For the first time my record of the year was a number one. It was also the first US number one to be recorded by a British group.
Instrumental music was clearly popular when this came out, but this does sound like its ahead of its time. I first heard this after learning about the US number one fact and finding it on YouTube. Even all these years after it was written I still don't think I've ever heard anything quite like it.
The Tornados would have a further three hit singles, all the following year, all instrumental and all rather good.
The man behind the Tornados was Joe Meek. He wrote and produced this track and had great success with other artists too in the early 60s. Despite this he found himself with major financial difficulties and in 1967 he shot dead his landlady before shooting himself dead aged just 37.
As for the Tornados themselves, well they are actually still going today as a triggers broom band. Three of the five members on this track have since passed away including Heinz Burt who would have a few solo hits after leaving the band under the name Heinz. Of the two still alive, there is Clem Cattini who became a successful session musician and holds the record for most number ones played on with at least 44 known to feature him. He rerecorded this track this year (2016) with a Ska band called the Skammers. Then there is George Bellamy who is now retired but has a famous son, Matt Bellamy the lead singer of Muse.
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