Jonathan King - It's Good News Week; Hedgehoppers Anonymous

[MrRicky132]

As far as I can remember, these were Airmen based at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire.

[Mal123P]

Actually Jonathon King produced and wrote the song but was not in the group. It was a bit of a one hit wonder because although they brought out about another four singles none of them did much or anything come to that. In fact one of their band, I think it was the singer, ended up working at the Thorn Lighting factory in my husband's department a few years later.

[rondogon48]

sickkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk­kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk­kkkkkkkkkkkkk

[MusicStar1957]

I remember this song! This video is off the wall! :D Great Song! Who sang lead vocal? JK?

[fretboardyoda]

I really think this is one of the most amazing songs ever, it really is saying something about the media, the world, everything. Just great, music, with interesting themes!

[Meadoway40]

Is that Ann Robinson dancing?

[richardac1]

Kenneth King - not Jonathan King

[oinkyerdoinkyerzwazz]

wow,I fell for it !good news that is.I actually was trying to find good news because

my battery is running out of juice from all the bad news that is every where

[noproblem53]

wierd then --tame now

[noproblem53]

Didn't know tis was King

[Zeebrugge1918]

what is the name of the film with the skeletons emerging from the ground that is featured in the video?

[tremsfan]

regarding the problem with the original lyrics...didnt the group then come out with another version, one which featured gossip lines about rock groups (one line i remember had something to do with 'Paul McCartney's gone away...'

[jrgboy]

@tremsfan As far as I know there is only the original & the amended verse, you couldn't mention birth control on the BBC back then and as that was the only national radio station songs had to be changed, in the 50's you couldn't say God or Hell or even Lord.

[KingOfHits2007]

"Lots" of blood actually Kev; and "butchered OFF".

[Kevinulla]

The verse that's changed says...

"Plot's of BLOOD in Asia now'

They've butchered up the sacred cow,

They've got a lot to eat."

[MaryMJ65]

I just heard the full version of this on the radio the other day. That made me look this up, did not know that verse was banned in the US, it was in the version I heard.

Thanks.

[eus478]

I'm still missing "old d.j.'s playing the new sounds".

[Ezdduf4kuZ]

I certainly don't care for the way thisa video starts out...s--k!! The video itself dosen't stack up to the song itself, which i'd rather listen to anyday than watch this video. You have to laugh off the lyrics, i never took 'em serious enough back when so i went out and put this one in my record collection, even if it's on a lp containing other hit singles from the day. It is a classixc as is Eve of Destruction, which i did take seriously...didn't we all? Thx 4 the audio now back to porn!

[Ezdduf4kuZ]

I really always liked the song, despite the lyrics which were not taken seriosly by the likes of me anyway. This video however is another tthing....I'd much rather watch good porn anyday than watch this s... video. From Vancouver Canada, no thanks to this video!!!

[8ntnomo]

Great song. I could do without Larry King. Some of the video is fitting with the song. I agree with bjbell52. American version had "sacred cow". Original European version had "birth control". Hey! It was the 60's.

[puszilak]

god bless Jonathan King- very prophetic song.

[rod1148]

Love the song. But the visual with Larry King almost makes me lose my lunch!

[PSzymeczek]

The song is great. The video is profoundly disturbing.

[sirtinycreep]

Great record, crap video.

[pbullock52]

KingOfHits2007: Is Kenneth King any relation to Jonathan King?

[whitevanman999]

king of hits is jonathan king, his real name is kenneth king

[ccmanmgcs]

Great song - and I actually worked with one of Hedghoppers Anonymous (so named because they were in the RAF), at Swish in the 80's. A really nice guy -now sadly passed-on...

[Krzyszczynski]

If I remember rightly, the BBC at first refused to play this (ditto the Eve of Destruction), but had to give in when it became a hit.

[endaoliver]

Ther's a bloke I work with who sings the first few lines of this, to people's bemusement. A big influence on the Manic Street Preachers this song. Maybe

[steelbeard1]

The version heard here is the "birth control" version which was issued in countries in which the record company did not like the "sacred cows" line.

[bjbell52]

I heard it was the other way around. In the U.S. we heard the "sacred cow" version because the censors didn't want the "birth control" version.

