The Mole

Despite their worldwide achievements the song which is still the most associated with The Southlanders is a novelty track with a memorable bass line.

"I am a mole and I live in a hole" has stuck with them. Inseparable for nearly 51 years.

Vernon has sung the song at each and every performance he has been in since 1957. "Most people over 30 or 40 years old know it," he says. "And it still crops up in trivia quizzes.

The group have even sung the song in Japanese.

"The amazing thing is...it's such a stupid song!"

"We didn't even want to record it and had to be persuaded. But I admit now that it was the best thing for us."

"Any music that is so striking as to be positively associated with you for so long has got to be a plus. And it encouraged people to buy many of our other records."

"Mole" peaked in the lower reaches of the Top 20 when it was releases in 1958. But since then it has been performed at every engagement.

Although The Southlanders once tried to ditch it from the act, the audience and club management joined forces to insist it went back in.

"It's become protected. Untouchable. We've even sung it in Japanese" says Vernon.