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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 been members of The Packabeats), and drummer Mel Wright they came together in 1963. The band began generating some buzz on the London club circuit and was soon signed the Piccadilly label debuting with the 1963 single:

Their debut did little commercially, but the following year they were back having signed to Pye Records. Over the next year Pye released a series of three equally unsuccessful 45s:

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

Pye subsequently dropped the band at which point they signed a one-shot deal with the small Alp label. The resulting single proved no more successful than any of their earlier work:

- 1966's 'It's Gonna Be Morning' b/w 'I Wanna Hear You Say Yeah' (Alp catalog number 595 010)

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 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). That was followed by a second single - 1967's 'Snakes and Ladders' b/w 'Tread Softy for the Sleepers' (Star-Club catalog number 148 548 STF).

The singles did quite well on the German charts (at one point in time they were actually both in the German top-10) and the Hamburg-based Star-Club label quickly moved to finance an album - 1967's "Snakes and HiFis". With Bennett, Douglas, and Unwin handling the writing chores the album showcased a largely original set of material that was nothing short of wonderful. Perhaps because expectations on 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 easily as good as anything their UK-based competitors were churning out.

- Previously released as a German single, 'Tread Softly For The Sleepers' was a near perfect slice of British psych - Fantastic melody, blazing group harmonies, complemented by Wright's pounding drums and Bennett's ringing organ.

- The lone cover tune 'Here I Stand' managed to out-Four Seasons Frankie Valli and the boys. Too bad the former didn't do a cover of The HIFis version as it would have provided them with a top-40 hit.

- 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 !

- Anyone under the impression mid-1960s pop was nothing more than 'moon-in-June' puffery need only check out the hysterical lyrics on 'Grade A Girl' 10cc had nothing on these guys.

- Opening and closing with a cool keyboard sound that sounded like an early synthesizer, 'What’s A Bulb' sounded like The Hollies overdosing on Red Bull energy drink.

- Imagine hyper-caffienated 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.

- 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 Bennett vocal, insidiously catchy organ pattern. How could this not have been a major radio hit?

- The omm-pa-pa 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.

- Hard to image but '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.

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 ...

1.) Tread Softly For The Sleepers   (Brian Bennett - Mike Douglas) -
2.) Here I Stand   (Jack Nietsche) -
3.) Snakes And Ladders   (Brian Bennett - Mike Douglas) -
4.) Grade A Girl   (Brian Bennett - Mike Douglas) -
5.) What’s A Bulb   (Gary Unwin) -
6.) Calorie Ann   (Brian Bennett - Mike Douglas) -

2.) Odd Man Out   (Gary Unwin) -
3.) I’m A Box   (Gary Unwin) -
4.) Your Haunting Me   (Gary Unwin) -
5.) Uwe Aus Duisburg   (Brian Bennett - Mike Douglas) -
6.) My Cards Numbered 17   (Brian Bennett - Mike Douglas) -
7.) No Two Ways   (Brian Bennett - Mike Douglas - Malcolm Lenny) -

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, he 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.)

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 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) -