Louisiana band today mostly seen as a one-hit-wonder. Formed as "John Fred & His Playboys" 1956 by 15 y.o. John Fred Gourrier (1941-2005) and 1958 reached #82 on Billboard with the song "Shirley". Non of their next thirteen singles made any list impact and It was first with the 1967 "Judy In Disguise (with glasses)" - written as a kind of pastiche on The Beatles title "Lucy In The Skies With Diamonds" - they got a breakthrough, topping the US list and reaching top ten in a number of other countries. The follow-up - "Hey Hey Bunny" - managed a Billboard #57, but that was it and their next ten 45:s flunked. This album didn't make it that big either and aware of the background maybe you'd expect a bright shining hit surrounded by fillers, but it's not that bad. Most of the songs self-penned, stylistically ranging between blue-eyed soul/funk and contemporary brit-pop. John Fred is a very good singer, backing and arrangements impeccable and the audio on this US stereo lovely - coming through warm and well-mixed. And though JIDWG is the star of this show, some of the rest is good too. E.g. "Agnes English" a bouncy love song dedicated to a very British lady, "Up And Down" dance friendly up-tempo soul and the Alan Price-ish "She Shot A Hole In My Soul" quite catchy. As a whole maybe not life-changing, still good listening all through. Originally also released in Canada, South-africa, downunder and a couple of European countries. First UK on Pye International (NPL 28111). German 1991 CD Repertoire Records (REP 4153-WZ). Early US had label as shown here and thick glossy cover. (YZÄ*)
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