"A Must to Avoid" is a song written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri and performed by Herman's Hermits. It was featured on their 1966 album, Hold On![1] and on their 1966 EP, A Must to Avoid. The song was produced by Mickie Most.[2]
| "A Must to Avoid" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Herman's Hermits | ||||
| from the album Hold On! | ||||
| B-side | "The Man with the Cigar" | |||
| Released | 17 December 1965 (UK) December 1965 (US) | |||
| Recorded | 30 September 1965 | |||
| Studio | RCA Studio B, Hollywood | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 2:18 | |||
| Label | MGM 13437 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | P.F. Sloan, Steve Barri | |||
| Producer(s) | Mickie Most | |||
| Herman's Hermits singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
editBillboard said of the single: "The group has a winning and swinging rocker with hit written all over it."[3] Cash Box described it as a "rhythmic, twangy item about an unusual gal who means poison to any guy."[4]
Chart performance
edit"A Must to Avoid" reached #1 in New Zealand, #3 in Canada,[5] #4 in Australia, #5 in Norway, #6 on the UK's Record Retailer chart, and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965.[6]
Influences
edit- This song was reworked by the Swedish band The Shanes as Chris-Craft No. 9.
References
edit- ^ Herman's Hermits, Hold On! Retrieved January 5, 2015
- ^ Herman's Hermits, "A Must to Avoid" single release Retrieved January 5, 2015
- ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. December 18, 1965. p. 22. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 11, 1965. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
- ^ Herman's Hermits, "A Must to Avoid" Canada Chart Position Archived 2015-01-05 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved January 5, 2015
- ^ Herman's Hermits, "A Must to Avoid" Chart Positions Retrieved January 5, 2015
