The Merseybeats: Fortune Teller

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This was written by Allen Toussaint, credited as Naomi Neville. It was first recorded by Benny Spellman as the B-side of his 1962 single Lipstick Traces (on a Cigarette), also written by Toussaint, which reached No 80 in America.

In 1963 the Merseybeats released it as the B-side of It’s Love that Really Counts, which got to No 24 in Britain. I think it is miles better than the A-side.

Tony Jackson, late of the Searchers, released it in 1965 with his new group the Vibrations. I yield to no one in my admiration of Jackson’s voice but this is not his best work.

The Rolling Stones recorded it at about the same time (it is very nearly impossible to sort out exactly when), but in any case it’s not much good.

The Who did it on their 1970 album Live at Leeds (which I was given for my 21st birthday) but in all honesty I don’t think they make the most of it.

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2 Replies to “The Merseybeats: Fortune Teller”

  1. I like the Tony Jackson version best; it’s the loud guitar that makes it.

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