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The HiFis (also known as The Hi-Fis) are a major mystery to me. Judging by this 1967 album they were easily as talented as far better know UK competitors, yet they're all but unknown outside of collectors circles where they're lone German-issued LP is a sought after and expensive collectable.

Featuring the talents of singer/keyboardist Brian Bennett, bassist Ted Harvey, lead guitarist Malcolm Lenny (Harvey and Lenny had previously been members of The Packabeats), and drummer Mel Wright the band came together in 1963. They began generating some buzz on the London club circuit, eventually signing to Pye Records. (A 1963 single on Picadilly credited to The Hi-Fis 'Take Me Or Leave Me' b/w 'I'm Struck' (Piccadilly catalog number 7N 35130)) was a different band.

- 1964's 'I Keep Forgettin'' b/w 'Why Can't I Stop Loving You' (Pye catalog number 7N 15710)

Frustrated by their inability to catch a break the band subsequently underwent a personnel change that saw original bassist Ted Harvey quit. He was replaced by Gary Unwin. The band also added a second guitarist in the form of Mike Douglas. The revamped line up also decided to try a different marketing plan. Seemingly unable to break in the hyper-competitive English marketplace, they accepted an invitation to play clubs in Hamburg, West Germany where they were eventually picked up by the Star-Club Records label. Their German and US debuts came in the form of the 1967 single:

- 1967's 'Snakes and Ladders' b/w 'Tread Softy for the Sleepers' (Star-Club catalog number 148 548 STF).

The four earlier singles all did well on the German charts. At one point in time The HiFis actually had two singles in the German top-10, Their Hamburg-based Star-Club label notices and quickly moved to finance an album - 1967's "Snakes and HiFis". With Bennett, Douglas, Lenny, and Unwin handling the writing chores, the album showcased a largely original set of material that was nothing short of wonderful. Perhaps because expectations for the group were low, they band responded with a collection that was never less than fun and charming. Don't go looking for big political, or social statements since there weren't any. On the other hand, propelled by Bennett's likeably voice, and energetic performances from the rest of the band, this was clever and commercial pop with occasional nods to psychedelia ('Tread Softly For The Sleepers'). Song-for-song the was easily as good as anything their UK-based competitors were churning out. (Again, you just had to wonder how there could be so much talent in one country at one time, forcing so many British groups to try to make it in Germany and other European countries.) My only complaint is the album was too short and they never got a chance to record a follow-up set. A true overlooked classic ... There's a nice band website at: The Hi-Fi's (thehi-fis.co.uk)

1.) Tread Softly For The Sleepers (Brian Bennett - Mike Douglas) - 2:19 rating: **** stars

Previously released as the "B" side of the German 'Snakes and Ladders' single, 'Tread Softly For The Sleepers' was a near perfect slice of British pop-psych. Complemented by Wright's pounding drums and Bennett's ringing organ, the tune boasting a fantastic, lysergic-tinged melody and blazing group vocal harmonies. it's hard to believe this one wasn't tapped as a single in its own right.

Originally recorded by The Rip Chords, the album's lone cover tune 'Here I Stand' managed to out- Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Too bad the former didn't do a cover of The HIFis version as it would have provided them with a top-40 hit. Lead guitarist Lenny handled lead vocals on this one. Mike Sheridan and the Night Riders also covered the tune.

A previously released German single, this was one of those tracks that drills into your head and then simply will not leave, 'Snakes and Ladders' offered up a beguiling mix of Beach Boys vibe and a glistening slice of bubblegum pop. 'Course these guys turned it in a full two years before the bubblegum genre became popular !

Hearing 'Grade A Girl' you have to marvel at how much things have changed - writing, let alone recording something as misogynistic in this age would get you hurt. On the other hand, anyone under the impression mid-1960s pop was nothing more than 'moon-in-June' puffery needed only check out the hysterically dated lyrics.' 10cc had nothing on these guys.

Opening and closing with a cool keyboard sound that sounded like an early synthesizer (according to Malcolm Lenny "It was a Claviolene. The same monophonic keyboard that The Tornados used on "Telstar"), 'What’s A Bulb' sounded like The Hollies overdosing on Red Bull energy drink. Always wondered what inspired them to write a song dedicated to lightbulbs.

Imagine hyper-caffinated Hollies hanging out with 10cc for a month and you'd get a feel for 'Calorie Ann'. An amazing combination of Hollies-styled melody and 10cc humor ... Great bass pattern from Unwin.

(side 2)
1.) Up And Over (Brian Bennett - Mike Douglas - Malcolm Lenny) - . rating: ** stars

One of two disappointments, 'Up and Over' was a bland ballad done in a mock upper crust accent. The cheesy bird and crowd sound effects couldn't salvage the track. At least the punchy Stax-ish horn arrangements were nice.

Built on a Motown-styled framework, 'Odd Man Out' had it all - another amazing melody, driving Douglas vocal, insidiously catchy Bennett organ pattern. How could this not have been a major radio hit?

Another previously released single, the oom-pah-pah melody that propelled 'I’m A Box' didn't immediately appeal to me, but the lyric was quite clever and ultimately won me over.

