About this Record
Before recording their legendary self-titled 1968 masterpiece as Roger Nichols & The Small Circle of Friends, songwriter and arranger Roger Nichols led the Roger Nichols Trio, recording singles for Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss’s renowned A&M Records. Produced by legendary producer Tommy LiPuma and arranged by Roger Nichols himself, this rare 1967 US promotional 7″ single features the group’s breathtaking sunshine pop interpretation of the Beatles’ classic ‘I’ll Be Back’ alongside ‘Just Beyond Your Smile’, co-written by Nichols and lyricist Tony Asher (famed for co-writing The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds).
Featuring the classic red trumpet logo on a clean white promo label with ‘Promotional Copy / Not For Sale’ designations, this copy also bears vintage radio station broadcast notations dated July 1967. A quintessential holy grail for soft rock, sunshine pop, and Shibuya-kei collectors worldwide.
Tracklist & Notes
- Side A: I’ll Be Back (Lennon – McCartney) – 2:38 [Matrix: 1290]
- Side B: Just Beyond Your Smile (Nichols – Asher) – 2:16 [Matrix: 1291]
Produced by Tommy LiPuma; Arranged by Roger Nichols. Released on A&M Records (Catalog # 849).
「ロジャー・ニコルス祭り3枚目。もう戻ってこないで!」
(Wife’s thought: Roger Nichols Festival, record number three. The song says “I’ll Be Back”—please, just don’t come back!)

