The Silkie

THE SILKIE. English folk music group who first formed whilst all students in October 1963 at Hull University. They were briefly considered to be the English equivalent of Peter / Paul & Mary with their common repertoire of Bob Dylan songs and of the original Australian folk group The Seekers. Early in 1965, after appearing at the Cavern Club Liverpool (where they performed alongside The Spinners) they were signed by Brian Epstein who appointed Alistair Taylor as their manager. Their first single (in June 1965), "Blood Red River" reached No14 on the the Radio London Fab 40, but failed to make the national chart. However, their follow up was "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" written by Lennon & McCartney. Famously John Lennon produced it, Paul McCartney played guitar and George Harrison kept time (by tapping his guitar) and also playing the tambourine. When the recording was completed, John Lennon was so pleased with it that he played it over the phone to Brian Epstein and told him that they had just recorded a Number 1 hit. It later reached No28 in the UK and No10 in the US. The Silkie were then scheduled to tour the United States in December 1965 and had even been booked to appear on both The Ed Sullivan & American Bandstand Shows. However they were unable to obtain the necessary visas and work permits and the tour was subsequently cancelled. Two further singles (released in 1966) failed to make either the UK or the US charts and during the autumn the Silkie split....