The Fourmost

The Fourmost were originally known as the Blue Jays, then the Four Jays, and then the Four Mosts, before finally taking on the name under which they finally succeeded. Lead guitarist and singer Brian O'Hara (b. Liverpool, Mar. 12, 1942) and rhythm guitarist and singer Mike Millward (b. Bromborough, Cheshire, May 9, 1942) had a pleasing attack on their instruments and sang well enough, even harmonizing well, and with bassist-singer Billy Hatton (b. Liverpool, June 9, 1941) and drummer (and sometime singer) Dave Lovelady (b. Liverpool, Oct. 16, 1942), the Fourmost were one of the better combos working Liverpool in the early 1960's. They could rock hard, with a crisp guitar sound and vocals that wailed convincingly, and Hatton's bass work had a nicely melodic sound--the group lacked the distinctiveness of Gerry & The Pacemakers at their best, but were never as sappily sentimental as their major sub-Beatles Liverpool rivals could get, and had a livelier, leaner, and more refined sound than such competitors as the Swingin' Blue Jeans. The Fourmost's fortunes took a sharp turn upward in 1963 when they were given the nod by Brian Epstein and became a part of his stable of Liverpool-based acts. Their bookings improved and they were signed to EMI's Parlophone label, where they were recorded by George Martin. The band also got access to a pair of Lennon-McCartney originals ("Hello Little Girl," "I'm In Love") that got them noticed, and they peaked in April of 1964 with the single "A Little Lovin'," which got to No. 6 in England. Unfortunately, none of the Fourmost were songwriters, and this left them at the mercy of outside inspiration and outside sources for songs, which quickly dried up as dozens of rival bands started covering the same material. They also looked a bit stiff...