The 10 Best Herman’s Hermits Songs of All-Time
Herman’s Hermits are an English group that came into existence in 1964. Given that timing, interested individuals shouldn’t be surprised to learn they were one of the acts that made up the British Invasion.
Of course, Herman’s Hermits never even came close to matching the Beatles. Still, it is no exaggeration to say they were one of the more successful beat music bands. That said, interested individuals should know the group’s last single came out in the early 1970s, which signaled the end of their general popularity.
Here is our opinion on the ten best Herman’s Hermits songs ever released:
10. “Dandy”
A dandy is a man who cares a great deal about his physical appearance. His exact reasons for doing so can see enormous variation. However, it shouldn’t be surprising to learn that dandies are often depicted as doing so to attract others. Such is the case with this song, which isn’t quite sure whether the titular individual deserves praise or condemnation.
9. “This Door Swings Both Ways”
This song is more philosophical than interested individuals might expect from Herman’s Hermits. Its message is that everyone experiences a mix of good and bad, meaning listeners shouldn’t expect either state to last forever. Instead, they need to be prepared for when their luck turns because it will inevitably do so at some point. That said, this song is as enjoyable as the rest of Herman’s Hermits’ musical output.
8. “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat”
It can be hard to gauge the popularity of a Herman’s Hermits song between countries. After all, just because something was released as a single in one country, that doesn’t necessarily mean it was also released as a single in another.
For instance, “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat” was released as a single in the United States. Meanwhile, it was the B-side for “Silhouettes” in the United Kingdom. Still, not just any song can make it to the number-two position in the United States, which says much about the enthusiasm with which it was received.
7. “No Milk Today”
“No Milk Today” is a love song that makes more sense with some context. For those curious, milk used to be delivered to the front door in Great Britain. Due to this, it was common for people to make requests by leaving notes to their milkmen. The song’s name means the narrator’s significant other has left, meaning her residence no longer needs these deliveries.
6. “Silhouettes”
Herman’s Hermits released their version of “Silhouettes” as a single in the United Kingdom and the United States. It did better in the former than in the latter. Specifically, “Silhouettes” reached the number-three position in the United Kingdom but stopped at the number-five position in the United States. Of course, those ranks are extraordinary by any reasonable standard, thus explaining this song’s position on this list.
5. “[What A] Wonderful World”
Confusingly, “[What A] Wonderful World” is not the same as the Louis Armstrong song. Instead, Sam Cooke was the one who released the original version in 1960. Subsequently, Herman’s Hermits were one of several well-known acts to cover the song. They specifically did so to honor Cooke after the man was shot and killed in 1964. The Herman’s Hermits version was a Top Ten hit in the United Kingdom and the United States.
4. “There’s a Kind of Hush”
Some people might know “There’s a Kind of Hush” because of the Carpenters’ version in 1976. Herman’s Hermits were one of the first groups to record the song. Despite that, their version still compares well with its successor, which is no small achievement.
3. “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter”
Herman’s Hermits released two number-one hits in the United States. One was “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” in 1965. The original version was performed for a TV play in 1963. Despite this, Herman’s Hermits released the best-known version by a considerable margin, which makes sense considering that it sold more than 500,000 copies in the United States.
2. “I’m Henry VIII, I Am”
“I’m Henry VIII, I Am” came from the music halls. The latter were entertainment venues popular with the British working class from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century. As such, “I’m Henry VIII, I Am” isn’t about the King of England who married six times while seeking to secure his line of succession.
Instead, the narrator is nicknamed thus because he is the eighth man named Henry to marry the widow next door. Such humor is common in music hall songs. The neat thing about the Herman’s Hermits version is that the group managed to reinterpret the original as a rock and roll song. Moreover, they did it so well that it winded up at the top of the charts in the United States, thus making it the other of their two songs to manage this feat.
1. “I’m Into Something Good”
Some groups struggle to break into the popular consciousness. In contrast, others seem to manage it in an instant. Herman’s Hermits can be considered an example of the latter.
After all, the group scored a hit with their debut single, “I’m Into Something Good,” which reached the number-one position in the United Kingdom. Amusingly, its success didn’t just benefit Herman’s Hermits but also the songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King.
The acts involved in the British Invasion often wrote their songs rather than handing those duties off to someone else. As such, songwriters were under enormous pressure to prove themselves during that period.
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