Page "Herman's Hermits" Paragraph 7

Despite the group's competent musicianship, some subsequent singles employed session musicians – including Big Jim Sullivan, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Vic Flick – with contributions from the band, although the role of session players on Herman's Hermits records has been exaggerated in the rock media and in liner notes on their ABKCO Records Retrospective ( which does not credit the Hermits ' playing ).

Mickie Most used session musicians on many records he produced — this was industry practice at the time and continues today.

Even such respected groups as The Yardbirds were required by Most to use session musicians ( except Jimmy Page ) on their Most-produced recordings.

Continuing acrimony between former members of Herman's Hermits has increased the amount of misinformation about the group's role on their records ; the late Derek Leckenby, in particular, was a skilled guitarist.

Mickie Most commented on the VH1 My Generation: Herman's Hermits episode that the Hermits " played on a lot of their records, and some they didn't.

" The group played on all their US and UK No. 1 hits (" I'm into Something Good ", " Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter " and " I'm Henry VIII, I Am "), on most of their Top Ten US singles, on a number of other singles and most album cuts.

According to Peter Noone, Leckenby played the muted lead on " This Door Swings Both Ways ".

The riff in " Silhouettes " has been variously credited to Jimmy Page, Big Jim Sullivan and Vic Flick ; however, according to Keith Hopwood and Karl Green, Leckenby replaced Flick in the studio and played the signature riff under Most's direction.

According to Hopwood, Green and Noone, Jimmy Page played on the single " Wonderful World " ( although Big Jim Sullivan lists the song as part of a session he played ); both may have added to the backing track.

Several writers have claimed that session players played on " I'm Into Something Good "; according to the surviving band members, the song was recorded on a two-track recorder, with only a piano player in addition to the Hermits.