were the second group that , then going by his real name , recorded with (the first was Davie Jones & the King Bees). formed, without , in Maidstone, and moved to London in 1964, where Leslie Conn became their agent. Conn was also 's first manager, and when left the King Bees in mid-1964, he hooked the singer up with . Like the King Bees and dozens (probably hundreds) of London bands at the time, played R&B; like , they had named themselves after a song.

recorded just one single, "I Pity the Fool"/"Take My Tip," released in March 1965. Produced by (also handling and at that time), it marked a progression from the guitar-oriented -ish R&B of the Davie Jones & the King Bees' 1964 single to soul-jazz in the mold of . "I Pity the Fool" was a cover of the classic; "Take My Tip," in which the jazz elements came more to the fore, was the first composition ever recorded. The sides, on which played guitar as session man, were enjoyable but not striking, and split shortly afterward. In their short lifetime they had managed to get on a package tour with , , and , but when they got onto BBC TV, it was because of controversy over their (for the time) very long hair, not their music.

then joined the Lower Third, and by 1966 was working on a solo career. "I Pity the Fool" and "Take My Tip" have subsequently been reissued, and are most readily available on Early On (1964-1966), the Rhino compilation of early material. also recorded covers of ' "Hello Stranger" and Mickey & Sylvia's "Love Is Strange" at Decca with Mike Smith producing, but those songs have not been released. ~ Richie Unterberger

The Manish Boys

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