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First Gear, originally formed in Yorkshire as The Zephyrs, relocated to London in mid-1964, where they were renamed by their producer, Shel Talmy. The band adopted a hard-hitting musical style, aiming to make their mark in the wake of The Beatles' success. Their notable track, "Leave My Kitten Alone," showcased this approach, featuring lead vocals by Dave Walton and drumming by Ian Colling. The guitarists, Phil Birkenshaw and Raymond Wafer, were supported by producer Shel Talmy, who had Jimmy Page available for a guitar break that added a unique twist to the B-side. Despite their efforts, the single did not achieve significant recognition, and even The Beatles' own version of the song remained unreleased for 35 years. First Gear managed to release one more single, a cover of Dobie Gray's "The In Crowd," before fading into obscurity.
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