Here it is! The news you've been waiting for! The winners of the TS Battle of The Groups!
      It all started back in March of this year when TS decided to clear up all the mystery about just exactly which Englishmen were tops in the U.S.A. So, in the March issue of TS, we printed a ballot and asked you to vote for the Britishers of your choice.
      In the article that accompanied the ballot, we explained why the Beatles weren't listed among the nominees for the top slot. The Beatles are the top. We didn't need to have an "election" to determine that fact. The Battle of The Groups wouldn't have been very exciting if The Beatles had been included, because everyone would have known in advance who was going to win. That's why we decided to ask you to vote for the groups and singers you liked best, in addition to John, Paul, George and Ringo!
      We received a few irate letters from a few of you, asking how we could leave out the number one group in the world. We hope the above paragraph explains our motives. We already knew they were the top favorites, so there was no need to ask. And we wanted to give the other groups a fighting chance to win the number one spot (besides The Beatles.)
      At the last minute, we couldn't bear to leave The Beatles out of the running completely, so we added a post script to the ballot, asking you to vote for your four favorite luvable Englishmen. There were only four luvable Englishmen listed, so we don't have to tell you who won that part of the battle. John, Paul, George and Ringo, OF COURSE! The foursome that will ALWAYS be number one!
      Crafty souls that we are, we also included a couple of non-Britains on the ballot, just to see how many of you would tell us we were out of our minds. Non-Britains listed were Jay & The Americans (from America), The Bachelors (Ireland) and The Beau Brummels (America). In the Favorite English (Single) Vocalists, we included Gale Garnett, another non-Britain.
      Most of the three hundred thousand of you who voted did just as we had hoped you would. You marked the non-Britains off the ballot and told us just how out of our minds we are! One thousand pardons for our sneaky little test of your English IQ. We promise never to do it again!
      About now you're probably wondering if we're ever going to stop all this palaver and tell you who the winners are! Well, you'll be happy to hear that's what we're about to do. This very minute, for instance!
      Out of all the groups listed on the Group portion of the ballot, the majority of the votes were cast for five groups. And the winners are . . . !!!
      Fifth place in the Battle Of The Groups went to Freddie & The Dreamers. Our country has recently been deluged with Dreamers' discs and we were all almost too busy dancing "The Freddie" to even take time out to vote for this favorite! Freddie & The Dreamers have been a top act in Jolly Olde for over two years, and now they're the toast of America, too. The group has added motion pictures to their growing list of accomplishments. Don't miss our special preview of Freddie's first flick in this very issue of TS
      Fourth place went to a gear group of boys known as Gerry & The Pacemakers. Gerry's group was discovered by Brian Epstein (of Beatle fame) and has gone on to become one of the world's top recording acts. Gerry and his Pacemakers are also noted for being one of the nicest groups to ever visit our shores. We suggest that England employ them as Ambassadors of Good Will, because that's certainly what they've been spreading!
      The voting in the top three slots was so close, we though for awhile it would end in a tie. And it almost did! But not quite.
      The number three slot was finally claimed by the cool ones of all time, The Rolling Stones. Mick, Brian, Keith, Charlie and Bill have received worldwide acclaim for their fantastic sound and their firey brand of on-stage magnetism. Now they can add another award to their mantle. They've spent more time in America than any of the other groups, and now America has returned the favor by letting them know just how welcome they are!
      Runners-up to the number one spot were Dave Clark and his fabulous Four. By the time we'd finished counting the DC5 votes we really were "Rocking And Reeling!" Dave is in America right now, right in the middle of another round of personal appearances. And the DC5 really flipped to hear they hold the number two spot with American teenagers.
      Are you wondering who hit the very top, or have you already guessed? We bet you have, because who else could it be besides Herman's Hermits! The Hermits' records have been breaking records all over the place in America. They had three hit singles in the national Top Twenty at one time, and one of them ("Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter") was number one!! They also broke a record by selling the most records in the States in two weeks time, and their album is high on the charts, too. Herman's Hermits are really something, and the something they are is the top British Group in the States (besides The Beatles, of course.)
      Congratulations to all five, and our thanks to you from them for the honors!
      We thought the votes for the top three English groups were close until we started counting the Favorite English Twosome category. The nominees were Peter & Gordon and Chad & Jeremy. And wow, what a close race that was! Chad & Jeremy finally took the lead and held it by a slim (and we do mean slim) margin of only seventy votes. When you're dealing in the hundreds of thousands, seventy votes is such a slim margin, it's actually skinny! Peter and Gordon now hold number two honors, but just barely.
      We don't know what you call it, but we think it's close enough to call it a tie. As far as we're concerned, P&G and C&J are both the top, and the living end!
      The final category on the ballot was Favorite English Vocalists. You were asked to vote for one guy singer and one gal singer, and vote you did!
      Winner of the top spot was Tommy Quickly (again by a rather slim margin). This is unusual in a way because Tommy's never had a really big hit recording Stateside. But he has been on tour here and on many TV shows, and one look at those fabulous freckles must have done the trick. Judging by this reaction, it won't be long before Tommy will have that hit!
      Runner up in this category was Adam Faith, the blond boy with the big voice. Too many people don't realize that Adam is so much in demand in this country. Here's hoping this will do some sorely-needed convincing!
      The number three slot was claimed by the Englishman who at one time held the distinction of being the only British entertainer to have a large number of fans in America, the ever-popular Cliff Richard! Cliff isn't alone in his popularity now, but he holds another distinction. He's kept his large amount of fans in spite of the competition!
      We weren't surprised to discover that pretty Marianne Faithful's faithful following gave her the boost she needed to top the gal's side of the ballot. Her recordings are always almost too beautiful for words, and so is she!
      Second place honors went to Petula Clark, the pet of the year! And Cilla Black sailed in to claim the number three spot.
      Talented Cilla was almost usurped by a write in campaign sponsored by Sandie Shaw devotees. Sandie's first American disc hadn't been released when the nominations were made, and since that time the barefoot girl with heaps of style has truly come into her own.
      Congratulations again, and more thanks to the hundreds of thousands of TS readers who chose the TS Battleground winners!
      Now that the victory has been won, how about going forth into battle again? Battle of The American Groups, anyone?
      If you'd like to join one, just let us know!