From 1964 we have here pioneering UK 'Mod' Rockers, Cliff Bennett And The Rebel Rousers. This group actually predated the Mod movement forming in the late 50's even predating The Beatles by a year or two. Cliff and his band started releasing records in 1961, working initially with the famed cult producer Joe Meek. Beatles Manager, Brian Epstein later became their manager as well. Cliff Bennett And The Rebel Rousers had the chance to open for The Beatles during their last European Tour in 1966. During that time, Paul McCartney let Cliff Bennett cover his song "Got To Get You Into My Life" which Cliff Bennett had some success with.
This storming little number ("She Said Yeah") was released around the same time as The Rolling Stones equally 'satisfying' (see...A pun there...) version of the same song. Cliff and his band might have the upper hand on this version with some nice rollicking horns added to the mix.
I've uploaded this version my Edsel Records reissue LP of the original record which seems to preserve the original Mono.
A great little example typifying the 'first wave' of what became known as the British Invasion. Cliff and his band could have been bigger, he had the talent (a great white soul rocker), but image-wise, didn't seem to fit in with the younger, longhaired 'rebel' look of The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, etc. and that might have hurt them in the visual department but they were a classy lot. A look and sound like this today would be heralded as retro-genius. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Cliff Bennett. He recorded under his name and under different guises well into the mid-70's. A deeper look into his discography should reap many rewards and that is just what I plant to do this year.
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