Juliet by The Four Pennies

A 1964 hit that sounds like it was already ancient.

3/10

Juliet—The Four Pennies

Topped the NZ charts for 1 week, starting on 30 July 1964.

More about my NZ number #1 project.

The Four Pennies

Lionel Morton started his career as a choirboy in Blackburn, Lancashire. His band were originally The Lionel Morton Four. They chose their new name at a meeting above a Blackburn music shop, situated on Penny Street.

Juliet

Bassist Mike Walshaw wrote the tune for ‘Juliet’. Wilshaw, Morton, and guitarist Fritz Fryer developed it into a song, named after Fryer’s two-year-old niece. In 1963, The Four Pennies won a talent contest with ‘Juliet’, leading to a recording career with Phillips Records.

The group used ‘Juliet’ as the B-side of a single. After it received airplay, the sides were reversed, and it topped the UK singles chart. ‘Juliet’ is notable as the only British Invasion #1 not to chart in the US.

The lack of US success isn’t surprising – it’s a drippy piece of pop that sounds irredeemably soft now. ‘Juliet’ has some interesting musical ideas – some nice harmonies and interesting chord changes – but it’s hard to get past the

The aftermath

Lionel Morton became a TV presenter, fronting the kids’ show Play School. He was reportedly high while recording some 1970s episodes, including an infamous nativity scene.

Fryer later formed the group Fritz, Mike & Mo, then worked as a record producer for groups like Clannad, Horslips, Motörhead, and Stackridge.