It was during this period they had worldwide hits with " Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again" and " Freedom Come, Freedom Go" in 1971, along with " Storm in a Teacup" in 1972. Then followed a steady succession of singles, some of which were hits outside of the UK and US.
In 1970, they recorded an album for the US World Pacific record label, and then signed with Capitol in both the UK and US in 1971. In 1968, they tried covering The Move's hit " Fire Brigade" for the US market, but with little airplay or sales. Their first recording in 1967 was a version of the theme tune, "Things Go Better with Coke", but they are most remembered for introducing the 1969 new slogan recording, used as the main theme for Coca-Cola on both radio and television commercials - "It's The Real Thing". The Fortunes also recorded an advertisement for Coca-Cola in the United States. Around this time they released a fine version of 'Seasons in the Sun' which also failed to chart. They reunited with Talmy for their next release, "The Idol", a song they had written themselves, and although it did get some airplay in the UK, it did not become a hit. Three more singles ("You Gave Me Somebody to Love", "Is It Really Worth Your While?" and "Our Love has Gone") all failed to chart.Īt this point in 1967, the Fortunes left Decca for United Artists. When Glen Dale left in the summer of 1966 he was replaced by Shel McCrae. These sold well, but each less than the previous release. Their next two singles were " Here It Comes Again", a UK Number 4, and "This Golden Ring" a UK Number 14. Their fifth release, the Roger Greenaway/ Roger Cook number, " You've Got Your Troubles" (1965), reached Number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and was a worldwide hit, including reaching Number 1 in Canada and the American Top 10. The group's next two singles, Gordon Mills's co-composition "I Like the Look of You" and a revival of " Look Homeward Angel" - like the initial brace of releases overseen by the American record producer Shel Talmy - also failed to chart. The follow-up disc "Caroline", co-written by the singer-songwriter and future Ivy League member Perry Ford and songwriter Tony Hiller, is still in use as the signature tune for the pirate radio station, Radio Caroline. However, the vocalists picked up guitars, jettisoned the Cliftones, and added Andy Brown on drums, and Dave Carr on keyboards. Their first single, "Summertime, Summertime", was credited to the Fortunes and the Cliftones. "Cygnet Twitch" was a working of Tchaikovsky's " Swan Lake", and they subsequently signed to British Decca in 1963.
The Fortunes were originally backed by an instrumental group known as the Cliftones, and the band placed an instrumental track on a compilation album, Brumbeat, issued by the local Dial record label. The three vocalists had been the Merrie Men backing Robbie Hood (A.K.A Mike West, previously co-singer with Fred Heath in Johnny Kidd & The Pirates). The Fortunes (Rod Allen, Glen Dale, Barry Pritchard as vocalists, Chris Capaldi as piano player, Gary Fletcher as drummer and Tony Britnell as saxophone player) were formed in 1961 and were resident at Clifton Hall in Rugby Warwickshire where many 60s rockstars formed their career.
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