"Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James" is a song written by songwriters
Geoff Stephens
Geoffrey Stephens (1 October 1934 – 24 December 2020) was an English songwriter and record producer, most prolific in the United Kingdom in the 1960s and 1970s. He wrote a long series of hit records, often in conjunction with other British so ...
and
John Carter, recorded by English pop group
Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann were an English rock band, formed in London and active between 1962 and 1969. The group were named after their keyboardist Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The band had two differen ...
in 1966. Stephens and Carter, who were writers for a publishing company on
Denmark Street
Denmark Street is a street on the edge of London's West End running from Charing Cross Road to St Giles High Street. It is near St Giles in the Fields Church and Tottenham Court Road station. The street was developed in the late 17th centu ...
, London, wrote the song in a style different from their usual compositions, as
love
Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest Interpersonal relationship, interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of ...
was not the prevalent theme. Introduced to the song by producer
Shel Talmy
Sheldon Talmy (born August 11, 1937) is an American record producer, songwriter and arranger, best known for his work in the UK in the 1960s with the Who, the Kinks and many others.
Talmy arranged and produced hits such as "You Really Got Me" ...
, Manfred Mann recorded it at Philips Studio in August 1966. Released by
Fontana Records
Fontana Records is a record label that was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records. The independent label distributor Fontana Distribution takes its name from the label.
History
Fontana started in the 1950s as a subs ...
on 21 October 1966, the song was backed by drummer
Mike Hugg
Michael John Hugg (born 11 August 1940) is a British musician who achieved fame as a founding member of the 1960s group Manfred Mann.
Biography
Hugg was born in Gosport, Hampshire in 1940. His parents condoned his jazz drumming as long as he ...
's composition "Morning After The Party" as the group's second single on the label. Keyboardist
Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann were an English rock band, formed in London and active between 1962 and 1969. The group were named after their keyboardist Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The band had two differen ...
plays the
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which pushes a length of magnetic tape against a capstan, which pulls it across a playback head. A ...
on the recording; it was one of the earliest recordings featuring the instrument. Following a trend set by
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
, the song tackles the subject of life in British
middle class
The middle class refers to a class of people in the middle of a social hierarchy, often defined by occupation, income, education, or social status. The term has historically been associated with modernity, capitalism and political debate. Commo ...
suburb
A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...
ia from the perspective of a narrator, who laments the loss of a lover after her marriage to another man.
Upon release, "Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James" received warm reviews in the British music press, but also received backlash from fans for its
pop style. The song became a large success across Europe, reaching number two on the ''
Record Retailer
''Record Retailer'' was the only music trade newspaper for the UK record industry. It was founded in August 1959 as a monthly newspaper covering both labels and dealers. Its founding editor was Roy Parker (who died on 27 December 1964). The title ...
'' chart in the United Kingdom, while peaking within the top 10 across the continent, Africa and Oceania. The song was not released as an A-side single in the United States because a competing group released their version there; instead it was relegated to the B-side of Hugg's song "Each And Every Day". Despite being released on the same day as their third studio album
''As Is'', "Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James" was excluded from it. Retrospectively, the early use of the Mellotron and the production of Talmy have been praised.
Background
![Manfred_Mann](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Manfred_Mann.png)
1966 was a tumultuous and relatively difficult year for
Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann were an English rock band, formed in London and active between 1962 and 1969. The group were named after their keyboardist Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The band had two differen ...
, due to several changes in their lineup. Their lead singer,
Paul Jones had left the group shortly after their single "
Pretty Flamingo
"Pretty Flamingo" is a song written by Mark Barkan, which became a hit in 1966 when Manfred Mann's recording of it was released as a single. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 5 May 1966. Manfred Mann's recording was a minor ...
" had reached number one on the ''
Record Retailer
''Record Retailer'' was the only music trade newspaper for the UK record industry. It was founded in August 1959 as a monthly newspaper covering both labels and dealers. Its founding editor was Roy Parker (who died on 27 December 1964). The title ...
'' chart. Jones was shortly followed by the departure of bassist
Jack Bruce
John Symon Asher Bruce (14 May 1943 – 25 October 2014) was a Scottish bassist, singer-songwriter, musician and composer. He gained popularity as the primary lead vocalist and bassist of British rock band Cream. After the group disbande ...
, after which Manfred Mann hired
Mike d'Abo
Michael David d'Abo (born 1 March 1944) is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of Manfred Mann from 1966 to their dissolution in 1969, and as the composer of the songs "Handbags and Gladrags" and " Build Me Up But ...
as a vocalist and
Klaus Voormann
Klaus Otto Wilhelm Voormann (born 29 April 1938) is a German artist, musician, and record producer.
