I'm Alive

This was written by the American songwriter Clint Ballard Jr., who also penned "You're No Good," "Game Of Love" and "Good Timin'." Ballard originally wrote the song for Gene Pitney, who rejected it as did Wayne Fontana, before it was passed on to Manchester band The Toggery Five. The Toggery Five's version, having been recorded at Abbey Road studios, was never released because The Hollies got wind of it and decided to record it themselves. Their version went to #1 in their native UK and reached #103 in America, where the group was little-known at the time.

Frank Renshaw, the lead guitarist of The Toggery Five, recollects: "Wayne Fontana gave us this song 'I'm Alive' as he said it wasn't his style. We liked it a lot, booked time at Abbey Road Studios, and recorded it with Ron Richards as producer. Then the Hollies heard it and stole it from us! It turned out to be their first #1 hit in the UK. I'm sure it would have made a turning point for The Toggery Five because it was such a good song, and I think our version was much better. It must still be in the EMI vaults somewhere. I remember the day we recorded it, The Beatles were in the next studio recording or mixing the song 'Any Time At All,' which has remained one of my favorite Beatles songs along with the little known 'Yes It Is.'" Alan Doyle the rhythm guitarist recollects: "The Hollies heard our version and quickly recorded it themselves, then got a release date two weeks before ours, and stopped our version from being released. Our manager thought that as The Hollies had already had some chart success and wanted the song, they should have it! He along with Ron Richards pulled the plug on us. After all the work we had laid down on the song, it was a dirty trick to give it to The Hollies. It was a sore point at the time as they got to #1 with the song." (from Paul Young's website)

The lead singer of The Toggery Five was Paul Young, who in the '80s and '90s had success as the vocalist of Sad Cafe and Mike & The Mechanics. He died from a heart attack in July 2000. He should not be confused with the Paul Young who had solo success in the 1980s with "Every Time You Go Away."