THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,724) The Montanas — “A Step in the Right Direction”
This fantastic propulsive beat number, written by Jackie Trent and Tony Hatch, “easily had the potential to be a hit”. (Vernon Joynson, The Tapestry of Delights Revisited) Alas, “[t]here was a big buildup and considerable radio interest . . . but as usual, the heavy sales in and around Wolverhampton failed to spread out nationally. . . . Its UK failure led to its relegation to B-side status in the US”. (Roger Dopson, liner notes to the CD comp You’ve Got to Be Loved (Singles A’s & B’s))
Birmingham’s Montanas [see #1,245] were “essentially a mainstream harmony-pop band. . . . They issued a series of beautifully crafted mid-sixties singles that marked the development of beat into summer pop with even a hint of psychedelia, without getting the success they deserved.” (Vernon Joynson, The Tapestry of Delights Revisited) Their “Pye Records recordings . . . [constitute] one of the more self-consciously beautiful bodies of music that one is likely to cross paths with from mid-’60s England.” (Bruce Eder, https://www.allmusic.com/album/youve-got-to-be-loved-mw0000229331)
Bruce Eder tells us more:
A middleweight outfit from England’s Midlands, their sound was a kind of high-energy pop/rock, with chiming guitars and seriously elegant and robust harmonies, somewhere midway between, say, the Hollies and the Ivy League. . . . generally runs toward fairly punchy beats, chiming rhythm guitars, and high harmonies. . . . By 1967, they’d evolved a bright sunshine pop sound that, had they been based in America on a reasonably strong label, might’ve had them breathing down the necks of the Association . . . .
The group originated in Birmingham in 1964 . . . . The group had a very theatrical presentation, which included bits of comedy between the songs. The Montanas were managed by Roger Allen, who was able to get them a contract with Pye Records, which brought them under the wing of songwriters Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent. . . . [who] also wrote hits for Petula Clark . . . . They had three songs, “Ciao Baby,” “You’ve Got to Be Loved,” and “Let’s Get a Little Sentimental,” that were favorites among reviewers, and got very heavy radio play, all without scoring any major chart action in England. Somehow, however, “You’ve Got to Be Loved” managed to make the American Top 50 — but they lacked the resources to come to the United States to promote the record, and watched as it rose and fell from the sales listings, all under its own power. . . . Everyone who ever saw the Montanas perform live respected and admired them as one of the top bands in Birmingham; they were first-rate musicians and had a powerful sound playing live, and were deserving of a break and a hit. . . . Their reliance on outside songwriters, which had been a mere detail . . . in 1965, had become a liability by 1967, and their records, for all of their excellence, didn’t reflect the group’s actual sound, which was a lot less pop-oriented than their singles would have led one to believe.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/youve-got-to-be-loved-mw0000229331, https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-montanas-mn0000891434#biography
Singer Johnny Jones ponders:
Tony Hatch was convinced he was going to get us away eventually . . . he spent an enormous amount of time and trouble with us. He produced all our releases . . . and he wrote some really strong songs for us. But in hindsight, we really should have gone over to The States once we found out “You’ve Got to Be Loved” was moving . . . that would probably have made all the difference . . .
liner notes to You’ve Got to Be Loved (Singles A’s & B’s): The Montanas
Finally, Brian Nicholls notes that:
Their unique blend of R&B, pop, and classic covers together with their close harmony versions of Beach Boys and Four Seasons hits ensured sell-out crowds, particularly in the Midlands area where fans would literally queue before the venue opened to ensure a seat. . . . The Monts were also constantly in demand for live radio broadcasts on Radio One Club with the shows hosted by Jimmy Young, Dave Lee Travis and Simon Bates. On 16 July, 1967 they appeared on ‘Easybeat’ performing ‘River Deep Mountain High’, ‘Morning Dew’ and ‘Take My Hand’ and were told it was one of the finest live performances in the history of the show.
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