Voormann was the bassist for Manfred Mann from 1966 to 1969, and performed as a session musician on a host of recordings, including "You're So V ...
as a bassist. After signing with
Fontana Records
Fontana Records is a record label that was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records. The independent label distributor Fontana Distribution takes its name from the label.
History
Fontana started in the 1950s as a subs ...
, the band collaborated with
Shel Talmy
Sheldon Talmy (born August 11, 1937) is an American record producer, songwriter and arranger, best known for his work in the UK in the 1960s with the Who, the Kinks and many others.
Talmy arranged and produced hits such as "You Really Got Me" ...
, an old acquaintance of theirs, which produced "
Just Like a Woman
"Just Like a Woman" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan first released on his seventh studio album, ''Blonde on Blonde'' on June 20, 1966. It was written by Dylan and produced by Bob Johnston. A shorter edit was released as a singl ...
". It reached number 10 on ''Record Retailer'', which proved that Manfred Mann were able to keep their momentum and relevance following the departure of Jones and according to
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
's Bruce Eder, also established their "commercial credibility".
In search for new material to follow up "Just Like a Woman", the band initially had planned on covering another song by
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
, which generated some friction between band members, a number of which thought it would have been generic and formulaic. Instead, Talmy presented Manfred Mann with tapes from the
Denmark Street
Denmark Street is a street on the edge of London's West End running from Charing Cross Road to St Giles High Street. It is near St Giles in the Fields Church and Tottenham Court Road station. The street was developed in the late 17th centu ...
publishing offices, where
Geoff Stephens
Geoffrey Stephens (1 October 1934 – 24 December 2020) was an English songwriter and record producer, most prolific in the United Kingdom in the 1960s and 1970s. He wrote a long series of hit records, often in conjunction with other British so ...
and
John Carter wrote their music. Both Stephens and Carter were part of a niche group of English songwriters that "compared very favorably" to their American counterparts. For the song, the duo had embraced the conservative nature of Denmark Street rather than the youth subculture that was
growing in London, meaning that it was more straightforward. Greg Russo states that the composition was rather unorthodox coming from them, as it was not primarily a
love song
A love song is a song about romantic love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. A comprehensive list of even the best known performers and composers of love songs would be a large order. ...
which they'd previously written about.
Recording and composition
"Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James" was the second of three singles that were produced by
Shel Talmy
Sheldon Talmy (born August 11, 1937) is an American record producer, songwriter and arranger, best known for his work in the UK in the 1960s with the Who, the Kinks and many others.
Talmy arranged and produced hits such as "You Really Got Me" ...
, influential for his previous work with
the Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...
and
the Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, north London, in 1963 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies. They are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. The band emerged during the height of British rhythm ...
, which Manfred Mann would gain experience from. In an interview for ''
New Musical Express
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
'', lead vocalist d'Abo stated Talmy taught them "new and innovative techniques" in the studio, something that "our previous producer (
John Burgess) didn't". He further said that the sessions were "a whole heap of fun". During the summer of 1966,
Fontana Records
Fontana Records is a record label that was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records. The independent label distributor Fontana Distribution takes its name from the label.
History
Fontana started in the 1950s as a subs ...
had bought studio time at the Philips Studio in
Marble Arch
The Marble Arch is a 19th-century white marble-faced triumphal arch in London, England. The structure was designed by John Nash (architect), John Nash in 1827 to be the state entrance to the cour d'honneur of Buckingham Palace; it stood near th ...
, which would further produce the album
''As Is'' (1966). "Semi-Detached" was recorded during a session held on 22 August 1966, which had also produced the bulk of the tracks which would make up ''As Is'' (1966).
The song is also noted in that it is one of the first pop recordings to use the
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which pushes a length of magnetic tape against a capstan, which pulls it across a playback head. A ...
, an instrumental that would later become prevalent in the fledging
progressive rock
Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. Init ...
scene. On the instrument, keyboardist
Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann were an English rock band, formed in London and active between 1962 and 1969. The group were named after their keyboardist Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The band had two differen ...
plays loops using the
flute
The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...
setting during the intro, which then prevails in the composition after each chorus. The model of the instrument was the second iteration, the ''Mark II'', which Mann himself owned. It was introduced to him by
Mike Vickers
Michael Graham Vickers (born 18 April 1940) is an English musician who came to prominence as the guitarist, flautist, and saxophonist with the 1960s band Manfred Mann. He was born in Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey. At the age of seven, his famil ...
