(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please CLICK HERE)
Herman's Hermits - "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter"
Hit Number 1: May 1, 1965
Stay at Number 1: 3 Weeks
It seemed like a longshot. A British group called "Herman's Hermits" recorded a popular song that was sung at girls' birthday parties, and released it as a single in the U.S. Supposedly, they weren't expecting a hit out of it at all, so you could imagine their surprise when it debuted on the Hot 100 at #12, and just 2 weeks later, it was the most popular song in America. In fact, they recorded it as an afterthought, with muted lead and rhythm guitar and heavily accented vocals by lead singer Peter Noone, further demonstrating that they didn't take it too seriously. Herman's Hermits was a band that NEVER took themselves too seriously.
Most of the group's songs were always sung with a heavy emphasis on Noone's Mancunian accent, and they never did their own material. Most of their hits were always covers. The first hit they had was a cover of Earl-Jean's song "I'm Into Something Good" which only reached #13 in the U.S., but topped the charts in their native England. (It turned out to be their only #1 hit in England. Their version is a 6) Later, they came close to scoring their first #1 in the U.S. with "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat", but it stalled out at #2, being kept out of the #1 spot by the Supremes' "Stop! In the Name of Love". ("Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" is an 8) But then there came, "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter".
I'm really not sure why this was the one that hit for the group. "Mrs. Brown" is a very frail and lousy song, with the only instruments being those muted guitars. I don't think there's any percussion of any kind. But just like other weak songs from around this time, it still manages to work somehow. That's probably because the context of the song is very sad and run-down, so maybe it was actually a good idea to water down the song, so that it would fit the lyrics being sung. If this song was about ANYTHING else, it wouldn't work at all, and I would probably despise the song. I can't bring myself to do that with "Mrs. Brown".
The song is about a guy who is essentially been treated badly by some girl, even after he bought her all kinds of "things". She doesn't love him anymore, and wants to return all those things that he bought for her. He seems to handle the situation pretty well though, as throughout the whole song he's talking to the girl's mom (who is Mrs. Brown) and telling her not to be upset with her daughter, and if she finds out he stopped by, to tell her he's "well" and "feeling fine". Perhaps you could put a more interesting twist on the song, and turn it into a ballad or something, and maybe I'm being way too nice to this song, but I think it works okay. They didn't swing and miss on "Mrs. Brown", and the "weakness" of the track I feel is appropriate due to the context of the song.
On a final note, we will see Herman's Hermits in this blog again.
GRADE: 7/10
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