This was written by Les Reed and Geoff Stephens and first recorded by Stephens’s group, the New Vaudeville Band, in 1966 for their album Winchester Cathedral.
The first single version was recorded in 1966 by Gary and the Hornets, a teen/pre-teen group from America.
It was showing signs of becoming a hit in early 1967 when Herman’s Hermits covered it, reaching No 4 in America, their final US Top Ten hit, and No 7 in Britain. I can’t say I was mad about Herman’s Hermits but it’s a good tune.