[CruxAustralis]

Ariane Brodier - French weather girl and TV Presenter. Hmmmmm

[RadioBazterd]

JK is a bit special (musically) had hits under many different names and always humorous......but hey - his head is so big already so keep it quiet... shhhhh!

[TaintedSeraph666]

Love this.. most amusing!

[tigerssixty]

Newspaper in the video says words and music by Kenneth King.

Have this on an album of British Hits. Real good composition.

Thanks,

[KingOfHits2007]

One and the same Post!

[postyesterdayman]

the film says kenneth and the description says johnathan, which king is it?

[MrBradfordDave]

They're the same guy. Kenneth King is Jonathan King's real name.

[MrJohnConstable]

On 9/11, as the second plane went into the tower, some of the infamous words from this song came into my head.

Not quite on a par with Roberts Oppenheimers 'I am the destroyer of worlds' as the first atomic bomb exploded in the New Mexico desert.

Is humanity going to self-destruct?

Definately, maybe.

[fiskungen]

DE SEWEDISH VERISJON IS VERY BETTER

[KingOfHits2007]

Thank you CMF1965 - the original was always the best! It went No1 in ten states and was banned in the others so only charted in the 40s or 50s nationally.

[shmuli9]

@KingOfHits2007 I THOUGHT "Hedgehoppers Anonymous" sounded familiar...

[VladimirRapunietz]

Nice with some real musik again !!!

[fjbutch]

My goodness, didn't think this oldy would be here.....nice to hear it again..

[JackAwful]

I loved this when it came out and I love it now.

[motorbikesforever]

now heard both versions ,just love ,it but why two ?

[motorbikesforever]

now heard two versions great song but which is the original ?

[Scorch777]

This one is.

[bigpics]

the one I heard growing up had a verse missing from this one, and it was the one verse that stayed memorized in my head all these years:

It's good news week

lots of food in Asia now

they butchered up the sacred cow

they got a lot to eat

[KingOfHits2007]

You're right bigpics and I should have made the video to that one but couldn't find a decent copy of it. That verse was banned in America - it was in the original UK hit.

[cmf1965]

That version WAS played on the Miami, Florida AM station's in 1965.

[Michlimania]

Sounds like Hermin's hermits.

[RJpro179]

Great memories inspired by this song

RJ

[tincaptain]

Thankyou "King of the Hits"

[KingOfHits2007]

I don't think anyone ever thought it was anyone else Captain.

[tincaptain]

When you buy CD albums, MP3 etc......be careful....there is only one original lead vocalist of "Hedgehoppers Anonymous" and thats MIKE TINSLEY

[tincaptain]

The golden voice of Mike Tinsley is now on Youtube.......with another video to follow in the near future. Now he is a wise man who has survived in this "dog eat dog business"......no gimmicks......just the true Mick!

[KingOfHits2007]

Terrific news - I look forward to hearing more of Mick's voice.

[tincaptain]

Mike Tinsley.....the lead singer of the "Hedgehoppers Anonymous" who had the hit "Its Good News Week" in 1965 will soon be on Youtube with a new song written and recorded by himself called "MY SURVIVAL"..He has developed a very strong tenor voice......just wait until you hear this guy.

I heard him in Australia.The song was arranged with the help of Tony Swain...hit producer of artistes such as Alison Moyet,Spandau Ballet.......hell be a smash!!!!

[CelticSaxon]

Could have been written yesterday :-(

[morgancheese]

OH! this is the theme song for the actual show called Good News Week! cool....thought it was like an original Paul McDermott song. You can't understand his version though..this one's great!

[PrinceLordi]

how so? i actually like his version better.

[peppercub]

excellent track, kenneth. :)

I have always admired your work as a producer.

[mal334455]

in a perfect world you could be right....i come from England but im damn certain that if we didnt have the Yanks to sort the worlds problems out then we would be worse off

[SpamBanjo]

The yanks cause 75% of our problems... and with Europe... it's only gonna get worse my man.

[JulzRoxYourSox]

LMAO

[abelseeman]

Tis a bit bizarre to thing that those involved in performing this song had a careers which meant they had voluntarily allowed themselves to be summonsed to bomb innocemt civilians to smithereeens at a moments notice.

