This post features the non-charting debut singles of five of the most popular British acts of the sixties.

Manfred Mann - Why Should We Not (1963)
Very, very different from any other single they ever recorded, Manfred Mann's debut single was this fabulous instrumental. Love it.

The Kinks - Long Tall Sally (1964)
I absolutely love the Kinks and I also love this particular Little Richard song, but put the two together and it just doesn't work for me. In fact, I'd even go as far as saying that the Kinks' debut single is excruciatingly bad.

Sandie Shaw - As Long As You're Happy Baby (1964)
Not bad, not bad at all, and may have even been a hit had it been released after There's Always Something There To Remind Me rather than before. The only Youtube clip I could find of As Long As You're Happy Baby has two just as obscure supplementary tracks appended to it, so if you're a Sandie Shaw fan you're in for a treat.

The Yardbirds - I Wish You Would (1964)
I really like this one, although I can understand why it wasn't a hit single. The Yardbirds would have to wait until their third single for any chart success. That third single, For Your Love, was such a major departure from the Yardbirds' roots that lead guitarist Eric Clapton, then very much a blues purist, left the band in protest. Jeff Beck was brought in to replace Clapton on lead guitar, which was probably the best thing that could have happened.

Tom Jones - Chills And Fever (1964)
I'm not a great fan of Tom Jones, quite the reverse, in fact; but I have to say that his debut single is a cracking track.

Just to continue the theme...........here is The Hollies first single 'Ain't That Just Like Me'..........which didn't make the Top Twenty but it's a cracking little tune..........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJLlA0HjbNs

an interesting selection there m8, thanks for posting

Following on from the posts by Vabosity and swingaleg, here's yet another little known debut single.

This doesn't sound anything like the Walker Brothers we all know so well (an up-tempo song with John, not Scott, on lead vocal) and neither do they look anything like the Walker Brothers we all know so well (different hairstyles and no Gary), but I can assure you it is the Walker Brothers.

See what you think:-

The Walker Brothers - Pretty Girls Everywhere (1965)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmFluAxWRlk

If you like 60s era instrumentals, here is one you won't have heard before

Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra - Theme from "Raumpatrouille" (Space Patrol) (Philips 1966)
TV series not shown outside Germany

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM2kEMoG-Mg

Here's some mid-60s, mostly garage, tracks that I like:

France Gall - Laisse Tomber Les Filles (1964)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwsTm7cRAV8

The Zephyrs - There's Something About You (1965)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0UzK7X6c8o

The Remains - Why do I Cry (1965)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQH8ny0DuCM

The Haunted - 1-2-5 (1965)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZXkzao9KvA

The Ugly Ducklings - Nothin (1965)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbBbQr3CY3c

Michael & The Messengers - Romeo & Juliet (1967)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMYHhM8gj1Y

welcome to the thread (oh and site lol) i like your username!

Let's move on from the debut singles of the above artists to their second singles.

Manfred Mann - Cock-A-Hoop (1963)
Like their debut single (which I much prefer) this did not chart, but it's not a bad track and is well worth a listen. Their third single, the wonderful 5-4-3-2-1, would give the band their first UK Top Ten hit single. Which band was that again? Uh huh, it was the Manfreds.

The Kinks - You Still Want Me (1964)
In my previous post I was very disparaging about the Kinks' debut single. Their second single, You Still Want Me, which also didn't chart, is imho a big improvement and I like it a great deal. The Kinks' third single would be You Really Got Me, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Sandie Shaw - There's Always Something There to Remind Me (1964)
Sandie Shaw's second single was a UK Number One single and is far too well known for the thread. I've mentioned it here for information purposes only.

The Yardbirds - Good Morning Little Schoolgirl (1964)
The Yardbirds' second single, like their debut single, didn't chart. Personally, I think that debut single is much better than this track and I also think that Don and Bob's version of Good Morning Little Schoolgirl is much better than this track. If you want to compare both versions the one by Don and Bob can be found in Post #1017 on Page 41 of the thread.

Tom Jones - It's Not Unusual (1965)
Tom Jones's second single was a UK Number One single and is far too well known for the thread. I've mentioned it here for information purposes only.

The Hollies - Searchin' (1963)
The Hollies' second single got as high as 12 on the UK singles chart, and so, strictly speaking, I'm breaking thread rules by supplying a Youtube clip for it. However, Searchin' has been very much overshadowed by the band's more famous singles and doesn't get a lot of plays today, so while it's not exactly rare, it's not exactly well known either.

