The Diamonds History - Page 4

When the band was backing Cilla Black on the Gerry and
the Pacemakers tour, Brian Epstein, the Beatles' manager,
approached the band with a view to signing them up.
Unfortunately the band's management at that time refused
to release them.
They made a Juke box video at Pinewood Studios and this
video was included in the film 'Swinging UK'. Before departing
to Hamburg where they were to play opposite The Beatles,
they made a recording at Philips Recording Studios in
Edgware of 'If You've Got To Make a Fool of Somebody'.
It was this recording that was used on the juke box video.
When they returned from Germany, to their disgust Freddie
and The Dreamers had recorded it and it had been released.
This proved to be one of Freddie's biggest hits.

Dave Hooper, Alex Haze and Steve Gordon recorded
an original song that they had written called 'Mr. Toad'.
It was based on the characters in 'The Wind in the
Willows'. It was a song about a mole, a toad and a
badger in an American car with a beauty queen.
Unfortunately (or otherwise!) the band couldn't be seen
because they were in costume. One of the ITV
television companies were about to take it on and the
excitement mounted because the merchandising side
was enormous. As it was about to take off The
Wombles released their first of many hit records which
killed off 'Mr. Toad'. To this day Steve is convinced it
can still be a massive hit. Everything is still in place;
the recording and the publicity. One of the song's
writers David Hammond recently sadly died. It would
have made him a happy man if it had happened and if
he can have any influence over it from where he is now,
it will happen because he was the ultimate organizer.

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