The Vernons Girls were an English musical ensemble of female vocalists, put together by the Vernons football pools company, eventually settling down to a sixteen strong choir, and recording an album of standards in 1958, and issuing a string of singles throughout the early 60's. In 1962 three of the group decided to break away and form their own trio, and so Betty Prescott, Margo Quantrell and Vicki Haseman left the Vernons and called themselves The Breakaways, because that's what they had done. Heading for London, they found themselves a manager and landed a recording contract with Pye Records, but before they had a chance to record their first single they were roped in to provide backing vocals on Joe Brown and the Bruvvers' 'A Picture of You', which became a top three hit in the spring of 1962. The group’s vocal competence and adaptability soon meant that they were performing back ups for many of the top artists of the day – not just for Pye, but for a host of labels, and it is perhaps as session singers that the girls are best remembered. Their first release under their own name was a somewhat prim version of US girl group the Crystals' 'He's A Rebel', following which Prescott left the group, to be replaced by Jean Ryder. They joined Joe Brown again in the film 'Just For Fun', released in February 1963, and Haseman and Brown hit it off, later marrying and having children, including the 1980's singer Sam Brown. In November 1963 the girls were relaunched with a sexy all-in-black look to promote their new Tony Hatch-penned single 'That Boy of Mine', although for many it's the flip, a version of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich’s 'Here She Comes' which is the better recording. Quantrell followed in the wake of Wendy Richard and Billie Davis by putting in an appearance on a novelty record by Mike Sarne, 'Hello Lover Boy', but the whole group had already backed 'That Was The Week That Was' comedian Kenneth Cope on his 'Hands Off, Stop Muckin' About' 45 earlier in the year. After backing Joe Brown on a Christmas-themed EP they released their third single 'That's How It Goes' in March 1964, while in France the Vogue label issued a four-track EP consisting of all the songs from the group's second and third singles.
In 1965 they provided backing vocals for Burt Bacharach, achieving a credit as 'and chorus' on the huge hit 'Trains And Boats And Planes', and they also sang on another of his songs 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' that same year. Displaying a somewhat curious choice of material, they issued a version of 'Danny Boy' in November 1965, but again it's the b-side that has gone on to be more highly regarded, with the Marty Wilde-penned 'Your kind Of Love' being a fan favourite. 1967 saw the release of the sumptuous 'Sacred Love' on CBS, while session work included providing the vocals for the Tony Hatch Sound’s version of Francis Lai's 'Live For Life', and the following year the group donned pink baby doll dresses to back Cliff Richard on the Royal Albert Hall stage in his bid for Eurovision glory with 'Congratulations'. Another label switch in 1968 failed to get them back in the charts, but the session work continued into the 70's, and the girls provided vocals on the Mark Wirtz Orchestra And Chorus album 'Come Back And Shake Me', with Quantrell giving a fine solo performance on 'I Can Hear Music'. They continued to work as session singers over the following years, both together and individually, and Vicki joined her husband's group 'Brown's Home Brew' in the early 70's, and also recorded as part of the Tree People and the New London Chorale, with The Breakaways formally splitting in the mid-70's. Their catalogue is quite a varied mix of Northern soul stompers, novelty records, well-chosen covers, and credited backing to singers like Russ Loader, but it's their perfect vocal harmonies for which they will always be remembered.
Track listing
01 He's A Rebel (single 1962)
02 Hands Off, Stop Muckin' About (single by Ken Cope And The Breakaways 1963)
03 Why Am I So Shy (b-side of 'Hands Off, Stop Muckin' About')
04 That Boy Of Mine (single 1963)
05 Here She Comes (b-side of 'That Boy Of Mine')
06 All Things Bright And Beautiful (by Joe Brown & The Bruvvers with The Breakaways 1963)
07 The Holly And The Ivy (b-side of 'All Things Bright And Beautiful')
08 That's How It Goes (single 1964)
09 He Doesn't Love Me (b-side of 'That's How It Goes')
10 Danny Boy (single 1965)
11 Your Kind Of Love (b-side of 'Danny Boy')
12 Don't Go Breaking My Heart (single by Burt Bacharach with The Breakaways 1965)
13 Someone To Talk To (from the film 'Darling' 1965)
14 When Your Heart Is Broken (single by Russ Loader with The Breakaways 1965)
15 Live For Life (single by The Tony Hatch Sound with The Breakaways 1966)
16 Sacred Love (single 1967)
17 I Can Hear Music (from 'Come Back & Shake Me' by Mark Wirtz 1970)