, who previously was Manfred Mann's guitarist, and who would later similarly introduce the instrument to
the Beatles
The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
. Mann claims that he took the inspiration to purchase one from his curiosity of instruments that were "new and exotic". The band would record another single using the instrument, the follow-up "
Ha! Ha! Said the Clown" in 1967.
Lyrically, the track has become one of Stephens and Carters most discussed and analyzed songs. For the song, the duo drew inspiration from a recent trend in which social issues were brought up in pop song lyrics, inspired by Dylan. It tells the tale of British
suburb
A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...
ia and a "wedding story" which Bob Stanley claims comes from "a jilted lover", which according to François Penz "didn't bring much hope to the suburban man either". However, some identify the song as satirical and dismissive of
middle class
The middle class refers to a class of people in the middle of a social hierarchy, often defined by occupation, income, education, or social status. The term has historically been associated with modernity, capitalism and political debate. Commo ...
life. This criticism is "couched up" when the narrator finds out that the lover has married. Russo states that the lyrics were, unlike previously more conventional love songs, rather "disturbing" from the perspective of the narrator. Roger Webster calls Manfred Mann's performance of the lyrics as "ironic".
Musically, "Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James" was largely written in the key of
D major
D major (or the key of D) is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature has two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor.
The D major scale is:
:
Ch ...
, which wasn't "unlike the writing of Stephens", who tended to write his songs in the
major key
In music theory, the key of a piece is the group of pitches, or scale, that forms the basis of a musical composition in classical, Western art, and Western pop music.
The group features a '' tonic note'' and its corresponding ''chords'', al ...
. The single, largely based on the inclusion of the Mellotron, gave the song a relatively "
baroque pop
Baroque pop (sometimes called baroque rock) is a fusion genre that combines rock music with particular elements of classical music. It emerged in the mid 1960s as artists pursued a majestic, orchestral sound and is identifiable for its appropria ...
-fueled sound". Russo also believes that it was Manfred Mann's most straightforward
pop rock
Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...
due to the
steel guitar
A steel guitar ( haw, kīkākila) is any guitar played while moving a steel bar or similar hard object against plucked strings. The bar itself is called a "steel" and is the source of the name "steel guitar". The instrument differs from a conve ...
played by group guitarist
Tom McGuinness, whom he feels "makes an interesting and pleasant" contrast to the Mellotron backing. However, Kieron Tyler of ''
The Arts Desk
''The Arts Desk'' (theartsdesk.com) is a British arts journalism website containing reviews, interviews, news, and other content related to music, theatre, television, films, and other art forms written by journalists from a variety of tradition ...
'' considered it "straight pop". Eder described it as a song that "marked a major departure for the group".
Release and commercial performance
In the United Kingdom, "Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James" would be released on 21 October 1966 by
Fontana Records
Fontana Records is a record label that was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records. The independent label distributor Fontana Distribution takes its name from the label.
History
Fontana started in the 1950s as a subs ...
as Manfred Mann's second single on that label. The release date coincided with the release of their third studio album, ''As Is'', along with an unauthorized EP of older material by
His Master's Voice
His Master's Voice (HMV) was the name of a major British record label created in 1901 by The Gramophone Co. Ltd. The phrase was coined in the late 1890s from the title of a painting by English artist Francis Barraud, which depicted a Jack Russ ...
, ''
As Was''. The single was backed by a group original, "Morning After The Party", which was written by drummer
Mike Hugg
Michael John Hugg (born 11 August 1940) is a British musician who achieved fame as a founding member of the 1960s group Manfred Mann.
Biography
Hugg was born in Gosport, Hampshire in 1940. His parents condoned his jazz drumming as long as he ...
. The song, featuring "strong
Lovin' Spoonful
Loving may refer to:
* Love, a range of human emotions
* Loving (surname)
* ''Loving v. Virginia'', a 1967 landmark United States Supreme Court civil rights case
Film and television
* ''Loving'' (1970 film), an American film
* ''Loving'' (1 ...
-overtones" through the "cheesy, clinky piano", followed the standard by Manfred Mann of having an outside writer composing the
A-side
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record company ...
, while the group themselves would write the B-side. Unusually for a
British invasion
The British Invasion was a cultural phenomenon of the mid-1960s, when rock and pop music acts from the United Kingdom and other aspects of British culture became popular in the United States and significant to the rising "counterculture" on b ...
band at the time, the song was never released as an A-side in the United States nor Canada. The reason behind this was that another band, Herbie's People, had quickly recorded the song and were planning on releasing it as an A-side in the US. Instead, a then unreleased song by the band, "Each And Every Day", was released as a single in the US with "Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James" as the B-side.
