Yachts were one of the pre-eminent power pop bands in post-punk Liverpool, playing their first gig at the legendary Eric's club supporting Elvis Costello. They were subsequently signed to Stiff Records and released their classic debut single "Suffice To Say" before moving on to Radar Records and further releases including the cult classic 45 "Yachting Type."

"Mantovani's Hits" was a track on their self-titled first album and was always a hugely popular live number. It dwells on the idea of what it would have been like if Rock'n'Roll had never happened, and popular music hadn't ever progressed any further than the early 50's and the likes of The Mantovani Light Orchestra.

"We're not a band who normally dwell
On social comment, and just as well.
But what if back, in 56
No-one had bought those Elvis hits?
- Mantovani's hits
All you ever hear
- Mantovani's hits
Wait for the next one to appear."

Tha band toured the States supporting The Who and Joe Jackson amongst others, and their album made the Billboard Top 200. They finally split in 1981. Henry Priestman, whose cheesey keyboards were the groups trademark, joined and had success with The Christians, but then later he and two of the other band members - singer JJ Campbell and bassist Martin Dempsey - re-grouped as It's Immaterial, who had chart success in the UK with "Driving Away From Home."

It's long been a project idea of mine to do a video for this track and when I stumbled across a few old newsreels of Mantovani and His Orchestra it all fell into place.

Oh and don't be fooled - some of the film clips have been edited and speeded up in parts in order to fit the music. Mantovani was so NOT this swinging!

Enjoy. (less info)