The Walker Brothers - Love Her (1965)
The Walker Brothers' second single was the first to feature the magnificent baritone voice of Scott Walker. Love Her was only a minor hit, but it's a fabulous track. Their third single, the just as fabulous Make It Easy On Yourself, would give the group the first of their two UK Number One singles.

very nice selections. welcome!

Sorry to bring the level down but who remembers this?
Lemon Tree, very pretty..

Peter Paul and Mary - Lemon Tree

Thanks everyone for the welcome. I've been going through this thread enjoying the obscure 60s tracks. I've got a few more tracks from 1966 that I'm not sure if anyone has posted yet:

Mouse & the Traps - Maid of Sugar (1966) - These guys were a good regional garage band from Texas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuF_3fxDznI

The Blue Things - Doll House (1966) - A great, lost mid-60s folk-rock band from Kansas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3DmB4bwBnM

Mike Konstan - This Time (1966) - I don't know who he is, but I like this track.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImHM9KHYkNA

The Novas - William Junior (1966) - Another garage/pop band from Texas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byyot2tFWtM

The Zipps - Kicks and Chicks (1966) - A Dutch band, live on TV. This song is a hoot!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paLmrFlYMxU

one of those tracks whos lyrics you couldnt use in todays world!

Let me add my welcome. Excellent choices in both your posts.

Another one I had forgotten about, played in the Warsaw stadium after Italy beat Germany tonight.

One of many annoyingly catchy tunes the Italians were so good at turning out

Adriano Celentano - "Azzurro" (1968)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVzd4...eature=related

Tom Jones - Chills And Fever (1964)
I'm not a great fan of Tom Jones, quite the reverse, in fact; but I have to say that his debut single is a cracking track.[/quote]

Tom Jones actually recorded this in 1963
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X45aDEbqZ2E
Tom Jones - "Little Lonely One"
although it wasn't released until 1965.
I read somewhere that he made some recordings before his very short time with Joe Meek in 1963 although I've never heard them, does anyone know?

Here's some more obscure tracks from 1965-67:

The Zombies - I'll Keep Trying (1965) - Oddly, I think this track was not unreleased at the time, but was recorded as a demo, and was included as a bonus track (with overdubs) on more recent releases of their 1965 "Begin Here" album. It's one of my favorite tracks by one of my favorite bands of all time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2Nv1y46zT8

Buffalo Springfield - Flying On The Ground Is Wrong (1966) - Not one of their big hits, but its one of my favorite Buffalo Springfield tracks, nevertheless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B8gdYlbA6U

The Smoke [UK] - We Can Take It (1966?) - A catchy tune that was never a hit, as far as I know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2QUbgA59qc

? & the Mysterians - Do Something To Me (1967) - I like this track almost as much as their big hit "96 Tears".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_kjSL0Pbic

Mary McCarthy - You Know He Did (1967) - I don't know who she was, but this is a catchy track, and a good guitar solo!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExyqBKCbCCM

That really is a great track, isn't it?

I noticed somewhere that it was a cover of a little known song by one of my favourite ever duos, the Everly Brothers, so I decided to check out their original version. I always have difficulty finding fault with the Everlys, and I can't really fault their version of this song, but it's just not as good as the Walkers' cover (imo).

Here is that original version:-

The Everly Brothers - Love Her (1963)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NLwaRDPuqk

More tracks from 1966:

The Woolies - Who Do You Love? (1966) - The Woolies were a rock'n'roll/R&B band from Michigan who released ten 45s during 1965 - 74. Many bands at that time played versions of "Who Do You Love", but I particularly like this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfgmaNPJXZo

The Action - Wasn't It You? (1966) - The Action was a great mod band (signed to EMI by George Martin!) who unfortunately never had a hit record. I rather like this song. (I also like the version by Petula Clark, but I can't find it on YouTube.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtoBSmtGnCI

The Regents - Words (1966) - An obscure mid-60s band from California who released a few 45s during 1965-66. In my opinion, this version of "Words" is superior to the Monkees version. (Confusingly, there were several bands around this time named "The Regents", including an early 60s doo-wop band.)

