Two Yanks in England


Two Yanks in England is an album by The Everly Brothers, released in 1966. Despite the album title and packaging, only half the tracks were recorded in England; six of the twelve tracks were recorded in Hollywood.
The backing band on half the recordings are members of The Hollies, augmented by session players. Eight of the twelve songs featured are credited to L. Ransford, the songwriting pseudonym of The Hollies' Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks and Graham Nash. Jimmy Page and John [Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones] are also purported to play on the record as session musicians. Also, in an interview with Nash on David Dye's World Cafe, it was claimed Reggie Dwight played on the album. Nash repeated the assertion on Desert Island Discs on 12 January 2024, but his assertion is not supported by session logs, or by any other source.
Two singles were released from the album in the US; "Somebody Help Me" b/w "Hard Hard Year" in late 1966 and "Fifi the Flea" b/w "Like Every Time Before" in early 1967. Both singles failed to chart. The second single credited the artist as "Don Everly Brother" on side A, and "Phil Everly Brother" on side B, as Don sang "Fifi The Flea" almost entirely as a solo artist, whereas Phil sang "Like Every Time Before" completely solo with no vocal harmony at all from Don. These were the first 'solo' recordings in either Phil or Don's career.
In the UK, where "Somebody Help Me" had already been a No.1 hit for The [Spencer Davis Group] shortly before The Everly Brothers recorded it, just one single was released from the album: "I've Been Wrong Before" b/w "Hard Hard Year". This also failed to chart. "I've Been Wrong Before" should not be confused with the Randy Newman song of the same title recorded by both Dusty Springfield and Cilla Black the previous year, which Black had a modest hit with in the UK.
The last track on Side One of Two Yanks in England, "Pretty Flamingo", was a UK No.1 hit single for Manfred Mann at the time the recording of the album began.

Track listing

All tracks composed by L. Ransford a.k.a. Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks and Graham Nash; except where indicated
;Side one
  1. "Somebody Help Me" – 2:02
  2. "So Lonely" – 2:40
  3. "Kiss Your Man Goodbye" – 2:35
  4. "Signs That Will Never Change" – 3:05
  5. "Like Every Time Before" – 1:56
  6. "Pretty Flamingo" – 2:36
;Side two
  1. "I've Been Wrong Before" – 2:13
  2. "Have You Ever Loved Somebody?" – 2:55
  3. "The Collector" – 2:37
  4. "Don't Run and Hide" – 2:36
  5. "Fifi the Flea" – 2:42
  6. "Hard Hard Year" – 2:56

The Hollies versions

The Hollies have also released own versions of their songs:
  • "So Lonely"
  • "Signs That Will Never Change"
  • "Like Every Time Before"
  • "I've Been Wrong Before"
  • "Have You Ever Loved Somebody?"
  • "Don't Run and Hide"
  • "Fifi the Flea" and "Hard Hard Year"

Recording details

Tracks 4, 5, 8, 10, 11 & 12
Tracks 2, 3, 7 & 9
Tracks 1 & 6
  • Recorded June 3, 1966, at United Recording Corporation, Hollywood, California, USA