The Sorrows 1965

 

The Sorrows 1965

by Pete Clemons

A lot of people will remember the Song "Take a Heart". It was Released as a single in August 1965 by Coventry group The Sorrows and became a UK chart hit, reaching the Top 30.

“Take a Heart” is known for its hard-edged R&B sound and "tribal" drumming. It was written by Miki Dallon but was originally recorded as a B-side by a band called The Boys Blue before The Sorrows' version became famous.

Chart success led to The Sorrows gaining a modi-come of national press interest, tours etc. Here is one such article that came on the back of the bands time in the limelight................

It used to be the fashion to say 'We don't want a hit record' . Now The Sorrows have come up with a new complaint - they think their current Pop 50 entry 'Take a Heart' projected the wrong image.

'Of course we feel happy that the record got us off the ground and brought us to the money earning bracket where we always wanted to be' says 6 ft 7 inch lead singer Don Maughn. 'But we don't in fact play this sort of thing all the time'.

'Our music is far wilder, louder and more distorted. Our new one 'You Got What I Want' is far more us, with lots more noise. The thing about The Sorrows is you either like us or hate us. We appeal to the deaf set'.

Don agrees that 'Take a Heart' has made a big difference. 'They are working us ten days out of seven' he said 'The theory seems to be that we have been sleeping for the last 18 months so we can get through the next 18 without any'.

'Take a Heart' was probably also responsible for the battle of West Hartlepool - The Sorrows' first experience of fan fever.

'I'd never seen anything like it' recalled Don. 'Our lead guitarist, Pip Witcher, walked to the edge of the stage to shake hands with a girl. That was the last we saw of him for 10 minutes !'.

'He came back with one leg of his trousers gone, minus a sleeve of his jumper and cuts on his face. Then they charged the stage 300 strong'.

'I was on the floor with all these girls piled on top of me. A bouncer joined in. He was a nice quiet type - probably a probation officer or something like that during the day. But he started trying to get these women off me. I was in total agony for a week'.

'All of a sudden everything went up. Chairs were flying about. They finally locked us in the dressing room'.

'When we came out for the second half there seemed to be more bouncers than people - all standing in front of the stage. It was like playing to the back of somebody's head'.

Still, what are a few bruises when all that lovely loot is starting to roll in?.

You Got What I Want - The Sorrows

Take a Heart live The Sorrows