Saturday, July 11th, 1964
The High Numbers get one of their first national articles in Record Mirror under the headline "How High Will These Numbers Go?"
Transcript:
HOW HIGH WILL THESE NUMBERS GO?
Hailed as “the first authentic mod record,” four hip young men called the High Numbers are out right now with “I’m the Face,” backed with “Zoot Suit” — a Fontana disc. Two numbers penned by co-manager Peter Meaden.
How mod are this mod-mad mob?
VERY mod. Their clothes are the hallmark of the much-criticised typical mod. Cycling jackets, tee-shirts, turned-up Levi jeans, long white jackets, boxing boots, black and white brogues and so on to mod-est limits.
Says Peter Meaden: “After all, An exciting, quick-changing, way of life. The boys are totally immersed in this atmosphere. So they have this direct contact with thousands of potential disc-buyers.”
SWITCHED
“And the reaction is already very strong indeed. Take places like the Scene Club in London. The fans are mad about the disc — both sides of it! In fact, ‘Zoot Suit’ was originally planned as the ‘A’ side, being switched only at the last moment.
In a way, the High Numbers sound swivels directly round the vocals and harmonica-wailing of Roger Daltrey. His blonde hair is styled in a longish French crew-cut and he buys clothes in the very latest styles. Currently he’s modelling zoot-suit jackets. He digs the blues and Buddy Guy … and is glad he no longer has to work as a sheet metal worker.
Lead guitarist Peter Townshend originally wanted to be a graphic designer, having been to Ealing Art School. A near six-footer, he has cropped dark hair, piercing blue eyes — and says: “I admit to spending a fortune on bright and in-vogue clothes. I go for the ‘West Side Story’ look and the Ivy League gear.” Musically, he’s for Bob Dylan and the Tamla-Motown-Gordy label.
AMBITION
On bass is John Allison. He went to school with Roger at Acton County Grammar School. “I used to be in an income tax office. This gave me an ambition: to get OUT of the tax office.” John is certainly the most conservative of the group, really preferring classical music to most other kinds. He is an accomplished musician.
Come in, now, drummer Keith Moon. He’s the youngest of the group — only seventeen. A Wembley resident, he went to Wembley Technical College and was a trainee representative before turning professional musician. Is the smallest of the group, too, has black hair and brown eyes — and says: “I spend all my free time listening to the music in various West End of London clubs.”
Record Mirror colleagues are convinced the boys stand a good chance of getting away with “I’m The Face.” And one thing is for sure: the phraseology is good and authentic. Mod, in fact.
Interesting to see how the disc sells.