Sixties one-hit wonders almost score for a second time
Label: Decca
Year of Release: 1967
The duo The Truth, who consisted of Frank Aiello and Steve Gold, are probably most known for having a minor hit with their cover of The Beatles "Girl" in 1966. While it only climbed to the modest heights of number 27 on the hit parade, they nonetheless achieved something most acts on this blog could barely dream of - chart action, and no doubt a few weeks of red carpet treatment as reward.
Once that modest breakthrough occurred, the rest of their singles career tended to also be focused on cover versions, from their bold and brilliant take on Donovan's "Hey Gyp" to the sought-after modish take on "Sueno".
This one possibly came the closest to putting them back in the charts, though. It's a faithful if sparse reading of The Left Banke's hit, a song which has been interpreted and adapted by so many people since its original success that listing all the versions would be a fool's errand. Suffice to say, The Four Tops version was not only a huge seller but also arguably the strongest take, though for people seeking out deeper cuts, The Adventures somewhat buried reading (thrown away on a free EP given with an issue of Record Mirror) is also well worth three minutes of your time.
The Truth take no liberties here and handle the track like fragile wounded romantics. The guitar break, however, is an unexpected moment amidst the folksy despair.
Over on the flip lies a group original, "Fly Away Bird", which has been compiled on Piccadilly Sunshine and remains commercially available, or is also available to listen to on YouTube if you're that way inclined.
The group would cease their activities at the end of the decade, and Aiello would join groups such as Cozy Powell's Hammer and seventies hard rockers Bedlam, while Gold worked with Nosmo King (who scored a minor hit with the pseudo-Northern Soul disc "Goodbye Nothing To Say").
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1 comment:
Definitely the closest The Truth got to having another chart hit. This made top spot in the 'breakers', which meant it could well have been a single place outside the top 50 at its peak.
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