGPlT58_E6D_RCaT 

 Hear "It Would Take A Long Time": 

 https://youtu.be/p0rYjVP4XRg?si=Dcc5NxYtEPDI0bkk

Flower Power Backlash: The Loot "Don't Turn Around"

 

THE LOOT-Don't Turn Around/You Are My Sunshine Girl U.K. CBS 3231 1968

Andover, England's Loot has often been associated with The Troggs as they hailed from the same area and were both signed to Larry Page's Page One label. Their last two singles for the label were also produced by Troggs drummer Ronnie Bond and their debut release "Baby Come Closer" (UK Page One POF 013 January 1967) was previously released on The Troggs LP "Trogglodynamite". We profiled their debut on Page One here.

They had interesting, almost schizophrenic music career in that they were simultaneously on two labels in Britain at the same time, CBS and Fontana. The reason being that the band were signed overseas to a contract with the Belgian label Pallette for European releases by Hal Carter and Stan Phillips (who were involved in The Troggs management, continuing the band's Troggs connection) which were in turn licensed to the CBS for a British release creating quite a bit on curiosity and confusion over the years. 

"Don't Turn Around" was the band's fourth single and their second and final release for the CBS label (after two prior releases on Page One, you can view their previous CBS 45 here). Lyrically it's an incredibly cynical take on flower power and "the beautiful people":

"What are you going to be tomorrow when you have thrown your flowers away.....you're the conformist to convention, I am the one who is free..... you may be one of the beautiful people today..." 

Quite curious as the band fully embraced the "flower power" image as seen on the German picture sleeve for this single below! Musically the number is incredibly layered in woodwinds, congas, sweeping strings and a quasi Middle Eastern/Indian lilt to the melody with well crafted harmonies and plenty of phasing thrown in.

German picture sleeve

The flip side "You Are My Sunshine Girl" is extremely disposable pop garbage that would have been suited as a late 60's Herman's Hermits album track.

"Don't Turn Around" was first unearthed in 2007 for the incredible 4 CD compilation "Real Life Permanent Dream: A Cornucopia Of British Psychedelia 1965-1970" and both sides were included on the comprehensive 2005 Radioactive CD comp ""Singles A's & B's". 

Hear "Don't Turn Around":

https://youtu.be/IHAyNfT9lSY?si=RyGgIgDZ40VjtVWq

Hear "You Are My Sunshine Girl":

https://youtu.be/58Qm9NqPLt4?si=5oiCTOV0T9Ds2V3l