Though it was originally released in 1963 (more on that later), I didn't come to know "The End of the World" until John Mellencamp released a cover version (to show you the popularity of the song, there are literally hundreds of cover versions--I'm sure that somewhere a group of monks recorded it as a Gregorian chant) on his Trouble No More LP in 2003 (I spent months listening to the song again and again). Fast forward many, many moons and I was at work one night listening to a sampling of Sixties Folk on Pandora and lo and behold, the song came on and it was decidedly not John Mellencamp singing, so I rushed to the office computer and found it was Herman's Hermits, which started a months long lovefest with Herman's Hermits and their greatest hits (a great sampling of sixties pop).
Herman's Hermits were formed in 1964 in Manchester, England, and had a hell of a run over the next seven years. Initially they were more popular in the states--from '64 through '67 they had eleven top ten hits in the U.S., including two number ones ("Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" and "Henry the VIII, I Am") and two Grammy nominations. By 1967 they were essentially done commercially in the States, though from '67 through '71 they managed to have more top ten hits in Britain than they'd had while they were storming the American airwaves. In 1971 the bandmates went their separate ways, though Herman's Hermits keep touring. Due to acrimony among the surviving members (and like that never happens), there are two separate incarnations of the band still touring, one featuring lead singer Peter Noone, and the other featuring the only other surviving member, Barry Whitwam.
Fun Fact: "The End of the World" was originally a hit in 1963 for country music star Skeeter Davis--she took the song to #2 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard country charts, #1 on the easy listening chart, and #4 on the rhythm and blues chart, the only time in the history of the Billboard charts that an artist had a song in the top ten on all four charts. Pretty impressive charting....
With all due respect to Ms. Davis (and John Mellencamp), though, my favorite version is by far and away the Herman's Hermits cover released on their debut album in 1964, the oh so cleverly named Herman's Hermits. Like last week's FNJ featured tune, "The End of the World" was originally released as a B side (to "Henry the VIII, I Am") by Herman's Hermits, and never had any chart success as a single on its own merits. The song is as simple as simple gets: a lovely melody, forlorn vocals, and heartfelt lyrics questioning just why the world goes on despite having lost the love of one's life. Without hyperbole, I tell you that I'm not sure a perfect pop song has ever been written, but for my taste, this one is about as close as an artist can get. It's a wonderful look at the sorrow that is a broken heart and a pop gem if ever there was one.
Liner Notes: "Why do the birds go on singing?/Why do the stars shine above?/Don't they know it's the end of the world?/It ended when I lost your love...."
Enjoy:
Fuck Donald Trump,
emaycee
emaycee
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