Once Poole had left, and after a couple of near misses, rhythm guitarist and keyboard player Alan Blakely took over leadership of the group, and Len 'Chip' Hawkes (father of 1990s hitmaker Chesney Hawkes) replaced bassist Alan Howard. They started an even more successful hit run in 1967 with Cat Stevens' “Here Comes My Baby”; “Suddenly You Love Me”, “Hello World”, and “My Little Lady”, and their number-one recording of an old Four Seasons' B-side “Silence Is Golden”. Both this last single and “Here Comes My Baby” also entered the U.S. Top Twenty. All members shared vocals, though most of the songs featured either Hawkes or drummer Dave Munden as the lead singer. Guitarist Ricky West sang lead vocal on "Silence Is Golden". Their regular hits were accompanied by frequent appearances on BBC's Top of the Pops television programme. Their songs were popular with younger music fans and parents rather than rock music fans. Altogether, without Poole the group had nine UK Top Twenty hits.
“Me and My Life” was a hit in 1970, but the group did themselves no favours when an interview in the weekly paper Melody Maker quoted them as calling the fans who had bought their earlier singles 'silly suckers'. Their album Master failed to sell well, and they had no British hits after "Hello Buddy" in 1971.
After the hits
Their music is still available on CD, and they quite often play concerts and are part of the pop-revival shows that constantly tour the UK. Their line-up changed several times from 1972 onwards, with Munden remaining the only constant member. Hawkes pursued a solo career for a while, and Blakely produced records for other acts, including the Rubettes and Mungo Jerry. In 1983 the original quartet reformed and narrowly missed the charts with their cover version of the Europop hit "Words".
As a soloist, Poole failed to chart with subsequent records, but pursued a successful cabaret career. In 1996 his daughters Karen and Shellie hit the charts as post-Alanis Morissette popsters Alisha's Attic. Blakely died from cancer in June 1996, leaving Munden and West to continue in concert with newer recruits Dave Fryar (bass) and Joe Gillingham (keyboards). In 2005 Fryar was replaced by Jeff Brown.
[edit]
The Class Of 64
In April 2004, at the request of The Animals who were about to do their 40th anniversary tour, Hawkes was asked to form a band to tour with The Animals. This he did, bringing together a true supergroup also including Mick Avory (ex-The Kinks), Eric Haydock (ex-The Hollies), who have teamed up to perform as The Class of 64, also featuring guitarists, Telecaster Ted Tomlin and Graham Pollock. The band have toured around the world, recorded an album of past band hits and a new single.
Rag Doll
The Tremeloes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When she was just a kid
Her clothes were hand-me-downs
(Hand-me-down)
They always laughed at her when she came into town
Called her rag doll
Little rag doll
Such a pretty face should be dressed in lace
Ooh, ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
(Shag rag doll)
I'd change her sad rags into glad rags
If I could (if I could)
My folks won't let me
'Cause they say that she's no good
She's a rag doll, such a rag doll
Though I love her so
I can't let her know
Ooh ooh ooh ooh oh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh oh
Aah aah aah aah aah
I love you just they way you are
The Tremeloes' song Rag Doll is a story of a girl who is constantly ridiculed by her peers for wearing hand-me-down clothes, making her feel like just a rag doll. The singer of the song sings about his love for her and how he wishes he could change her clothes and make her feel pretty. However, his family disapproves of her and won't let him help her, leaving her feeling even more like a rag doll. Despite her exterior, the singer declares his love for her and accepts her just the way she is.
The lyrics of this song touch on themes of social class, appearance, and acceptance. The girl's limited wardrobe puts her in a lower social class and makes her an easy target for bullying. However, the singer sees something beautiful in her, and though the girl feels trapped in her rag doll clothes, the singer accepts her without any conditions. The message of the song is ultimately one of unconditional love.
Line by Line Meaning
(Rag doll, ooh) (Hand me down)
The girl being referred to as a rag doll because she wears hand-me-down clothes.
When she was just a kid
The girl was very young when people started laughing at her for her clothes.
Her clothes were hand-me-downs
She wears clothes that have been passed down to her.
They always laughed at her when she came into town
The people in town would laugh at her every time she appeared.
Called her rag doll
The people in town gave her the nickname rag doll because she wears raggedy clothes.
Little rag doll
The nickname given to the girl because of her clothes.
Such a pretty face should be dressed in lace
Even though the girl has a pretty face, people still make fun of her for her raggedy clothes.
I'd change her sad rags into glad rags
The singer wishes he could change her raggedy clothes to nicer, happier clothes.
If I could (if I could)
However, he is unable to do so.
My folks won't let me
The singer's parents are against him trying to change the girl's clothes.
'Cause they say that she's no good
The singer's parents believe that the girl is not worth the effort of changing her clothes.
She's a rag doll, such a rag doll
The girl is called a rag doll again, emphasizing her poor clothing.
Though I love her so
Despite the girl's poor clothing, the singer still loves her.
I can't let her know
However, the singer cannot tell her because she might be hurt by it.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh oh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh oh
Aah aah aah aah aah
I love you just they way you are
The singer loves the girl despite her raggedy clothes and wants her to know that she is special to him.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, MUSIC & MEDIA INT'L, INC., SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC, UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUB GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB CREWE, BOB GAUDIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sil
Linda canción con buenos coros.
Hercules Dutra de Campos Filho
Linda essa música
Hercules Dutra de Campos Filho
This version is as good as the 4 Season's
Tammy Maria Settles
Thanks-lovely.maybe the volume is what we were speaking of? My be my player though. Favorite version by far!
philip norris
The Four Seasons' version is definitely the best, but this one is certainly acceptable.
Vito Lee
i Pooh (italian band) italian version of Rag doll - QUELLO CHE NON SAI
WatashiNeko
Can you upload a better sound quality.
Javier Morales Gamboa
Muñequita de trapo.
Alfredo Ornelas
EN DONDE ESTA LA MEJOR VOZ?...falta Frankie Valli......este no tiene que hacer a su lado.
California6567
Not bad, BUT not as good as the original by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The Tremeloes added heavy percussion which "rocked" the tune up a bit, but didn't do this "MAGICAL" song justice. Just my humble opinion...