An Independence Day celebration for the Byrds who are chasing our other feathered friends, the Yardbirds, up this week's Fab.

Don't Go Away Mad was written by Neil Diamond, who had yet to achieve any hits of his own. It was in June 1965 that Neil, Jeff Barry and his wife Ellie Greenwich formed Tallyrand Music, for the sole purpose of publishing Neil's songs. Sadly, Don't Go Away Mad was not one of the many Diamond-penned successes.

Stanley Robert Vinton was born in Canonsburg, PA in 1935. He achieved an amazing 44 US Hot Hundred entries over twenty years, including four that perched at the top slot. He owns The Bobby Vinton Theatre in Branson, Missouri, which boasts 'Blue On Blue' decor and carpets woven with gold discs, commemorating the accolades he has received for sales of over 75 million records. The stage curtain is made from – what else, but Blue Velvet.

Neil Diamond was eventually to beat Bobby's chart entry record with no less than 56 Hot Hundred entries in twenty years. In the UK, Neil achieved far greater success as a songwriter than a singer, and surprisingly, failed to reach the UK Nationals until the release of Cracklin' Rosie in 1970. By this time, he had entered the US chart 15 times. However, like many other artists of the time, he did fare much better in the Radio London Fab Forty. Neil, who apparently contemplated, and then wisely rejected, the stage names Eice Chary and Noah Cominsky enjoyed his greatest-ever songwriting success with the Monkees' I'm a Believer.

Bobby Vinton, who has been awarded his own bronze star on the world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, would later return to the subject of his favourite colour, when he covered Neil Diamond's Song Sung Blue.

The words to Don't Go Away Mad are here. A song recorded by Motley Crüe with an identical title and lyrical sentiment, has no connection to this one.