The song entered the ''
Record Retailer
''Record Retailer'' was the only music trade newspaper for the UK record industry. It was founded in August 1959 as a monthly newspaper covering both labels and dealers. Its founding editor was Roy Parker (who died on 27 December 1964). The title ...
'' chart on the week after it was released at number 32, before peaking at number two on on 23 November 1966. The song was kept from the number-one spot by
the Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and frie ...
"
Good Vibrations
"Good Vibrations" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys that was composed by Brian Wilson with lyrics by Mike Love. It was released as a single on October 10, 1966 and was an immediate critical and commercial hit, topping record c ...
", and exited the chart on 18 January 1967 at a position of number 42 after lasting for 12 weeks. In charts published by other British music publications it also charted high, reaching number two on the chart compiled by ''
Melody Maker
''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. It was founded in 1926, largely as a magazine for dance band musicians, by Leicester-born ...
'', while peaking at number three on both ''
Disc and Music Echo
''Disc'' was a weekly British popular music magazine, published between 1958 and 1975, when it was incorporated into ''Record Mirror''. It was also known for periods as ''Disc Weekly '' (1964–1966) and ''Disc and Music Echo '' (1966–1972).
...
''
's and ''New Musical Express'' charts. Across Europe, the single also reached the top ten in Denmark, where it peaked at number seven, and Sweden, where it reached number five on ''
Tio i Topp
''Tio i Topp'' (English: ''Ten At The Top'') was a Swedish record chart and radio program broadcast by Sveriges Radio P3 between the years of 1961 and 1974. It was launched to combat pirate radio charts and was the first official Swedish record cha ...
'' and number ten on
Kvällstoppen. The song also reached the top-10 in both Africa and Oceania.
Although released simultaneously with ''As Is'', "Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James" was ultimately not included on it, even though the B-side "Morning After The Party" was. The song would not get an album release in the UK for almost four years until 1971, when it was released on the
compilation album
A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...
''This Is… Manfred Mann.'' In Europe, the song would first get an album release on the compilation album ''One Way'' in 1967. Almost two years after release, the song would be issued on the group's final studio album in the US and Canada, ''
The Mighty Quinn'' on 6 May 1968''.'' According to author Greg Russo, the inclusion of "Semi-Detached" along with several other early tracks by the band "cements the album as a compilation" rather than a studio album.
Reception and legacy
Contemporary reception
Upon release in the UK, the single was met with positive reviews in the press. Writing for ''
Record Mirror
''Record Mirror'' was a British weekly music newspaper between 1954 and 1991 for pop fans and record collectors. Launched two years after the ''NME'', it never attained the circulation of its rival. The first UK album chart was published in ''Re ...
'', Norman Jopling and Peter Jones declare that "Semi-Detached" has the potential of being a big hit. They claim that the song is not written in the songwriters usual style in the lyrics. The two state that the melody "is catchy enough to take them to the top", and conclude by stating that it is different instrumentally with "moments of
falsetto
''Falsetto'' (, ; Italian diminutive of , "false") is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave.
It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous ed ...
". In a review for ''New Musical Express'', a reviewer erroneously claims the mellotron to be a flute, though notes that it "sounds beautiful". They state that the "tune is a commercial highlight" while adding that the record's chorus is "delightfully infectious". Another ''NME'' reviewer speculates over the chart possibilities for the song, which they claim will "either be too experimental for the charts or the perfect fit". They conclude by claiming it is one of Manfred Mann's best recordings. Writing for ''Disc and Music Echo'',
Penny Valentine
Penelope Ann Valentine (13 February 1943 – 9 January 2003) was a British music journalist, rock critic, and occasional television personality.
Biography
Penny Valentine was born in London, of Jewish and Italian ancestry. In 1959 she became ...
states that the single is a "pop dream", with two "contrasting sides for the fans to dig". She ends by stating that it most likely will become a hit.
In the US, although being a B-side, Semi Detached, Suburban Mr. James" also received media coverage. In
''Cashbox'' magazine, the song is called "a very groovy ditty" by the staff." Russo claims that "Each and Every Day" was an inferior track to "Semi-Detached" and should've never been released as a single in the first place. However, he also claims that "Semi-Detached" might have not charted in the US regardless as Manfred Mann was in a state of commercial decline there.