[kirstenthegoth]

That's the paradox inherent at the heart of all things. I love this music too yet I also was in the armed forces. Whilst chasing Shinners all over South Armagh, we enjoyed listening to Irish Rebel music. C'est la vie.

[waynejgl]

This is the anthem of the Cheney/Bush 'legacy'

of the defilement of the American People beyond

what Nixon's treachery ever devised.

[surfwave1951]

Got the 45, I'm glad I kept it.

[porkchop1verizon]

still relavent after all these years! who woulda thought? thanks!

[cmf1965]

RICOMAN1968...and I agree with your statement's, especially about the war in Viet Nam. Believe it or not, I have this song on an album (kind of a compilation of British Groups from that era), and the record was bought in South East Asia! I can't recall the name of the album, but will search for it, if you're interested. I still have albums from Viet Nam; most have no cardboard jacket, but rather clear plastic for protection. Most of the printing is in foreign language. Later...AL

[Krzyszczynski]

That album would I think be "The World of Hits" Vol 2, put out by Decca c1969 and featuring various hits on that label and its subsidiaries over the period 1963-68.

[KingOfHits2007]

Actually no, Saul, the Genesis boys have been very supportive and Peter was incredibly generous in his Man of the Year speech.

[dougchapel1977]

I hope Genesis paid JK royalties for ripping off the intro to this record on their No Son Of Mine single !

[saulgenesisfan]

No, they have never even spoken of taking it from this song. And i doubt they even want to associate themselves with him now...they did in the 90's, but since he was put in jail they seem to have steered clear of him. A bit like how the Glitter Band doesn't want to acknowledge that it once backed Gary Glitter.

[saulgenesisfan]

The only time they mention Jon here is when Tony, Mike, Ant, and Peter are talking about the debut Genesis album, after which they couldn't ditch him fast enough.

[Shuna5]

I bought this single in 1965 and my Mum put it on the fire!!

[Bellyflops2]

Sounds like badass Herman's Hermits

[Westusk5]

I have been looking for this song since forever!! Great tune and so appropriate for todays times.

[chestertouristcom]

sound like it could be about the year 2001 not 1965

[bazzashadow]

this is one of the greats that not alot of people have heard

just ashame about the vidio

[OutaSynch]

Rancorous critics aside, I liked the tune as I was driving across the country in 1965 and I still like it. Who cares about "messages". You either like the tune or you don't. If you don't, then don't listen. There are plenty of tunes on You Tube to listen to besides this one.

[cmf1965]

1965 was the year this received some top 40 airplay. Some station formats restricted it's airplay. The version I remember from '65 had the line "...there's lot's of blood in Asia now...they've butchered-up the sacred cow...they've got a lot to eat..." Controversial for sure back in 1965. Same with Barry McGuires "Eve Of Destruction."...and the beat goes on...

[RICOMAN1968]

25 July 2007: Thanks for posting "Good News Week." I agree with cmf1965 about the different version aired that fall of 1965 adn early 1966 with the lyrics about blood in Asia and butchering up the sacred cow. Some stations played that version, though many refused, and I felt it was becasue of the escalating Vietnam War that fall. Great song.

[shaboubla]

FAAAAABULOUS!!!! I got the chorus stuck in my head months ago, and couldn't get it out (and couldn't find the song either). Thanks for posting this; it really hit the spot. Great stuff :D

[Route625]

I wish I'd known that this video was on here sooner. Always loved the song...and the message.

[jegmeister]

Pretentious rubbish. This is desperately trying to make a point and miserably failing. A shame - some of his stuff from the 70s is superb - he should stick to writing straightforward songs rather than music with a "message".

[dougchapel1977]

2,000,00 buyers of the single would presumably disagree with you ?

Stick to playing johnny reggae jegmeister

[Nemissus]

SHUT UP!!! theres a music montage to this???

[KingOfHits2007]

Do complete your story E42 and thanks for it!

[E4287646]

These guys where in The Royal Air Force when I joined up. They took their name from the low flying

[ModGirl1967]

Always wondered where the band's name came from. Hmm. Jaunty little tune.

[MrJcabz]

@E4287646 Corret! They were at RAF Wittering which flew V Bombers at t!he time.

I was At North Luffenham just up the road which was a Thor Missile site previously

[MontyPropps]

Crap.

[alicemulhearn]

legendary