John's Children (October 14, 1966) – "The Love I Thought I'd Found" b/w "Strange Affair" Format: 7" Single: UK

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"The Love I Thought I'd Found" was the debut UK single by John's Children, issued by Columbia Records on October 14, 1966 under catalogue number DB 8030.

The group had developed from an earlier outfit formed in Great Bookham during 1965 by Chris Townson and Andy Ellison. Initially known as the Clockwork Onions, the group subsequently became the Few and then the Silence, with Geoff McClelland on guitar and John Hewlett on bass.

The band's direction changed following the involvement of manager Simon Napier-Bell. The Silence became John's Children, while their presentation was reshaped around distinctive stage clothing and an increasingly provocative live act intended to attract attention from audiences and the music press.

The single predates Marc Bolan's involvement with John's Children. Bolan did not join until March 1967, when he replaced Geoff McClelland, so neither side of this October 1966 release should be regarded as a Marc Bolan recording.

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RECORDING

"The Love I Thought I'd Found" was co-written by John Hewlett and Simon Napier-Bell. The same recording was issued internationally under the alternative title "Smashed! Blocked!".

For these early recording sessions, session musicians were brought in rather than relying entirely on the band's own instrumental performances.

The photographed demonstration pressing of "Strange Affair" credits Simon Napier-Bell as producer and identifies the track as a Nomis Recording.

The label also carries a Feldman publishing credit, matrix number 7XCA 30668 and a 1966 phonographic copyright marking.

STYLE & THEMES

The single belongs to the group's early psychedelic period and appeared as John's Children were developing an intentionally unconventional public identity.

Their live presentation became increasingly theatrical and chaotic, with performances constructed to create spectacle and provoke strong reactions from audiences.

This aggressive presentation complemented the more unusual qualities of their early recordings and helped distinguish John's Children from more conventional British pop groups of the period.

TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES

• The Love I Thought I'd Found — The title used for the debut A-side in Britain. Written by John Hewlett and Simon Napier-Bell, the same recording was retitled "Smashed! Blocked!" for international release.

• Strange Affair — The B-side of the single. The photographed UK demonstration label credits the composition to Fingers Groin and production to Simon Napier-Bell. It is additionally identified as a Nomis Recording.

RELEASE HISTORY

Columbia released "The Love I Thought I'd Found" backed with "Strange Affair" in the United Kingdom on October 14, 1966 under catalogue number DB 8030.

Alongside the commercial edition, demonstration pressings were manufactured for promotional use. The pictured copy uses Columbia's green demonstration label and is prominently marked "DEMONSTRATION RECORD" and "NOT FOR SALE".

Different UK pressing configurations are documented, including demonstration copies with push-out and solid centres. Some promotional copies were also accompanied by a black-and-white paper picture sleeve.

The release was presented differently outside Britain. In the United States and Canada, the A-side was retitled "Smashed! Blocked!", while "Strange Affair" remained the B-side.

The American edition appeared on White Whale as WW-239, while the Canadian pressing was issued by Reo as 8976X.

CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS

AMERICA

USA: Billboard Hot 100 — the supplied information records an appearance in the lower reaches of the chart, but an exact peak position and number of weeks have not been supplied.

The single also achieved Top 10 placings on local charts in Florida and California.

NOTES

The photographed UK demonstration pressing carries Columbia's distinctive green promotional label with "DEMONSTRATION RECORD" and "NOT FOR SALE" printed prominently around the upper section.

The B-side label displays the date 14.10.66, catalogue number DB 8030 and matrix number 7XCA 30668.

"Strange Affair" is credited to Fingers Groin on the label, with Simon Napier-Bell named as producer.

Some UK promotional copies were issued with a black-and-white paper picture sleeve.

The UK A-side was titled "The Love I Thought I'd Found", while the international releases used the alternative title "Smashed! Blocked!".

This release predates Marc Bolan's membership of John's Children. Bolan joined in March 1967 and therefore had no involvement with this October 1966 single.

PERSONNEL

Andy Ellison — vocals

Chris Townson — drums

John Hewlett — bass guitar, songwriter

Geoff McClelland — guitar

Session musicians — instruments on the early recording sessions

Simon Napier-Bell — songwriter, producer, manager

PRODUCTION

Produced by Simon Napier-Bell

Label: Columbia Records

RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE

Artist	Title	Label	Country	Catalogue	Date	Format
John's Children	The Love I Thought I'd Found / Strange Affair	Columbia	UK	DB 8030	October 14, 1966	7", 45 RPM Single
John's Children	The Love I Thought I'd Found / Strange Affair	Columbia	UK	DB 8030	October 14, 1966	7", 45 RPM Demonstration Record, Push-Out Centre
John's Children	The Love I Thought I'd Found / Strange Affair	Columbia	UK	DB 8030	1966	7", 45 RPM Demonstration Record, Solid Centre
	INTERNATIONAL VARIANTS
John's Children	Smashed! Blocked! / Strange Affair	White Whale	USA	WW-239	1966	7", 45 RPM Single
John's Children	Smashed! Blocked! / Strange Affair	White Whale	USA	WW-239	1966	7", 45 RPM Promo
John's Children	Smashed! Blocked! / Strange Affair	Reo	Canada	8976X	1966	7", 45 RPM Single

TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)

Format	Catalogue	Tracklisting
UK 7" Single	DB 8030	A. The Love I Thought I'd Found B. Strange Affair
UK 7" Demonstration Record	DB 8030	A. The Love I Thought I'd Found B. Strange Affair
USA 7" Single	WW-239	A. Smashed! Blocked! B. Strange Affair
USA 7" Promo	WW-239	A. Smashed! Blocked! B. Strange Affair
Canada 7" Single	8976X	A. Smashed! Blocked! B. Strange Affair

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SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts.Easy Live Auction.

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders.

This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.

No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.

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