Their first hit was a cover of Earl-Jean’s “I’m into Something Good”, written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King who found themselves in danger of obsolescence, as most of the British groups wrote their own material. Carole King has said that she wrote the song inspired by Brian Wilson: “I make no bones about it, that song was influenced by Brian’s music”.

The song was originally recorded by Cookies member Earl-Jean on Colpix Records in 1964. Her older sister, Darlene McCrea, and the other original members of the Cookies – a group first formed in 1954 – eventually evolved into Ray Charles’ backing group, the Raelettes. In 1961, Earl-Jean was persuaded to join a new version of the Cookies. She became pregnant while on tour, and Gerry Goffin (married to Carole King at the time) was named as the father. She left the Cookies, and signed for Colpix, where she recorded the Goffin and King song

Barry Whitwam has stated that the Hermits themselves played on the track, not Jimmy Page, since Mickie Most and former lead singer  “Herman” (Peter Noone) had implied otherwise after having lost the rights to the band’s name. Whitwam further states, in regard to exaggerations of songs on which they supposedly did not play:

“Everything he says is that it was Jimmy Page, and Jimmy Page probably can’t remember any of the songs that he played. If you look at our top ten in America, “I’m Into Something Good”, it was us. All Hermits. There was only a piano added on. That was on a two track machine so we played at the same time. That got to number thirteen. “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat”, there were no other instruments. That got to number two. “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” got to number one. “I’m Henry the VIII”. Number one. “A Must to Avoid”. Number eight. “Listen People”. “Leaning on the Lamppost”.

That’s six in the top ten with Jimmy Page or anybody else not involved! Another seventy of the tracks on the albums is only the Hermits. I think I worked it out, and I think in only thirty percent of all the songs ever recorded the Hermits didn’t do the backing, but the Hermits were always on the vocals doing the harmonies. So he’s trying to discredit us, saying that we didn’t have anything to do with anything.”

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