A small hit in the UK (no 36) but a no 8 in Germany. The track has echoes of The Troggs and The Who of I’m a Boy and prefigures the Roy Wood era Electric Light Orchestra. The video features “guitarist” Eddie Phillips playing his instrument with a violin bow – reputedly the first to do so – a major contributor to the record’s sound. Another antecedent of Prog Rock?

Phillips had also used this technique on their previous single, Making Time.

The Creation: Painter Man

Speaking of ELO, this was their first single from that eponymous first album, Electric Light Orchestra.

Heavy cellos; as well as brass.

The guitar riff has been much copied. (Yes, Paul Weller, I’m looking at you.)

Electric Light Orchestra: 10538 Overture

This was the first single The Spencer Davis Group released after Steve Winwood left.

The heavy cello prefigures early Electric Light Orchestra (their eponymous first album featured the cello a lot, as well as brass) but does anyone else hear in the introduction pre-echoes of Oasis? (“Free to be whatever I – “)

The Spencer Davis Group: Time Seller