The beautiful acoustic ballad 'Your Haunting Me' may simply be the best Beach Boys imitation you'll ever stumble across.

I was expecting 'Uwe Aus Duisburg' to be the band's token German-language nod to their audience ... instead it turned out the be a hysterical slice of new wave-styled mod-styled pop. The song would have sounded right at home on a Nick Lowe album. Simply great !!!

All hyperbole aside 'My Cards Numbered 17' was another one of those 'should've been a hit' songs.

7.) No Two Ways (Brian Bennett - Mike Douglas - Malcolm Lenny) - 2:16 . rating: ***** stars

Hard to image, but from a purely commercial standpoint 'No Two Ways' was even better. If you set out to build a mid-1960s top-40 hit this is what you would have come up with. You had to wonder why it had been relegated to the 'I'm a Box' "B" side.

I haven't done a great deal of research on the principals. Harvey still occasionally performs with guitarist Lenny in The Packabeats.

Lenny's career seems to have taken him into television, but he remained active in music working as a sound engineer, playing in the local band Happy Daze, and occasional reunions with The Packabeats.

Unwin apparently stayed in Germany and enjoyed quite a bit of success as a sessions player and songwriter (Boney M, Amanda Lar, The Munich Machine, Silver Convention, etc.). He now lives in Tuscany and operates a bread and breakfast-type of enterprise.

Wright seems to have disappeared and is not the same Mel Wright who worked with a long list of groups including Dynaflow Blues, The Nighthawks, The Brunning Sunflower Blues Band, Traitor's Gait, Chris Youlden's touring bandand is now a member of the Celtic band The Flying Chaucers. (I checked.)

In 2008 the British Wooden Hill label finally reissued the album in CD format (Wooden Hill catalog number WHCD022). The reissue included extensive biographical material and 14 bonus tracks, including singles, live track and unreleased material.

12.) No Two Ways (mono single mix) (Brian Bennett - Mike Douglas - Malcolm Lemmy) -

14 ) Tread Softly For The Sleepers (mono single mix) (Brian Bennett - Mike Douglas) -

Thanks for your note and the link to The Hi Fi's. I would have included the band on my website if I had been a member but, I wasn't! They've mixed me up with another Mel Wright, perhaps still drumming away too.

Cheers

Mel Wright

March, 2009

In an odd coincidence a couple of weeks after I sold this album I got the following email:

This is Malcolm Lenny, lead guitarist of The Hi-Fi's. I've just read your review of our Star Club Album, Snakes and Hi-Fi's. My God! I've never read so many compliments about the band anywhere before! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. I hope you don't mind, but I thought I ought to correct you on a couple of minor details.

1) - 1966's 'It's Gonna Be Morning' b/w 'I Wanna Hear You Say Yeah' (Alp catalog number 595 010) was not recorded by The Hi-Fis that I knew. There was another band around at the time that we were on the Piccadilly label.

2) Micky Douglas (he sang most songs), Brian Bennett, Gary Unwin and me Malcolm Lenny, all took lead vocal parts on the album.

3) "Their German debut came in the form of the 1967 single 'I'm a Boy' b/w 'No Two Ways' (Star Club catalog number 148 578 STF)". ` It was called "I'm a Box" not "I'm a Boy". That was The Who, as I'm sure you know.

4) "With Bennett, Douglas, and Unwin handling the writing chores". I co-wrote a couple of tracks too.

5) "Here I Stand" was originally recorded by THE RIP CHORDS. I sang the lead vocal on that one.

6) "Opening and closing with a cool keyboard sound that sounded like an early synthesizer", (It was a Claviolene. The same monophonic keyboard that The Tornados used on "Telstar")' What’s A Bulb' sounded like..............

7) "- One of two disappointments, 'Up and Over' was a bland ballad done in a mock upper crust accent. The cheesy bird and crowd sound effects couldn't salvage the track". This was a demo written for comic BENNY HILL. Producer Siggi Locke put it on the album. "At least the punchy Stax-ish horn arrangements were nice". The horns came from Irish friends The Boston Showband, who later became The Glitter Band.

8) "- Built on a Motown-styled framework, 'Odd Man Out' had it all - another amazing melody, driving Bennett vocal, insidiously catchy organ pattern". Micky Douglas sang this one, not Brian.

9) "- The beautiful acoustic ballad 'You're Haunting Me'( not Your) may simply be the best Beach Boys imitation you'll ever stumbled across". Gary Unwin wrote and sang this one.

Please don't take these as criticisms. It just nice to have the correct info and we're grateful that anyone remembers us at all these days. Micky and I both play in HAPPY DAZE and still have a great time, even though we're both in our late 60s!

Unfortunately both Brian Bennett and Mel (Malcolm) Wright have gone to that great gig in in the sky in recent years. We still miss them and the fun we had together. Incidentally, 90% of the songs on "Snakes and Hi-Fi's" were written about people, places and incidents that happened to us as we went along. Check out the sleevenotes. They kinda explain it all. All the best and thanks again for the review.