Sessions for ''Take Me for What I'm Worth'' LP began in May 1965 at Pye Studios. There were reports in the press at the same time, that
The Beatles manager
Brian Epstein would take over the group, but this did not happen. In fact, Epstein probably wouldn't be able to help the band with commercial success because nearly all of his merseybeat bands (included
Gerry and the Pacemakers,
Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas,
The Fourmost etc.) had the same problems with waning popularity in 1965. Still, Frank Allen said: "Eppy would have had the clout to do more for us, but what we really needed was control in the studio. We made nice records, but we were losing our way," and he added: "We didn't take enough care finishing the records off." Chris Curtis take over direction of the band previous year. He picked up (or wrote) and arranged the most songs and he also found
P. J. Proby's "Take Me for What I'm Worth" which became their Top 20 hit and the title track of this album. He loved both the melody and the lyrics of the song: "It’s a very profound statement and it could have become a gay anthem," said in interview with
Spencer Leigh.
John McNally's songwriting would evolve over the years and flourish with interesting compositions. As a songwriter, he has contributed with two songs to the record "It's Time' and "Don't You Know Why". One more self-penned number featured on the album, band's lyrical composition with the beautiful flute solo "Too Many Miles" (the song was primarily written by Chris Curtis). During these sessions, out-take version of the Marvin Gaye hit was made: an alternate "I'll Be Doggone" with Chris Curtis on lead vocals (released only on US LP
The Searchers No. 4). Although the album was completed very soon, it stayed in the vaults for another five months and it was not released until the end of the year. This could have had a major impact on the album's failure, because the British music scene was evolving very fast at that time. ==Release==