ONE of the most iconic smash hits of the 60s has been re-recorded and released to mark the 50th anniversary of it making Number 1.

Chart classic Everlasting Love has been re-worked to give it a more modern feel by Mick Jackson, from Bradford, who became a global superstar with the band Love Affair.

The pop, soul and R and B group had a string of top ten hits leading to them being hailed as Britain’s top group.

The song reached Number 1 in 1968 and later featured in the Bridget Jones films as well as being covered by bands such as U2.

Bass guitarist/singer Mick recorded the new version of the song with his band 69, which is made up of musicians from the Bingley area.

He said: “For a long time, I refused to play Everlasting Love at gigs because I associated it with my past and wanted to concentrate on more guitar and drum-based music with a more up-to-date feel.

“But some people suggested we did a modern version of the song so Dave Johnson our lead guitarist and I set about rearranging it in a contemporary way.

“The result is still unmistakably the same great song with similar iconic riffs, but we’ve given it a completely new identity which will appeal to modern fans.”

The video for the single is available to watch on YouTube and features Mick’s son Ben on drums.

Mick started his musical career when he quit art school as a teenager to become a member of a band offered a summer season at Butlin’s.

From there he ended up in London, auditioned for Love Affair and found himself performing in front of thousands of screaming fans every night.

“They were crazy days,” he recalled. “The money was great though it is nothing like the amount today’s successful bands are getting. It was also really hard work.”

Mick and the group played regularly at the Marquee Club in London, made scores of appearances on Top of the Pops and mixed with pop and rock royalty.

Their faces adorned teenage girls’ walls across the world and hit the headlines after a publicity stunt which saw the band arrested for climbing Eros in Piccadilly Circus.

After Leaving Love Affair Mick, now ironically aged 69, quit the music business, moved back to Bradford with his childhood sweetheart Patricia and started a new life in the motor industry.

He said: “I left the scene when we decided to get married, move back north and got a proper job. I didn’t do another gig until 46 years later when a mate from the band persuaded me to get up on stage with him.

“Having done that I caught the bug again and now here I am back playing and singing and it’s fantastic.”

Everlasting Love by 69 will be available on iTunes and all major music sites from tomorrow. (July 20)