Once again we have a record that has a UK and an American version, a common theme in the 60s. This particular version is the American one.
It was written by Curtis Mayfield and this is the original recording by Major Lance. Allegedly there were actual words in the chorus originally but they were considered to be too weird so were replaced by a series of um's.
It peaked at 40 in February 1964. Then in October the English version by Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders charted and fared much better peaking at 5 at the end of November.
It was the only UK Top 40 hit for Major Lance, which is his real name. This wouldn't be the last we'd hear of him though. He would tour the UK later on in the 60s with Bluesology as his backing band which featured a then unknown Elton John. The in the 70s he become a big name in the Northern Soul scene.
Legal troubles and health problems would follow from the end of the 70s, but he continued to perform up till his death in 1994.
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