1966.

The beat sound of the ’60s this morning with The Equals, who incidentally are seen as being the first major interracial British group to achieve chart success.

This was written by Eddy Grant who, for those of us not born in the ’60s, is better known for his ’80s solo career and the hits I Don’t Wanna Dance and Electric Avenue. It was Grant’s Guyanese accent that set the record apart, giving it a distinctive sound that stood out from other singles of the time.

On it’s original release in 1966 the song failed to chart in the UK but it’s success in Europe led to the single being re-released in 1968. This time it became a top ten hit in nine countries, including number ones in Belgium, Rhodesia, South Africa and the UK, where it spent eighteen weeks on the charts with three of those weeks at number one.

In 1994 Pato Banton recorded his version of the song, a more conventional reggae style featuring Robin and Ali Campbell of UB40 on vocals. Once again it proved popular, spending twenty-one weeks on the UK charts including four weeks at number one.