Guitarist/vocalist Brian O'Hara and best friend guitarist/vocalist Joey Bower (born Joseph Bower, 17 November 1939, Dingle, Liverpool, Lancashire) formed the Two Jays in 1957. The group changed its name to the Four Jays in September 1959 when bass guitarist/singer Billy Hatton and drummer Brian Redman (born 21 June 1941, Huyton, Liverpool, Lancashire) joined the group. The Four Jays played at the Cavern Club on 1 March 1961, nearly three weeks before the Beatles. Rhythm guitarist/singer Mike Millward (ex-the Undertakers) joined the Four Jays in November 1961, followed by drummer/singer Dave Lovelady in September 1962. The band changed its name to the Fourmost in October 1962. On 30 June 1963, the group signed a management contract with Brian Epstein. This led to their being auditioned by George Martin and signed to EMI's Parlophone record label.
With Epstein as their manager, the Fourmost (like Cilla Black, Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas, Peter and Gordon and Tommy Quickly) had access to early Lennon–McCartney compositions. The Fourmost's first two singles were written by John Lennon. "Hello Little Girl", one of the earliest Lennon songs (written in 1957) was released on 30 August 1963 and reached No. 9 in the UK. Their follow-up single, "I'm in Love" (Lennon–McCartney), was released on 15 November 1963 and reached No. 17 in the UK. It was also notable as one of the earliest Beatles-penned songs to be released in the United States but, as with the Fourmost's other singles, it failed to chart there.
Their biggest hit followed. "A Little Loving", written by Russ Alquist, reached Number 6 in the UK Singles Chart in mid 1964. From then on, none of the group's singles cracked the Top 20 in the UK. "How Can I Tell Her", was followed by a cover version of the Four Tops' "Baby I Need Your Loving", sung by Millward, while Hatton took lead vocal on "Everything in the Garden", and "Girls Girls Girls" (originally recorded by the Coasters and a hit for Elvis Presley). Brian O'Hara composed most of their original songs, which were used as 'b' sides including 'Waitin For You', 'That's Only What They Say', 'He Could Never', and 'You Got That Way'.
On the group's only sixties album, First and Fourmost, from September 1965, they covered Jackie DeShannon's "Till You Say You'll Be Mine". Other tracks included "My Block" sung by Hatton and written by Jimmy Radcliffe, Carl Spencer and Bert Berns (originally a hit for the Chiffons in 1963), Millward sang a re-make of "The In Crowd" which featured the brass section from Sounds Incorporated, and Hatton sang two cover versions of Little Richard's "The Girl Can't Help It" and "Heebie-Jeebies". The band appeared in the 1965 film, Ferry Cross the Mersey and on the soundtrack album of the same name singing 'I Love You Too' (which appeared in two totally differing versions mono to stereo).
In early 1966 the band were rocked by the sudden death of rhythm guitarist/vocalist Mike Millward, a featured lead vocalist. They recruited George Peckham as replacement. In August 1966, the Fourmost covered another Beatles' song, "Here, There and Everywhere", followed by a cover of George Formby's "Auntie Maggie's Remedy" in November 1966. The latter song was representative of a comedic element to some of the group's recordings. George Peckham wrote and sang The country-influenced "Turn the Lights Down Low" (the b-side of "Auntie Maggie's Remedy"), a short-lived effort to branch out to less pop-oriented fare.
In 1968, now on the CBS record label, they recorded "Apples, Peaches And Pumpkin Pie", an R&B hit by Jay & the Techniques, followed by "Rosetta" (suggested by Paul McCartney, who played piano on it), and "Easy Squeezy". The group soon stopped recording, and became popular on the cabaret circuit. George Peckham left the band in 1969 to run a recording studio. Original member Joey Bower returned to the band as replacement, a later private pressing album; The Fourmost - featured O'Hara, Hatton, Lovelady and Bower - which included covers such as "Without You", "I've Got You Under My Skin", "Rag Doll" and "Save The Last Dance For Me" was sold at their shows in 1975. Hatton, Lovelady and Bower all left in 1980 while O'Hara continued the group with new members, although a version of the band featuring O'Hara and older members Hatton and Lovelady did once perform at the new Cavern Club. O'Hara eventually dropped out selling the band's name. A later line up featuring longtime later member bassist/singer Bill Haisman (who had been in the later group alongside Brian O'Hara) plus John Richards (lead guitar, vocals), Gary Pearson (guitar, vocals) and Kevin Clarkson (drums, vocals) released a DVD and CD titled, The Fourmost Live at The Club Tropicana, featuring recording of a show recorded in Skegness on 7 April 2007. They performed both "Hello Little Girl" and "A Little Loving" among other covers of 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s hit songs. Bill Haisman later retired. A touring version of the band continued led by drummer/vocalist Kevin Clarkson, with Alex Leyland (rhythm guitar, vocals), Colin Walsh (lead guitar, vocals) and Lee Clarkson (bass guitar, vocals).
