The Essex

The Real Story That Inspired Moby Dick - The Sinking of the Essex

EASIER SAID THAN DONE Columbia 1963 UK (Roulette USA)
A WALKING MIRACLE – 1963 (Covered in the 1970s by Limmie and Family Cooking)

The Essex were formed in 1961 at Camp LeJeune, NC by Walter Vickers and Rodney Taylor, two marines stationed in Japan. When they returned to Stateside Camp LeJeune, NC, they recruited female ‘leatherneck’ Anita Humes, along with a couple of male marines – Billie Hill and Rudolph Johnson. It was Anita Humes that did the distinctive lead vocal on Easier Said Than Done and it reached the top of the American pop charts in June 1963.

The Essex

A Walking Miracle followed and it too became a hit in the USA (12 Billboard).

Both songs were recorded whilst all the group members were serving in the US Marine corp and both these tunes were major hits on the UK soul scene, played often at the Manchester clubs throughout the sixties.

Formed 1962 – Camp LeJeune, North Carolina
Disbanded in 1964

Song Lyrics – Easier Said Than Done The Essex:

My friends all tell me Go to him, run to him, Say sweet lovely things to him, And tell him – he’s the one. Deep in my heart I know it, But it’s so hard to show it ‘Cause it’s easier – easier said than done. My buddies tell me Fly to him, sigh to him, Tell him I would die for him, And tell him – he’s the one. Although he gives me a feeling That sets my heart a-reeling, Yet it’s easier – easier said than done. Well, I know that I love him so. I’m afraid that he’ll never know Because I (I-I) I get so timid and shy Each time that I look him in the eye. They all tell me Sing to him, swing with him, And just do anything for him, And tell him – he’s the one. I got a love so true But I’m sad and blue ‘Cause it’s easier – easier said than done. Well, I know that I love him so. I’m afraid that he’ll never know Because I (I-I) I get so timid and shy Each time that I look him in the eye. They all tell me Sing to him, swing with him, And just do anything for him, And tell him – he’s the one. I got a love so true But I’m sad and blue ‘Cause it’s easier – easier said than done. Easier-er-er-er – said than done.

Limmie and the Family Cooking made a cover of “A Walking Miracle” in 1972