(Joy Byers, misattrib. to Burke)
Australia
#9 Melbourne
Single on CBS, charted January 1967.
Wrongly credited here to Solomon Burke as writer.
The Groop became a successful Melbourne live band after it emerged from a trio formed by Wesley College schoolmates. It changed direction in 1966 when founding members Max Ross and Richard Wright were joined by Brian Cadd and Ronnie Charles (both from The Jackson Kings) and Don Mudie. This Groop Mark II had a more up-to-date flavour, and charted with such original songs as Woman You’re Breaking Me (Cadd-Wright) and Such A Lovely Way (Cadd-Mudie), both hits outside of Melbourne.
See also The Groop – The Best In Africa (1966) by the earlier line-up of the band.
For details of Brian Cadd’s varied and distinguished career in several bands and as a solo singer-songwriter, see Milesago’s Brian Cadd page.
See also Watch Your Step by The Jackson Kings, the band that Brian Cadd and Ronnie Charles left in order to join The Groop.
Sources: 1. Ian McFarlane, Encyclopedia of Australian Rock & Pop. 2. Milesago’s article on The Groop.
(Joy Byers)
USA
Original version
B-side on Atlantic, also on the album If You Need Me (1963). Both sides of the single are Joy Byers compositions.
Joy Byers wrote, for example, Eddie Cochran’s C’mon Everybody (1958, #35 USA, #6 UK), Timi Yuro’s What’s A Matter Baby (Is It Hurting You?) (1962, #12 USA, co-writer Clyde Otis) and several Elvis Presley songs.
See also Of Hopes And Dreams And Tombstones by The Purple Hearts.
Further reading:
1. Solomon Burke at SoulExpress.net.
2. Joy Byers filmography at IMDb includes her compositions heard in Elvis films.
3. Joy Byers’ husband, notable producer Bob Johnston (1932–2015), stated that he wrote some songs with Byers that were credited solely to her for contractual reasons, but it is difficult to clarify or quantify this. See B-Dylan.com or the Bob Johnston Wikipedia article although the story is widely repeated without additional insights.
(Wright-Young) Australia
Red herring
#2 Sydney #5 Melbourne #1 Adelaide #1 Brisbane #1 Perth #1 NZ
Same title but not the same song as ‘Sorry’ by The Groop.
One of several Australian hits by The Easybeats before they charted around the world with Friday On My Mind.
Also recorded, for example, by "LA Paisley Underground" band The Three O’Clock on Baroque Hoedown (1982). (Thanks to Dave Monroe.)
See also Wedding Ring, their 1965 hit.
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Website by Lyn Nuttall. © Lyn Nuttall 2004-2026. Chart positions courtesy of Gavin Ryan’s Australian Chart Books and Dean Scapolo’s Complete NZ Music Charts. Special thanks to Terry Stacey for information, corrections and suggestions. Thanks also to Tony Watson, Philippe Edouard, Dave Overett.., More…