Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Thanks once again to all who took part, but US V UK may have run it's course, I'll carry on for now and review after this week, no point if no real interest.

As an aside so far UK 6 US 2 and one tied.

Exciters just pipped it this week, which I have to admit surprised me, thought
Billie Davis would win hands down.

Here's this week's and an interesting one, well it is to me.

Garry Mills took this song to number 7 in UK in July 1960 (I know a while back) and number 26 in US,though
heped by the fact it featured in a movie, Circus Of Horrors.

A US cover version though, by one Garry Miles,went to number 16 in US, I gather his name
was actually Buzz Carson, but this was a deliberate ploy to confuse people.

Another instrumental version by Billy Vaughan Orchestra went to 19 in US and another version by Deane Hawley went to 29 in US.
All these were hits in same month.

I always liked Garry Mills singing this song but I hadn't realised there were two versions of it, by two guys with almost the same name... and both with the Garry spelling, which is unusual as mostly the name is spelt 'Gary'. Hmmm.. which do I like best? I prefer the intro on Garry Mills' version and I quite like the warmth of Gary Miles' voice but my favourite, just by a whisker is Gerry Mills!

Thanks Roy for keeping us amused these past few weeks and I can't wait to see what you come up with next!!!!

Can't say I really like either of them...
The most interesting contrast is in the "instrumental" break.
It's rather like most political elections... not really impressed with either, but have to pick one... I'll go for the UK candidate, Mills.

thanks for the view Nick

If this is a UK original covered by a US artist than that would be a twist, as it usually worked the otherway around in those days. I'll go with Garry Mills, it's a little quicker tempo wise and I like his voice.

It is exactly that Jeff and was written by Tony Hatch who went on to produce all The Searchers hits.

Never realised Tony Hatch started that early. Most famous I suppose for Downtown (and didn't he write the Crossroads TV theme ), but he must have a lot of royalties coming in.

I'll go with the Garry Miles version, Roy. His voice is very warm, and the music has a very ethereal quality -- which is perfect for a song called "Look for a Star"-- never heard it before! Fascinating that The Searchers' Tony Hatch wrote it!! In visiting Hatch' Wikipedia page -- he wrote/collaborated on some very lovely and extremely successful music! But I digress, as always to The Searchers. OOps! Thanks for US v UK, Roy!! It's been a lot of fun; feel free to resume at some later date -- the sooner the better!

I'll pick the Garry Miles version because I like his vocal better and the instrumental fits the song better than the brass version. Is that a soprano voice or a theremin, maybe? It does lend an other-worldly quality which I find fitting. The first version I find undistinguished in general, except that the horns make me cringe a bit.

kiramdear wrote:I'll pick the Garry Miles version because I like his vocal better and the instrumental fits the song better than the brass version. Is that a soprano voice or a theremin, maybe? It does lend an other-worldly quality which I find fitting. The first version I find undistinguished in general, except that the horns make me cringe a bit.

Well stated!! Especially about the horns!!

Miles.

kiramdear wrote:I'll pick the Garry Miles version because I like his vocal better and the instrumental fits the song better than the brass version. Is that a soprano voice or a theremin, maybe? It does lend an other-worldly quality which I find fitting. The first version I find undistinguished in general, except that the horns make me cringe a bit.

I've never heard of a theremin -- but what a wonderful invention!! I always assumed that sound was a human soprano voice!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin

In case there are others who are not familiar with the term!

I have no idea whether its a soprano or theremin. But it's lovely!