The Gants - Greener Days (1966)

If there was ever a small-time group that had the talent to hit the big time, it was these guys. Formed in 1963, The Gants had an impressive collection of original material and cover songs. Unfortunately for the members of the band, half of them were still in high school and under the pressure of their parents, making out-of-town performances and promotional appearances problematic. The other half of the band faces the same troubles, but for different reasons: they were enrolled in college and unable to drop out without facing getting drafted into the Vietnam conflict. When the band couldn’t make it to local promotions, the radio stations stopped giving them their local support. And when the support stopped rolling in, the band collapsed soon after.

Having been featured on A Bit Like You And Me two times prior, it’s no secret that this band has a lot of great songs. The song heard below was written for the band by their producer, David Gates, who would be a future member of the band Bread. Amid sending me an exclusive story via email, Sid Herring, the lead singer of The Gants, expressed to me that he was very proud of the way this song came out. When first released, it was backed with the B-Side “Just a Good Show.”



The Gants - Greener Days (1966)

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Lyrics:

As I write this letter
I hope you’re feelin’ better
Than I am as I sit here
Fightin’ back a tear
‘cause my mind keeps shiftin’
Back in time, it’ driftin’
To the days when you were near

Those were greener days
That we knew
Just me and you
Sharin’ the world together
But as they came, they went away
And our days of green
Turned into grey

So, I watch the sunrise
Hopin’ maybe your eyes
Will be shinin’ down on me
To brighten up my world
Like it once was, glowin’
When your face was showin’
Me the way to find our love

Those were greener days
That we had
It’s kinda too bad
They didn’t last forever
But, we’ll go on
Our separate ways
‘cause our greener days
Turned into grey

I better close and sign my name
It’s getting late
But don’t forget our chance
To twist the hands of fate

So the greener days
Will return
Deeper they’ll grow
With every spring rain of love
Rainbows will shine
You will be mine
And our days of green
Will never turn to grey

They’ll never fade away
They’ll never turn to grey
They’ll never fade away…

The Gants - My Baby Don't Care (1965)

Named after a popular brand of shirt with a button-down collar, this group started up in 1963 playing instrumentals and covering R&B hits. Half of the group was still in high school while the other half was in college when they first found success. At one point in time or another, they played concerts with The Animals, The Dave Clark Five, The Yardbirds, and The Box Tops.

This song, heard below and released in 1965, was the B-side to their Bo Diddley cover, “Road Runner”. It was written by Sid Herring, the group’s lead singer, and borrows its melody from The Beatles’ “Ticket to Ride”.

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A Special Edition post with Sid Herring of The Gants!
Today’s post is another amazing special edition! The lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter of The Gants, Sid Herring, was kind enough to share a story with A Bit Like You And Me! Here's Sid:

A Bit Like You And Me and readers,

I have a story that not many people know about. When we [The Gants] came to Nashville, Tennessee to finish the Road Runner album in 1965 at The Red Barn Studios, we were on the way back to the hotel after the recording session when, at a stop light, these girls pulled up beside our car, looked over at us, and started screaming.

"There's Herman's Hermits!"

We rolled down the window and they freaked out. As we started talking to them, Vince [Montgomery, bass guitarist] said to me, "They think you’re Peter Noone! Go ahead; let them think that,” to which I replied, “But my English accent isn’t very good!" Vince said to ‘do it anyway and ask them to come up to the room.’ So I did.

We rolled up the window, took off, and they followed us. We were laughing like crazy. I said, "You guys have to help me with this!" Vince agreed.

Shortly after we got up to the room, there was a knock at the door. It was the three girls. I told Vince he'd have to help me out. I opened the door and let them in. I looked at Vince and thought, "Well say something!" Vince wouldn't say a word. So I started talking with my not-so-good English accent and the girls kind of looked at each other. They started asking me questions.

Meanwhile, nobody said a thing but me. After a bit, I almost started to tell them how I wasn’t Peter Noone, but didn't, and continued in my fake English accent. Then, one of them said she had a friend that was over in England that knew Peter Noone and asked me where I lived in England! I didn't know what part of England that Peter Noone was from, so I said “Brickwidge, England,” not knowing if there even was a Brickwidge, England! I just thought it sounded English.

So after not having said a word, the guys finally started laughing. I continued with my accent (which was getting worse) and escorted the girls out the door. After I closed the door, everybody started laughing like crazy and we could hear the girls laughing on the other side.

That was a very funny experience for The Gants. I’ve signed many autographs as Peter Noone before, because no one would ever believe that I wasn’t him. It was the only way I could get them to leave me alone, but it was all in fun!

Thanks for letting us be involved. We appreciate it very much.

-Sid Herring of The Gants

Sid Herring (left) of The Gants and Peter Noone (right) of Herman's Hermits

The Gants had the honor of being the very first post on this site with their song "I Wonder," which you can hear here. A very special 'thank you' to Sid for sharing such a great story!

Don't forget to check out TheGants.com where you can hear samples and purchase Sid's new album, Music For Friends!!

And now that you've enjoyed this exclusive story, why not check out what other exclusive stories we've received?

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The Gants - My Baby Don't Care (1965)

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Lyrics:

I think I should be worried
It doesn’t matter now
But why should I be worried?
She doesn’t love me anyhow

My baby don’t care
My baby don’t care
But I love her anyway

I gave her everything
For riches and gold
I gave her diamond rings
And things that couldn’t be sold

My baby don’t care
My baby don’t care
But I love her anyway

The things she used to do
I could tell she’s not mine
The things she used to say
I could tell she just lied
Just lied

I tried everything I know
But nothing seems to be right
She knows that I love her so
Stayed with her all through the night
Oh, yeah

My baby don’t care
My baby don’t care
But I love her anyway
Anyway
Anyway