In February of 1962, two bands auditioned for a recording contract for London’s Decca Records.

Both upstart bands had been experiencing modest success and small scale popularity in the United Kingdom.  Both groups had an oddly similar sound and look.

Brian Poole and the Tremeloes were a London-based band while their competition, The Beatles, were based in Liverpool, more than 200 miles from the British capital.

After having both bands record audition albums at Decca’s studios, the label’s leadership decided to sign the Tremeloes...not the Beatles.

The decision was based mainly on convenience.  Having the Tremeloes in London made them much more accessible for Decca.  The thought of having to have the Beatles travel the nearly four hours to London for any potential recording, performing or other appearances was logistically laborious.  

While the Tremeloes turned out to be a moderately successful group (reaching #1 on the UK charts twice [Do You Love Me and Silence Is Golden] and climbing as high as #11 in the US [Silence], they obviously never approached the level of popularity or success of the Beatles.

Excellence, it seems, is never a matter of convenience.