MPD LTD
Little Boy Sad
(Wayne Walker)
Australia 1965
#5 Sydney #1 Melbourne #1 Brisbane #8 Adelaide #1 Perth

Single on Go!! label.

Double-sided hit in Melbourne with the B-side, Wendy Don't Go.

Melbourne beat trio driven by a heavy rhythm section, formed in 1965. The 'M', the 'P' and the 'D' were for Mike Brady, Pete Watson and Danny Finley. Mike and Pete had met in Shadows-style band The Phantoms, and Danny had been drummer with another instrumental band The Saxons (see Pedro The Fisherman).

Mike Brady was later responsible for numerous well-known advertising jingles, and as one half of Two Man Band had a hit in 1979 with the Australian Rules football song Up There Cazaly.

Further reading: Paul Culnane's band history and appreciation of MPD Ltd at Milesago. Suggestion from John Yeager.
THE GANTS
Little Boy Sad
(Wayne Walker)
USA 1965

Single on Liberty, B-side of Smoke Rings, by garage-leaning band, best known for their version of Bo Diddley's Roadrunner (#46 USA).
PAUL PETERSEN
Little Boy Sad
(Wayne Walker)
USA 1962

Single on Colpix, B-side of My Dad (#6 USA) by young actor who played Jeff Stone from The Donna Reed Show.
JOHNNY BURNETTE
Little Boy Sad
(Wayne Walker)
USA 1961
Original version
#17 USA #12 UK #23 Sydney #13 Melbourne #16 Brisbane #4 Perth

Singer from Memphis (1934-1964) who formed the rockabilly Johnny Burnette Rock'n'Roll Trio in the wake of Elvis's success recording with a trio at Sun Records.

Johnny Burnette and his brother Dorsey (1932-1979), also a member of the Trio, later wrote songs at Imperial Records, notably for Ricky Nelson (see Gypsy Woman).

At Liberty Records Johnny recorded a number of solo pop hits in the early 60s with producer 'Snuff' Garrett, including Dreamin, Little Boy Sad and You're Sixteen. At the same time, Dorsey established a solo career ([There Was A] Tall Oak Tree, Big Rock Candy Mountain).

Johnny Burnette's son Rocky had a hit in 1980 with Tired Of Toein' The Line.

Buy At Sanity.com.auReference: Phil Hardy & Dave Laing, Encyclopedia of Rock Vol. 1: The Age Of Rock'n'Roll, (1975). See also the Burnette House website, covering the musical careers of all the Burnettes.

Thanks to Peter Letheby for correction.

LES ATOMES
Pauvre Fou [Little Boy Sad]
(Wayne Walker - L. Brien)
Canada 1967

Single on Capitol (Canada), French interpretation by band from Saint-Jérôme, Quebec. The French title is in the vein of Ricky Nelson's Poor Little Fool.

Thanks to Chas Kit @ GarageHangover for version alert.
BILL PHILLIPS
Little Boy Sad
(Wayne Walker)
USA 1969

Single on Decca by country artist, also on the album Little Boy Sad (1970). Bill's biggest hit was Put It Off Until Tomorrow (1966, #6 Billbooard Country).

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