''Herman's Hermits'' (sometimes called ''Introducing Herman's Hermits'') is the debut album of the band Herman's Hermits, first issued in 1965. As was typical of the time, the album's contents were different on the UK and US releases. UK albums tended not to include singles. The US edition of the album is sometimes called ''Introducing Herman's Hermits'' – a title used on the back cover and the record label but not on the front cover.

Background

The success of Herman's Hermits' first single "I'm into Something Good" – a number one in the UK and no. 13 on the US ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, Hot 100 – led to the US release of their first album in February 1965. In April 1965, with both "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" and the Hermits' cover of "Silhouettes (The Rays song), Silhouettes" simultaneously in the singles charts – both would appear on the band's second US album ''Herman's Hermits on Tour'' – MGM released "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter". The single's no. 12 debut on the Hot 100 was the decade's third highest (behind the Beatles’ "Hey Jude" and "Get Back"), and it took just three weeks to reach number one. The album climbed to no. 2 on the Billboard 200, ''Billboard'' album chart in the week in which the Hermits had three singles in the national Top 20. The LP then spent four consecutive weeks at no. 2, three of them overlapping with the three-week run of "Mrs. Brown" at number one on the singles chart. The album, which failed to get to number one because of the Mary Poppins (soundtrack), soundtrack to the 1964 film ''Mary Poppins (film), Mary Poppins'', remained on the chart for 40 weeks. The album was not released in the UK until September 1965. The UK version – which featured both "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" and "I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am, I'm Henery VIII, I Am" (with spelling variation) – peaked at no. 16 and spent just two weeks on the chart.

Reception

In his retrospective review of the album's release, Richie Unterberger for AllMusic gave the album a modest response by saying, "Since those are the first songs on the album, it's a letdown thereafter, since the oldies aren't very creative or (in comparison to the better British Invasion groups) forcefully performed, and the pop numbers sound like filler Merseybeat."

Album covers

There are three different covers for the US album. Original covers indicate "Including Their Hit Single 'I'm into Something Good'". When "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" was issued as a single, a yellow sticker was added to the cover, incorrectly reading "Featuring 'Mrs. Brown You Have a Lovely Daughter'". Once the latter became a no. 1 hit, the sticker was eliminated and the cover was changed to read, with correct title, "Including 'Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter".

Track listing

UK version

US version

Personnel

Herman's Hermits

* Peter Noone – vocals * Derek Leckenby – lead guitar * Keith Hopwood – rhythm guitar * Karl Green – Bass guitar, bass * Barry Whitwam – drums

Technical

* Mickie Most – music producer, producer * Val Valentin – audio engineer, engineer

References

{{Authority control 1965 debut albums Herman's Hermits albums Albums produced by Mickie Most MGM Records albums EMI Columbia Records albums