From behind the counter of a gents' outfitters shop in a grimy Manchester suburb
to a place in the front rank of the world's leading songwriters in three years.
This is the achievement of Graham Gouldman - six feet, rangy and dreamy-eyed.
Discovered in 1965 by Harvey Lisberg, manager of Herman's Hermits, Graham
entered the pop scene with For Your Love, which was described by Larry Williams
as "the biggest breakthrough in R&B" - it rocketed to the top of the charts.
A stream of hits then followed. Two of them, Listen People and No Milk Today,
were recorded by Herman's Hermits, and they tinkled the tills from Tokyo to
Tallahassee to the tune of five million records - sweet music in any language!
This superb artistic association continues, as Herman (Peter Noone)
co-produces Graham's first album, which consists of Graham's own songs and
in which he plays lead guitar. It includes past hits and new songs, presented
with the expertise of professionals and the joyfulness of kindred spirits.
There are many great artists who have paid tribute to Gouldman by recording
his music. Some of them are: Herman's Hermits; The Yardbirds; P.J. Proby;
Bert Kaempfert; The Mindbenders; Gary Lewis; The Hollies; Cher; Gene Pitney;
Larry Williams; Wayne Fontana; The Shadows. Citations and reviews also pay
tribute to the melodic and distinctive style of what has become known as the
Graham Gouldman Thing.
From where did this Thing come?
Perhaps from the Russian great-grandfather who emigrated with a pack on
his back, tuning fork in his pocket and composed an operetta for his family;
or the grandmother who could transpose a song into conic sol-fa with the
speed of a computer; or maybe his father, who writes prize-winning plays and
who is always consulted when mature thought or the philosophic touch is needed.
Who knows? Wherever it comes fro, it's here! Enjoy, enjoy......
An extract from an article by Alan Betrock originally printed in
'The Rock Marketplace' and reprinted on the CD
The Graham Gouldman Thing was originally intended to be produced by
Peter Noone. Graham: "It was supposed to be something like the artist produces
the writer, but he wasn't there on any of the sessions - though he is
credited as producer. I did the whole thing with John Paul Jones who
arranged the tracks, played on it and also helped produce it. It was
an important project for me at the time; I put a lot of work into it." This
concern is shown by listening to the album, which exudes tasteful
arrangements and thoughtful production. Favourites are the hits like Bus Stop
and For Your Love, but all the tracks have something interesting to offer.
The orchestral arrangements on No Milk Today and Upstairs Downstairs are
particularly refreshing. Strangely enough, the album was not released in
the UK, and despite a heavy US promo campaign, didn't sell much to
Americans............."
