Pop Archives

Ray Brown & The Whispers - Twenty Miles (1965)

(Kal Mann - Bernie Lowe)
Australia Australia
#1 Sydney #25 Melbourne #2 Brisbane #3 Adelaide #1 Perth

Double-sided hit in Perth with Devoted To You.

Chart-topping Sydney band that originated in the surf music scene as The Nocturnes. After acquiring Ray Brown as their lead singer, they went on to become one of the most popular Australian bands of the British Invasion era.

Further reading: Ray Brown history at Milesago.

Disambiguation: 1. This is not Ray Brown, the American jazz bassist (1926-2002). 2. These Whispers are not the American R&B vocal group formed in 1964.


Dean Ford & The Gaylords - Twenty Miles (1964)

(Kal Mann - Bernie Lowe)
UK UK

Glasgow band, later known as Marmalade, formed in 1961. Single on Columbia.

In the late 60s and into the 70s, with a name change to Marmalade, the band had 11 charting records in the UK, including 8 in the Top 10. As Marmalade, they're perhaps best remembered for their cover of the Beatles' Ob La Di Ob La Da (1968, #1 UK) and the original by Dean Ford (b.Thomas McAleese) and Junior Campbell, Reflections Of My Life (1969, #3 UK), covered in Australia by Flake. See also their composition Rainbow (1970), covered in Australia by Elm Tree.

Junior Campbell later wrote the theme to Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends.

Further reading1. The Marmalade page at Rockingscots. 2. Dean Ford & The Gaylords from the defunct British Beat Boom site [Internet Archive]. 3. Marmalade biography by Bruce Eder at AllMusic.

Thanks to Terry Stacey.


Brian Poole & The Tremeloes - Twenty Miles (1963)

(Kal Mann - Bernie Lowe)
UK UK

Track 2 on 1963 Decca album Twist And Shout.
Track 3 was If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody, a minor Australian hit for The Strangers (1965), and on Side 2 of the album was Over The Mountain, recorded in Australia by Johnny O’Keefe (1958).

Version alert from Terry Stacey.
Further reading: Brian Poole & The Tremeloes bio and discography at British Beat Boom.


Chubby Checker - Twenty Miles (1963)

(Kal Mann - Bernie Lowe)
USA USA
Original version
#15 USA #15 Sydney #15 Melbourne #5 Adelaide

Double-sided hit in Melbourne and Adelaide with Let's Limbo Some More.