Hedgehoppers Anonymous were a 1960s beat group from the United Kingdom. They formed in November 1963 as The Trendsetters, and became The Hedgehoppers the following year.[2] Jonathan King took over their record production in 1965, and added Anonymous to their name.[2] Their most successful single was "It's Good News Week".[3]
Hedgehoppers Anonymous | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Peterborough, England |
| Genres | Beat music, pop |
| Years active | 1963–1966 |
| Labels | Decca |
| Past members | Mick Tinsley John Stewart Alan Laud Ray Honeybull Leslie Dash[1] |
Singles
editThe major success of Hedgehoppers Anonymous was the King-produced and -written "It's Good News Week", issued on Decca in 1965.[2] It reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart, and No. 48 on Billboard's Hot 100.[4][5] This song has been used as the theme music for Good News Week, a satirical news-based comedy quiz show on Australian television which ran from 1996 to 2000 and was revived in 2008.[2]
The group released four other tracks but did not achieve significant success. "Don't Push Me" only managed to reach the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart in the US.[6] while "Daytime" only appeared on Record Mirror's "Breakers List" (chart listing songs outside the Top 50). Without further success, the band soon broke up,[2] and the lack of significant chart activity other than "It's Good News Week" leaves them labelled as one-hit wonders.
Band members
editBand members were Royal Air Force personnel. (Hedgehoppers was RAF slang for low flying aircraft).[2]
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [7] |
AU [8] |
US [5] | |||
| 1965 | "It's Good News Week" | 5 | 8 | 48 | Decca F 12241 |
| "Don't Push Me" | — | 28 | 123[a] | Decca F 12298 | |
| 1966 | "Baby (You're My Everything)" | — | — | — | Decca F 12400 |
| "Daytime" | 58[b] | — | — | Decca F 12479 | |
| "Stop Press" | — | — | — | Decca F 12530 | |
- ^ Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart[9]
- ^ Chart position from Record Mirror "Breakers List" (15 June 66)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 230. ISBN 0-7535-0149-X.
- ^ a b c d e f "Biography by Steven McDonald". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
- ^ Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N Roll Gold Rush. Algora Publishing. p. 177. ISBN 9780875862071.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 249. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 29 January 1966. pp. 20, 44, 48.
- ^ "Bubbling Under the Hot 100". Billboard. 26 March 1966. p. 20.
- ^ "Hedgehoppers Anonymous". The Official Charts Company.
- ^ "AMR Top Singles of 1965". Top 100 Singles.
- ^ "Bubbling Under the Hot 100". Billboard. 26 March 1966. p. 20.
External links
edit- Mike Tinsley's website
- Garagehangover.com
- Hedgehoppers Anonymous discography at Discogs
