The Beatles Mistaken Lost Track That Was "Lies"
The song was recorded in late 1965. The Beatles were still working on their upcoming "Revolver" LP, which would go down in rock history for its artistic cover and complex songs. While The Beatles were still trying to get a record contract in 1962, across the big Atlantic pond, some Americans in Bergenfield, New Jersey, were forming a rock band modeled after The Four Seasons. Near the town, Knickerbocker Road ran parallel. They paid their dues and by 1964 had secured a record deal with Challenge Records, a tiny label. Their first single was oddly about as successful as The Beatles first one, Love Me Do, which only got to #17 in England in 1963.
The explosion of The Beatles worldwide from that point on is simply mind boggling and historical, yet for The Knickerbockers (for those who do not know- knickerbockers is an old term from the 1920-30's for men's pants that went to mid calf, like women's capri pants, but very loose). Their second single, "Jerktown" was their first hit that sounded like The Four Seasons. It was nothing earth shattering and reflected "dated" rock music from the 1960-63 period. It was NOT the "mersey sound" of the British rockers.
Then, a new song hit the charts in later 1965-early 1966, called "Lies". It quickly ran up the charts as everyone thought it was a new Beatle single. There had been Beatle wannabes and all failed. Kids would go to the record store to buy the single asking for it. Store owners were baffled: The Beatles did not have a new single out called "Lies". They had a single by the same name by a group called, The Knickerbockers. When kids heard this explanation, there was confusion. "No, Lies is by The Beatles, John is the lead singer", was the common rebuttal. The other rebuttal was, "Let me hear the song, then". The store owner would put it on the record player and spin it. The expression on the faces of those Beatle fans consisted of an odd mix of disappointment and elation. How was this?
The Knickerbockers' "Lies" sailed into the Top Ten. They were the only band- ever- to capture and mimic The Beatle sound so 100%, from the lead singer who is a carbon of John, to the riffs and bass notes, which were new. Beatle fans were disappointed because it was not "their" band's new single, yet, elated because it sounded exactly like them in their 1964 period. The melody was uncannily like John, catchy yet it rocked. There was enough angst in the song and the words told a simply story that couples face today-telling lies.
Now, since years have passed, some still think it was The Beatles' song, or think it is a "lost track", one they recorded but never released like those on the anthology series. Sorry, the song is by The Knickerbockers, who really had no more Beatlesque songs or hits.
