Best of Herman's Hermits: 50th Anniversary Anthology

Personnel: Keith Hopwood (vocals, guitar); Karl Green (vocals); Barry Whitwam (drums).
Audio Remixer: Ron Furmanek.
Liner Note Author: Andrew Sandoval.
Editor: Ron Furmanek.
Illustrator: Frank Frazetta.
Of the UK bands that rose to fame during the "British Invasion" of the mid-'60s, Herman's Hermits made one of the strongest impressions in America, scoring an impressive 18 Top 40 singles in the United States between 1964 and 1968. But the group earned precious little respect from their peers; marketed to teenagers as pop heartthrobs, with lead singer Peter Noone pushed to the front as teen tabloid fodder, Herman's Hermits were usually judged for their image rather than their music and generally found wanting. But the truth is, Herman's Hermits were a splendid pop group, producing a handful of enduring hits ("I'm Into Something Good," "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter," "A Must to Avoid," "Fancy," "No Milk Today") as well as B-sides and album tracks that revealed they were capable of deeper and more somber themes, and that Peter Noone was a stronger and more versatile vocalist than the hits suggested. The Best of Herman's Hermits: 50th Anniversary Anthology is a two-disc collection that presents a thorough overview of the group's salad days, with 66 songs that encompass hits, fan favorites, rare tracks, remixes for singles, and unreleased demos that represent the many sides of this underrated and misunderstood band. The set also comes with a 140-page book that features plenty of rare photos and a detailed history of Herman's Hermits, including an introduction by Peter Noone. The Best of Herman's Hermits: 50th Anniversary Anthology is a splendid sampler that will please devoted fans of the work, and may well convince doubters that there was a lot more to Herman's Hermits than most casual observers would guess. ~ Mark Deming