At the subsequent session they not only performed and recorded “Honey” to Terry’s satisfaction, but also recorded one of their own compositions, “Things will be better” and a song local writers Richard Beasley and Fred Bridges had created, under the pseudonym ‘Freddie Pride’, ‘She broke his heart’.

Fred Bridges’ consternation at not being credited correctly on the song still irks him to this day. “The record company put that stupid fake name in. We knew nothing about it.”

Their first official release, as ‘Just Bros’ came in mid 1965 when the instrumental ‘B’ side previously intended for “Honey” was released on Lupine 001 as “Sliced tomatoes” accompanied by “Things will be better”.

Fascinating to note that the record was produced by ‘The Lively Ones’! 

It sank without trace as a commercial entity, but resurfaced over seven years later to a quite different fate.

The mystery of how, and why, it came out on H-D-H’s Music Merchant label has confounded many for years. The simple truth can be found in the relationship Johnny Terry enjoyed with the Holland brothers – he is their brother in law. Easy access at family gatherings no doubt.

“Honey” wasn’t released at all, and would have been lost forever but for the discovery of a single, badly scratched acetate in the late 1990s (the original master tape had disappeared).

“I was the only guy who had the record. Johnny lost the tape or something. It couldn’t be found, I know that for sure.”

Through the wonders of modern technique, and incredible skill and patience by two very talented individuals, the song was restored to its original condition and issued as a 7” single on Hayley Records (HR 003) in 2001.

music: "Things Will Be Better" - The Just Brothers (Lupine 001a)

Continued