The Sons of Fred released their first single, “Sweet Love” b/w “I’ll Be There” in 1964 on Columbia Records – not the same as our Columbia Records (outside the U.S. and Canada, their releases are on CBS Records due to the name conflict) but rather a subsidiary of EMI Records. This was an R&B record.
The Sons of Fred performed “Sweet Love” on the pioneering British rock/pop program, Ready Steady Go! (probably in June 1965) and also lip-synched “Baby What You Want Me To Do” on another TV show, Thank Your Lucky Stars on March 5, 1966.
With its fierce vocals and fine organ solo, “Sweet Love” is my favorite song by the Sons of Fred; despite its early recording date, it is probably also closest to the psychedelic-tinged freakbeat sound. “I’ll Be There” reminds me of the band that was originally slotted as the UARB for this month, the Fairies.
(March 2014/2)