Charley Records later issued a 20 track compilation album also titled First and Fourmost, while EMI Records later released a CD stereo/mono version of the original 1965 album in 1999. In 2005, they also released a 33 track CD compilation The Best of The Fourmost, which included the stereo version of "I Love You Too", and four previously unreleased songs with booklet notes written by Billy Hatton.
Mike Millward died from leukaemia in 1966. Brian O'Hara took his own life in 1999. Billy Hatton died in 2017.
Original band members
Brian O'Hara, born 12 March 1941, Dingle, Liverpool, died 27 June 1999, Wavertree, Liverpool (suicide), vocalist/lead guitarist, from June 1962
Mike Millward, born Michael Millward, 9 May 1942, Bromborough, Cheshire, died 7 March 1966, at Clatterbridge Hospital, Bebington, Cheshire, rhythm guitarist/vocalist, from June 1962
Billy Hatton, born William Hatton, 9 June 1941, Dingle, Liverpool,, bassist/vocalist died 19 September 2017, Liverpool
Dave Lovelady, born David Lovelady, 16 October 1942, Litherland, Liverpool, drummer/vocalist, from September 1962
Discography
Singles
Year Single Chart positions
UK[6] AU US
1963 "Hello Little Girl" 9 - -
"I'm In Love" 17 - -
1964 "A Little Loving" 6 98 -
"If You Cry" (US Only) - - -
"How Can I Tell Her" 33 - -
"Baby I Need Your Loving" 24 63 -
1965 "Everything in the Garden" - - -
"Girls Girls Girls" 33 21 -
1966 "Here, There and Everywhere" - - -
"Auntie Maggie's Remedy" - 43 -
1968 "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie" - - -
"Rosetta" - - -
1969 "Easy Squeezy" - - -
Till You Say You'Ll Be Mine
The Fourmost Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't care if the sky is pretty blue
I don't care if the sun comes shining through
It really doesn't matter, baby
My heart keeps crying
Oh, life means nothing till you say you'll be mine
Ain't nothing in this world that can make me happy
I just got to have you for my own
My heart keeps crying
Oh, life means nothing till you say you'll be mine
Every night I pray that we can
Someday walk hand-in-hand down the aisle
But I guess I'll have to wait and see
Oh, this waiting is killing me
I'm no child
I don't care if I had all the money in the world
It just wouldn't matter if I wasn't your girl, baby
There's only one thing that will stop my heart from crying
The day you tell me that you'll be mine
I'll be so happy the day you tell me that you'll be mine
The Fourmost's "Till You Say You'll Be Mine" is a song about longing for someone's love and affection. The lyrics are straightforward and heartfelt, expressing a sense of unbearable longing that can only be fulfilled when the person they desire says they will be theirs. The singer's heart is crying out for this person, and the thought of not being with them causes them immense pain. Even with all the riches in the world, the singer knows that their life means nothing without the love of their desired.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of commitment and marriage, with the singer dreaming of walking down the aisle with their desired. The waiting is killing the singer, but they know they are not a child and will have to wait and see if their dreams come true. In the end, the only thing that will stop the singer's heart from crying is being told that they will be loved.
Overall, "Till You Say You'll Be Mine" is a simple yet emotional love song that captures the feeling of longing and the importance of love in one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't care if the sky is pretty blue
The beauty of nature does not compare to my need for you
I don't care if the sun comes shining through
The light of the world cannot fill the darkness of my heart without you
It really doesn't matter, baby
Nothing else has importance to me in comparison to you
My heart keeps crying
My emotions are unsettled and incomplete without you
Oh, life means nothing till you say you'll be mine
The purpose of my existence relies on your commitment to me
Until you say you'll give all your love to me
I desire complete devotion and affection from you
Ain't nothing in this world that can make me happy
My happiness is dependent solely on your love
I just got to have you for my own
My desire for you is possessive and intense
Every night I pray that we can
I long for a future with you and yearn for divine intervention
Someday walk hand-in-hand down the aisle
I dream of marrying you and spending my life with you
But I guess I'll have to wait and see
I acknowledge that my dream may not come true and must accept uncertainty
Oh, this waiting is killing me
The anticipation and uncertainty of our relationship is causing me emotional anguish
I'm not a child
I am a mature and committed individual who is serious about our relationship
I don't care if I had all the money in the world
My wealth and possessions are meaningless without your love
It just wouldn't matter if I wasn't your girl, baby
I need to be with you in order to find fulfillment and happiness
There's only one thing that will stop my heart from crying
Your commitment to me is the only thing that can bring me true happiness
The day you tell me that you'll be mine
Your promise to love and commit to me will bring me ultimate joy
I'll be so happy the day you tell me that you'll be mine
Your love is the key to my happiness and fulfillment
Contributed by Zachary L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.