Semi Detached Suburban Mr...who ?

[Chipchopper]

Semi detached suburban Mr James.
I heard this old 60s number on the radio this afternoon, by Hermans Hermits, but in the day I swear it was 'Mr Jones'

So am I going nuts or was it recorded as Mr Jones by another band ?

[fiction-factory]

Manfred Mann wasn't it. Mr James I think

[fiction-factory]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x36jf4_manfred-mann-semi-detached-suburban_music

[Prudie]

Yes Mannfred Mann, maybe it sounded like Jones? or you are vaguely thinking of Me and Mrs Jones?

[mushroom25]

it was written by mike d'abo and was his first hit with manfred mann. it was to have been mr jones, but it was quickly realised that the song might have been referring to the newly departed paul jones, so it became mr james.

[gingejbee]

Herman's Hermits? Don't think so...Michael D'Abo was the vocalist with Manfred Mann.

[Captain2]

Spookily though, read 'Notes' on here

http://www.discogs.com/Manfred-Mann-Semi-Detached-Suburban-Mr-Jones-Each-And-Every-Day/release/4923528

[Chipchopper]

Thanks all. I did mean to say Manfred Mann but somehow it came out as Hermans Hermits.

It seems I was right to some extent though.

[Old_Geezer]

Maybe they changed it for the US market.

[tonyav]

Blimey, I always thought it was Mr Jones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTFaoRGWJR4

[jno]

it was going to be Jones but they changed it, as mushroom says.

One line ends "Mr Most"; maybe the vowel sound in that has stuck in your mind? Music does things like that sometimes.

[jourdain2]

Definitely Manfred Mann (Paul Jones lead vocal) and 'Semi-detached, suburban Mr. James'.

[Chipchopper]

Thanks again Tone, nice to know I'm not alone!

Weird though!

[tonyav]

Yep, weird that.

[jno]

I don't know about that note, Captain2, you can clearly see it's James here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MD-4YJdRTw

[jourdain2]

^^ Sorry, Mike d'Abo - it's my age!

[Captain2]

I know 'nowt jno, just posted the link that I found (it does say 'Country: US' so maybe just a misprint over there).

[Chipchopper]

It gets weireder!

I've just discovered that the song was also covered by 'Herbies People' , maybe thats what confused me ?

[Chipchopper]

Herbies People's cover version is not bad but the harmonica wants a lot to be desired in my oppinion.

[jonah107]

D'Abo's first big hit with Manfred Mann was "Semi-Detached Suburban Mr James". It was nearly recorded with "Mr Jones" in the title before it occurred to the group that it might be interpreted as being an implied reference to Paul Jones.