The Fourmost

The Fourmost were an English Merseybeat band that recorded in the 1960s. Their biggest UK hit single was "A Little Loving" in 1964.

Biography

Guitarist/vocalist Brian O'Hara and best friend guitarist/vocalist Joey Bower (born Joseph Bower, 17 November 1939, Dingle, Liverpool, Lancashire) formed the Two Jays in 1957. The group changed its name to the Four Jays in September 1959 when bass guitarist/singer Billy Hatton and drummer Brian Redman (born 21 June 1941, Huyton, Liverpool, Lancashire) joined the group, which played at the Cavern Club on 1 March 1961, nearly three weeks before the Beatles. Rhythm guitarist/singer Mike Millward (ex-the Undertakers) joined the Four Jays in November 1961, followed by drummer/singer Dave Lovelady in September 1962. The band changed its name to the Fourmost in October 1962. On 30 June 1963, the group signed a management contract with Brian Epstein.^[1] This led to their being auditioned by George Martin and signed to EMI's Parlophone record label.

With Epstein as their manager, the Fourmost (like Cilla Black, Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas, Peter and Gordon and Tommy Quickly) had access to early Lennon–McCartney compositions. The Fourmost's first two singles were written by John Lennon and sung in four part harmony. "Hello Little Girl", one of the earliest Lennon songs (written in 1957) was released on 30 August 1963 and reached No. 9 in the UK. Their follow-up single, "I'm in Love" (Lennon–McCartney), was released on 15 November 1963 and reached No. 17 in the UK. It was also notable as one of the earliest Beatles-penned songs to be released in the United States but, as with the Fourmost's other singles, it failed to chart there.

Their biggest hit followed. "A Little Loving", written by Russ Alquist, reached Number 6 in the UK Singles Chart in mid 1964, and again was sung by the group in harmony. From then on, none of the group's singles cracked the Top 20 in the UK. "How Can I Tell Her", sung largely in harmony, was followed by a cover version of the Four Tops' "Baby I Need Your Loving", sung by Millward, while Hatton took lead vocal on "Everything in the Garden", and "Girls Girls Girls" (originally recorded by the Coasters and a hit for Elvis Presley) which featured a 'Bugs Bunny/Jerry Lewis' style comedy vocal by Brian O'Hara and a speeded up 'Chipmunks' style harmony vocals section which included vocals by producer George Martin and publisher Dick James.Their singles were almost all cover versions although Brian O'Hara co-wrote 'How Can I Tell Her', O'Hara composed most of their original songs which were used as 'b' sides including; 'Waitin For You', 'That's Only What They Say', 'He Could Never', and 'You Got That Way'.

On the group's only sixties album, First and Fourmost, from September 1965, they covered Jackie DeShannon's "Till You Say You'll Be Mine" sung in four part harmony. Other tracks included "My Block" sung by Hatton and written by Jimmy Radcliffe, Carl Spencer and Bert Berns (originally a hit for the Chiffons in 1963), Millward sang a re-make of "The In Crowd" which featured the brass section from Sounds Incorporated , and Hatton sang two cover versions of Little Richard's "The Girl Can't Help It" and "Heebie-Jeebies".^[2] The band appeared in the 1965 film, Ferry Cross the Mersey and on the soundtrack album of the same name singing 'I Love You Too' (which appeared in two totally differing versions mono to stereo).

In early 1966 the band were rocked by the sudden death of rhythm guitarist/vocalist Mike Millward, a featured lead vocalist and whose voice had made a key contribution to their four part harmonies, they quickly recruited George Peckham as replacement. In August 1966, the Fourmost covered another Beatles' song, "Here, There and Everywhere",^[1] followed by a cover of George Formby's "Auntie Maggie's Remedy" in November 1966. The latter song was representative of a comedy element to some of the group's recordings, including "Baby Sittin' Boogie" sung by Billy Hatton with suitable 'baby noises' impression,and Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's "Yakety Yak" sung in harmony and again featuring brass. George Peckham wrote and sang The country-influenced "Turn the Lights Down Low" (the b-side of "Auntie Maggie's Remedy") which was a short-lived effort to branch out to less pop-oriented fare.

In 1968, now on the CBS record label, they recorded "Apples, Peaches And Pumpkin Pie", an R&B hit by Jay & the Techniques, followed by "Rosetta" (suggested by Paul McCartney, who played piano on it), and "Easy Squeezy". The group soon stopped recording, and became popular on the cabaret circuit, George Peckham left the band in 1969 to run a recording studio with original member Joey Bower returning to the band as replacement, a later private pressing album; 'The Fourmost' - featuring O'Hara, Hatton, Lovelady and Bower - which included covers such as; 'Without You', 'I've Got You Under My Skin' 'Rag Doll' and 'Save The Last Dance For Me' was sold at their shows in 1975. Hatton, Lovelady and Bower all left in 1980 while O'Hara continued the group with new members, although a version of the band featuring O'Hara and older members Hatton and Lovelady did once perform at the new Cavern Club later. O'Hara eventually dropped out selling the band's name. A later line up featuring longtime later member bassist/singer Bill Haisman (who had been in the later group alongside Brian O'Hara) plus John Richards (Lead guitar,vocals), Gary Pearson (guitar,vocals) and Kevin Clarkson (Drums,vocals) released a DVD and CD titled; 'The Fourmost Live at The Club Tropicana' featuring recording of a show recorded in Skegness on 7 April 2007 where they performed both 'Hello Little Girl' and 'A Little Loving' among other covers of fifties, sixties, and seventies hit songs. Bill Haisman later retired. A touring version of the band continues led by drummer/vocalist Kevin Clarkson, with Alex Leyland (rhythm guitar, vocals), Colin Walsh (Lead guitar, vocals) and Lee Clarkson (Bass guitar, vocals).

Charley Records later issued a 20 track compilation album also titled; 'First and Fourmost' while EMI Records later released a Compact Disc stereo/mono version of the original 1965 album in 1999, and in 2005 released a 33 track Compact Disc compilation; 'The Best of The Fourmost' which included the stereo version of 'I Love You Too' and four previously unissued songs with booklet notes written by Billy Hatton.

Deaths of band members

Mike Millward died from leukaemia in 1966.^[3] Brian O'Hara took his own life in 1999.^[4]

Original band members

• Brian O'Hara, born 12 March 1941, Dingle, Liverpool,^[1] died 27 June 1999, Wavertree, Liverpool (suicide),^[4] vocalist/lead guitarist, from June 1962
• Mike Millward, born Michael Millward, 9 May 1942, Bromborough, Cheshire,^[1] died 7 March 1966, at Clatterbridge Hospital, Bebington, Cheshire,^[3] rhythm guitarist/vocalist, from June 1962
• Billy Hatton, born William Hatton, 9 June 1941, Dingle, Liverpool,^[1] bassist/vocalist, from June 1962
• Dave Lovelady, born David Lovelady, 16 October 1942, Litherland, Liverpool,^[1] drummer/vocalist, from September 1962

Discography

Singles

See also

• List of bands from Merseyside
• List of performers on Top of the Pops
• List of artists who have covered The Beatles

References

• First and Fourmost album - liner notes by Tony Barrow

External links

• Fourmost website