The melody was by Helen Miller, an American who started songwriting in the 1940s, and the lyrics by Roger Atkins, at one time a Brill Building writer. It was released in 1965, reaching No 9 in Britain and No 37 in the States.
Gene Pitney: Princess in Rags
Square
I love Gene, many great hits, “Something’s Got A Hold Of My Heart” is a classic rock ballad, in either version by him alone or with Marc Almond.
“Princess In Rags” put me in mind of “Poor Side Of Town” by Johnny Rivers, which was a huge hit in the US, but did nothing over here. It’s a big American production, in a similar vein to a Gene Pitney or Righteous Brothers number.
I can imagine Clint Eastwood’s radio DJ in “Play Misty For Me” spinning this one as the Pacific crashes on the rocks below…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAI24i825_E