HENRY VIII

[Golddollar]

No, I haven't been studying British royalty. I just got back from the Herman's Hermits concert over in Lancaster at the American Music Theater. One of their big hits was "Henry VIII" from back in the early 1960's. The original front man, Peter (Herman) Noone was still headlining the group. It was a fabulous show, featuring their hit songs from the British Invasion in a high energy performance. This kind of energy is what makes going to oldies concerts worthwhile to me.

And the bonus for me was being able to see the stage almost like I was on it, thanks to my recent cataract surgeries. It made for a fabulous show for me.

 

[Rudi]

I remember that song!

 

[oldbrownhat]

No, I haven't been studying British royalty. I just got back from the Herman's Hermits concert over in Lancaster at the American Music Theater. One of their big hits was "Henry VIII" from back in the early 1960's....

As Peter Sellers once said, "O, my goodness gracious me!" I can still hear them singing that.

"... She's been married seven times before /And every one was a Hen-e-ry / She wouldn't have a Willy or a Sam (No Sam)..."
​

I remember there was a local pop station, C-FUN, which ran a contest for "The C-Funtastic 50" where you could win the top 50 singles- and I did, in 1966, when I was 14. I can still remember answering the phone call when it came in. My poor parents suffered through those discs for a few years. and must have been relieved when I went into classical music. I think I may still have one somewhere.

Didn't know its origin:

...[it] is a 1910 British music hall song by Fred Murray and R. P. Weston. It was a signature song of the music hall star Harry Champion... But in 1965, it became the fastest-selling song in history to that point when it was revived by Herman's Hermits...

According to one source, Champion "used to fire off [the chorus] at tremendous speed with almost desperate gusto, his face bathed in sweat and his arms and legs flying in all directions." In later versions recorded by Champion, "Willie" is changed to "William" because the former is a British slang term for... (you'll have to look it up in your Funk & Wagnall's because I might get infracticated for indelicate terminology ) LVSteve and RustyT1953 will know.

Cor strewth, 'ere's the original by the man 'imself:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkbE4URVcKY[/ame]

Thanks for the cruise down memory lane!

 

[jeffrefrig]

Man, I’d love to see them! Top of the heap from the bubble gum music scene. I still like to listen to them when they’re on SiriusXM or whatever. I think there was a story about how Peter’s dad or grandfather used to sing it and they gave it a go. Producer supposedly asked Noone to lay on the accent heavy to sound like he’s from some certain area or neighborhood? Maybe?
Now ain’t that just a little bit better?! (Ah ho ho!)
Did you know Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones was a session guy who played the Bells on that recording (little bit better) when he and Page and Bonham were session musicians. They recorded music with or for just about everyone before Zep formed.
Wow! Childhood memories for sure! Darn, Golddollar, lucky you. I understand just how you feel.
Mrs. Brown the racing dog, too!

 

[oldbrownhat]

...
Mrs. Brown the racing dog, too!

??? The one "who had a lovely daughter"? (Another HH hit)

 

[yaktamer]

Takes me back to Summer of '65, when it was new and getting a lot of air play. I was four and my teenage sisters got me to sing that song over and over all the way from Cleveland to Miami and back on the family vacation in the station wagon. I didn't realize then that they were torturing my parents. "Second verse, same as the first!"

 

[Model 19 6"]

My 8th grand is named Henry, so he became Henry the 8th.

 

[Kitgun]

Was Henry the VIII a response to the The Duke of Earl?

 

[jeffrefrig]

??? The one "who had a lovely daughter"? (Another HH hit)

Ha! Yeah, from the movie of the same name with the Hermits. He used a little scooter with a small trailer to take her to the dog track. One of those movies for the teeny boppers at the time. The human Mrs. Brown, I think, had a daughter played by that Fabares girl. I can't remember her 1st name and I think I butchered her last one.

 

[CalifEd]

Peter Noone has a regular spot on XMRadio, Channel 6 (60's music), SAT 2–5PM PST.
He tells a lot of inside stories from the good ol' days along with music.

 

[oldbrownhat]

Ha! Yeah, from the movie of the same name with the Hermits. He used a little scooter with a small trailer to take her to the dog track. One of those movies for the teeny boppers at the time. The human Mrs. Brown, I think, had a daughter played by that Fabares girl. I can't remember her 1st name and I think I butchered her last one.

Shelley Fabares "In 1962, her recording of "Johnny Angel" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart." I remember that one, too. Married to Mike Farrell ("Captain B.J. Hunnicut" from M.A.S.H.)

 

[llowry61]

Like one of the other posters mentioned, I had 2 older sisters and they played that 45 record until the grooves wore out. A lot of good music from that timeframe. I like going to the smaller venue concerts as well my wife and I have seen a bunch of them in the last few years.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I had that LP. It came with my first stereo.