Peter & Gordon - Lady Godiva

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In June 1964, Peter & Gordon became the very first British Invasion act after the Beatles to take the number one spot on the American charts with "A World Without Love." That hit, and their subsequent successes, were due as much or more to their important connections as to their talent. Peter Asher was the older brother of Jane Asher, Paul McCartney's girlfriend for much of the 1960s. This no doubt gave Asher and Gordon Waller access to Lennon-McCartney compositions that were unrecorded by the Beatles, such as "A World Without Love" and three of their other biggest hits, "Nobody I Know," "I Don't Want to See You Again," and "Woman" (the last of which was written by McCartney under a pseudonym). But Peter & Gordon were significant talents in their own right, a sort of Everly Brothers-styled duo for the British Invasion that faintly prefigured the folk-rock of the mid-'60s. In fact, when Gene Clark first approached Jim McGuinn in 1964 about working together in a group that would eventually evolve into the Byrds, he suggested that they could form a Peter & Gordon-styled act.

Asher and Waller had been singing together since their days at Westminster School for Boys, a private school in London. "A World Without Love" was their biggest and best hit, one that sounded very much like the Beatles' more pop-oriented originals. Their other two 1964 hits, "Nobody I Know" and "I Don't Want to See You Again," were pleasant but less distinguished. Sounding like McCartney-dominated Beatle rejects (which, in fact, they were), the production employed a softer, more acoustic feel than the hits by the Beatles and other early British Invasion guitar bands. "I Don't Want to See You Again" used strings, as would several of the duo's subsequent hits, which became increasingly middle-of-the-road in their pop orientation.

Some scattered folky B-sides showed that Asher and Waller may have been capable of developing into decent songwriters, but like many of the less talented British Invaders, their lack of songwriting acumen and ability to move with the times would eventually work against them. They did continue to hit the charts for a couple of years, with updates of the oldies "True Love Ways" (Buddy Holly) and "To Know You Is to Love You" (a variation of the Teddy Bears' "To Know Her Is to Love Her"). There was also a Top Ten cover of Del Shannon's "I Go to Pieces," and the brassy, McCartney-penned "Woman." The overtly cute and British novelty "Lady Godiva," though, became their last big hit in late 1966.

After Peter & Gordon broke up in 1968, Asher became an enormously successful producer, first as the director of A&R at the Beatles' Apple Records (where he worked on James Taylor's first album). Relocating to Los Angeles, in the 1970s he was one of the principal architects of mellow Californian rock, producing Taylor and Linda Ronstadt. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Category:

Education

Tags:

• british
• rock

[LOKISlog7]

The lead; has a great voice.

[DigJam53]

I saw Herman's Hermits in the mid 80[s,, at second base at Arlington Stadium,, after a game between the Twins and Rangers. Also there were the Monkees,, Grass Roots and Four Seasons,, after a great ball game,, to get al that wonderful music, was one of my wife and my best dates

[flamesounds]

@TheWhatsinaname I saw Herman's Hermits play 'I'm Henry the VIII I Am" live and it sounded completely different that way. It was loud, raging British Invasion Mod sound with a driving bass......It sounded totally cool. But you're correct, there was a lot of reverence for music that came before. The Beatles are another good example!

[titostacos]

This came out when I was ten and it got me all excited but I didn't even know what all excited was yet.

[TheWhatsinaname]

Actually this song probably has it's roots as an early 20th century vaudeville tune (it certainly has that feeling to it). There were many 1960's British invasion artists that were experimenting with the vaudeville concept in their music (some were hits and there were other misses), other examples besides this would have been Herman's Hermits' "I'm Henry VIII, I AM" & the New Vauderville Band's "Winchester Cathedral".

[GUIDOBRAT]

this certainly brings back Brit Invasion memories for me

thx:)

[corkeyguitarplayer1]

Who ever wrote this was just Nuts, I love it

[Wellveryinteresting]

Very interesting take for obviously another one of those finds of an early promotional music video (pre-MTV obviously, but starting the post Scopitones) -- doesn't really get to the story, but filmed in an interesting way. I wonder if Peter & Gordon's vid. for "Lady Godiva" was filmed and released before Donovan's vid. for "Sunshine Superman" -- some of camera techniques are similiar?