Alan Clayson in Record Collector

Next up was a workmanlike "Love Potion Number Nine" coupled with "Fortune Teller" (featuring Jackson on all the superimposed vocals). "I wanted 'Fortune Teller' to be the A-side," Jackson says now, "but Louis Benjamin, head of Pye, knew that the Searchers were in the U.S. Top 10 with Love Potion Number Nine' so he chose that as the A-side. We hadn't really arranged it. That was the only occasion my choice was over-ruled." Press adverts for the single were paid for by the Searchers, as a public gesture that bygones were bygones. Moreover, the original line-up regrouped to mime "Sweets For My Sweet" on a 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' anniversary special, and both factions embarked on the same 1965 package tour with the Hollies and Dusty Springfield.

above: Promo of the new single (UK) below: different pressings of Pye 7N15766, release date February 1965, didn't chart.
Line up:

Tony Jackson: Lead Vocal
Ian Buisel: Lead Guitar & vocal
Paul Raymond: keboard & guitar
Dennis Thompson: bass
Paul Francis: Drums

Now a five piece band that allows Tony to move more on stage.(Wonder what this idea was about?)

 

Record Mirror, Febuary 1965

NME, January 1965

above: Record from Sweden, the only foreign country where the single was released

From the Booklet of "Just Like Me" CD 

A third single appeared in late February. It was a remarkable release in several ways; mainly because Tony had already cut 'Love Potion No. 9' while with The Searchers. Although never a single in the U.K., it had reached No. 3 in America only a few weeks beforehand, and remained the biggest hit the group ever had there! Maybe it was felt that the association might bring that illusive breakthrough.The second piece of interest involved the advertisements taken out in the music press for Tony's -single, which were paid for by The Searchers. In unrivalled altruism, they stated that the arguments were over and their best wishes went out to Tony for future success. Jackson then reciprocated by taking space out himself to thank the lads' and let bygones be bygones.Further evidence that the boys were once again friends came when Tony rejoining the Searchers for a one-off T.V. slot, singing 'Sweets For My Sweet' again on a 'Thank Your Lucky Stars anniversary show. 'Love Potion No. 9' regrettably chalked up another flop, despite its obvious strength. Perhaps 1965 was the wrong time to rework such material, while the flip side, a glorious grab at Bunny Spellman's 'Fortune Teller', helped reinforce an aura of datedness. Those who listened were to discover its wild brilliance, the problem was that few persevered. 
 

left: Spanish Ep with Love Potion No. 9 by Tony, the others are by Butch Moore, Glyn Johns and the Sorrows

(E-Pye PYEP 2078)

right: Tony's membership card of the Cavern Club

 

left: no other music paper would feature Tony on the front page but Mersey Beat.

below:

one of the rare pictures of the five piece group