The Silkie

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The Silkie was England's answer to American folk music groups like Peter, Paul and Mary. The quartet was made up of students from Hull University and comprised Sylvia Tatler (vocals), Mike Ramsden (guitar and vocals), Ivor Aylesbury (guitar and vocals) and Kevin Cunningham (double bass).

Managed by Brian Epstein, the band received help from John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison to record their cover version of "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away", (on 9 August 1965 at the IBC Studios) at about the same time as The Beatles' own version was being released on their soundtrack album Help!. The song charted in the UK at # 28.

Lennon did most of the producing while McCartney played guitar, and Harrison kept time by tapping the guitar and playing tambourine. Some sources also list McCartney as co-producer and Harrison as helping on the arrangement.

The Silkie were most at home performing cover versions of songs with a folk-like style to them, especially Bob Dylan compositions.

The Silkie first released a single in June 1965 called "Blood Red River" which had failed to chart, but once the strength of The Beatles got behind them, they had their only chart hit. Two further single releases in 1966 failed to make the chart, and soon afterwards The Silkie split up.