Easybeats - A Very Special Man (1966) - Australia's best 60s band had many hits in their native country, but their only hit in the US/UK was "Friday On My Mind". I particularly like this track, which they are shown here performing live.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr0AGx1MIsA

The Turtles - Outside Chance (1966) - The Turtles had many hits, but this one wasn't one of them. Its one of my favorite tracks of theirs anyway. (Apologies if this has already been posted.) This clip shows them performing it live.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDKqA5fbosY

The Walker Brothers were brilliant, the Everly Brothers were brilliant and both versions of that song are brilliant!

That particular band name was not confined to the sixties. There was a British New Wave band called The Regents, who had a biggish UK hit single in late-1979/early-1980 with a song called 7 Teen; one of my favourite tracks of the post-punk era.

A month ago the thread got to its second anniversary. Today the thread got to 100,000 views. Two great milestones. A shame that those two milestones didn't coincide, but you can't have everything.

I'll leave it to Rob, as OP, to thank both the dedicated handful of posters who have given the thread its longevity and (more appropriately) all those other people who have given the thread those 100,000 views.

I'm intrigued to know who all those viewers are. I can't see the fans of the Saturdays, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and suchlike, who seem to comprise the main demographic group on this forum, being even remotely interested in obscure music from half a century ago, but a large minority of other people obviously are.

So would any regular viewer of this thread, who has never posted to it before, care to comment as to why he or she is a regular viewer?

Thanks.

Im stunned by the threads success, it soon outgrew my meagre knowlege of rarer 60's tracks but the batton was taken up by you guys who have boosted it much much further then i could have imagined.

its still great to hear new tracks, thanks to all for tracking them down!

100,000 views? i think that possibly some older guys are interested in whats posted here but fail to join a site dominated by 'da kidz'. nevertheless its proof that theres a market for retro.

as for its sister thread the rare 70's, tbh i havnt much warmth for the 70's, it doesnt interest me as much as the 60's, i love mid 60's in particular.

so a very big 'well done' and thanks to all that has made this thread such a great success.

Some more good tracks that may not have been mentioned:

Al's Untouchables - Come On Baby (1966) - Screaming garage punk and wild guitar playing from this Iowa band. What's not to like? This track was the "A" side to their second and final 45, and was featured on "Teenage Shutdown Vol. 4".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dyk0FR-TGok

The Red Squares - You Can Be My Baby (1966) - Great"mod Danish Freakbeat" track from a Danish band who'd started out in England. I'd never heard of the band but they were big in Denmark and Sweden in the 60s and released 3 albums plus a few 45s during 1966-74. I've read that the band is still together today (with 2 of the original members) and performing in Denmark!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zml21_-4FOk

The Thoughts - All Night Stand (1966) - A haunting minor-key folk-rock compositions written by Ray Davies of the Kinks (but never recorded by the Kinks). The Thoughts released only one 45 as the Thoughts, and this track was the "A" side. However, the band backed a lot of Liverpool acts in the mid-60s and had released some other records under different names. For example, a great track is "Baby Don't Look Down" by Tiffany & the Thoughts, but I can't find it on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR6ShSC6W_8

Eddies Crowd - Baby Don't Look Down (1966) - This is a catchy number by an obscure English R&B band who recorded just a single 45. Apparently this song was written by Randy Newman. In my opinion, this version is inferior to the "Tiffany & the Thoughts" version, but still pretty good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut1F28XARXg

Lowell George & the Factory - No Place I'd Rather Be (1967) - Pleasant folk-influenced rock track from this obscure California band who released two 45s in 1967. (Note that this band was a different one from the British band, "The Factory".) Another good track by the Factory is "Lost", but I couldn't find it on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LD7u8zf7rg

The fact than no regular viewer has responded to the request in my previous post does seem to substantiate Rob's claim that most viewers to this thread are long(ish) in the tooth non-members who enjoy listening to the obscure oldies on this thread, but have little desire to join a forum dominated by da kidz.

I have a similar attitude to Rob with regard to the Rare 70's Classics thread. Don't get me wrong, I like a great deal of what was recorded during the seventies, but I just can't seem to summon up the same sort of enthusiasm for the music of that decade that I can for the music of the sixties. I do still post to the Rare 70's Classics thread ever now and again, but the gap between now and again is growing increasingly wider.

As for Rare 80's Classics (a thread not started by Rob), well, that came and went in a flash, didn't it?

My favourite decade in modern music is '65-'75 so I'm somewhat in between both threads. I like the 80's thread too and even though a large number of posts were made in its first month, it still gets bumped semi-regularly. But w/o a dedicated forum for them any music collection threads that aren't bumped on a daily basis get buried ad forgotten by all but a few dedicated posters.