The Flying Machine: "Smile a Little Smile For Me" (1969)

Описание: British sunshine pop band The Flying Machine were a One Hit Wonder in the U.S. with their #5 Hot 100 single, "Smile a Little Smile For Me".

This studio group was the brainchild of producers Geoff Stephens and Tony Macaulay.

Born Anthony Gordon Instone, Tony Macaulay began as a songplugger in the early '60s. He had a long string of pop writing successes, solo and as co-writer, that includes "Baby Now That I've Found You" and "Build Me Up Buttercup" (The Foundations), "(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All, (The 5th Dimension)", "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" (Edison Lighthouse), "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again" (The Fortunes) and "Don't Give Up on Us" (David Soul).

Geoffrey Stephens got his start composing for amateur theatricals. In 1964 he was Donovan's first producer. Two years later, Stephens assembled The New Vaudeville Band, writing and producing their #1 Hot 100 hit, "Winchester Cathedral". That studio group also were first to record Geoff's "There's a Kind of Hush" (released as an LP track). It was later a #4 Hot 100 hit for Herman's Hermits, their last to make the Top 10. Additionally, he gave us "Daughter of Darkness" (Tom Jones), "Knock, Knock Who's There?" (Mary Hopkin) and "Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast" (Wayne Newton), all huge sellers.


PERSONNEL: Tony Newman (rhythm guitar, lead vocal); Steve Jones (lead guitar, backing vocal); Sam Kempe (backing vocal); Stuart Colman (bass guitar, piano); Paul Wilkinson (drums); Tony Macaulay (composer, producer); Geoff Stephens (composer)

Released June 1969 on styrene CONGRESS 45 #6000

Source: 4-disc 1972 K-TEL Records LP box set #TU-229,
"60 Flash-Back Greats of the 60's"

Tech data: mastered with AVA triple filter© process (no Dolby)