However, Manfred Mann also garnered some criticism over the single, with some fans and critics deeming it "too poppy". Russo states that these claims were "nothing new" and the band had been receiving "bad media representation" since they started having hits on the UK charts in 1964. In music magazine ''Beat Instrumental'', it is stated that the band received criticism over "sounding like a thousand other purveyors of typical pop music", to which Mann himself responded. ''New Musical Express'' reported that this backlash allegedly stems from how the "Manfreds music" was being played endlessly on
pirate radio
Pirate radio or a pirate radio station is a radio station that broadcasts without a valid license.
In some cases, radio stations are considered legal where the signal is transmitted, but illegal where the signals are received—especially w ...
stations, including album tracks from ''As Is''. One fan is cited as saying that their music is "too bland" and "too 'poppy'" while stating that the group needed to experiment in style with the Beatles. Russo believes these claims were justified, as he'd agree that ''As Is'' was clustered with bland songs.
Legacy
![ManfredMannDaveBerry](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/ManfredMannDaveBerry.jpg)
"Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James" became one of Geoff Stephens' most well-known compositions after "
Winchester Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity,Historic England. "Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity (1095509)". ''National Heritage List for England''. Retrieved 8 September 2014. Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Swithun, commonly known as Winches ...
" Russo also claims it was his most "eclectic" song after "Winchester Cathedral". After the Mann recording became a hit, Eder claimed that Manfred Mann started reshaping their "sound and image". Russo states that they adapted to a new "era of Manfred Mann", where pop music was "first and foremost". He states that the band's success with their 1968 single "
The Mighty Quinn" was almost entirely based on the success of "Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James". He claims that they wouldn't have embraced the "pop-image the single had given them" in case it wasn't a hit, and most likely would've taken a different musical direction following its theoretical failure.
The production by Talmy has also been given praise. According to Alec Palao, the song showcased a "much more sophisticated production style" than all the group's previous singles, including "Just Like a Woman". The song's ending, which features heavily
reverberated harmony vocals, could almost definitively be credited to Talmy. The use of the mellotron on the song has also been noted. According to author Mark Cunningham, the single is almost entirely responsible for the influence and popularity of the instrument as it was the first commercially successful recording featuring it. Allegedly, the Beatles use of the instrument on their 1967 single "
Strawberry Fields Forever
"Strawberry Fields Forever" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released on 13 February 1967 as a double A-side single with "Penny Lane". It represented a departur ...
" can also be credited to "Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James." as Cunningham believes "the Beatles would've never been introduced to the Mellotron without it".
Personnel
Personnel taken from the book ''Please Please Me: Sixties British Pop, Inside Out,'' unless noted.
Manfred Mann
*
Mike d'Abo
Michael David d'Abo (born 1 March 1944) is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of Manfred Mann from 1966 to their dissolution in 1969, and as the composer of the songs "Handbags and Gladrags" and " Build Me Up But ...
vocals
*
Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann were an English rock band, formed in London and active between 1962 and 1969. The group were named after their keyboardist Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The band had two differen ...
keyboards,
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which pushes a length of magnetic tape against a capstan, which pulls it across a playback head. A ...
''Mark II'', backing vocals
*
Mike Hugg
Michael John Hugg (born 11 August 1940) is a British musician who achieved fame as a founding member of the 1960s group Manfred Mann.
Biography
Hugg was born in Gosport, Hampshire in 1940. His parents condoned his jazz drumming as long as he ...
drums
*
Klaus Voormann
Klaus Otto Wilhelm Voormann (born 29 April 1938) is a German artist, musician, and record producer.
Voormann was the bassist for Manfred Mann from 1966 to 1969, and performed as a session musician on a host of recordings, including "You're So V ...
bass guitar, backing vocals
*
Tom McGuinness guitar,
steel guitar
A steel guitar ( haw, kīkākila) is any guitar played while moving a steel bar or similar hard object against plucked strings. The bar itself is called a "steel" and is the source of the name "steel guitar". The instrument differs from a conve ...
, backing vocals
Other personnel
*
Geoff Emerick
Geoffrey Ernest Emerick (5 December 1945 – 2 October 2018) was an English sound engineer and record producer who worked with the Beatles on their albums '' Revolver'' (1966), '' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' (1967) and ''Abbey Road ...
engineer
*
Shel Talmy
Sheldon Talmy (born August 11, 1937) is an American record producer, songwriter and arranger, best known for his work in the UK in the 1960s with the Who, the Kinks and many others.
Talmy arranged and produced hits such as "You Really Got Me" ...
producer
Charts
Notes and references
NotesReferences
Sources
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{{Manfred Mann
1966 songs
1966 singles
Fontana Records singles
Manfred Mann songs
Songs written by Geoff Stephens
Songs written by John Carter (musician)
Song recordings produced by Shel Talmy
British pop rock songs
Number-one singles in Rhodesia