Baggott, Cash and Freeman began playing together in a skiffle group named The Crestas in 1961, occasionally performing at a local youth club. Davies joind the group in 1961, Gould the following year. Lacking a vocalist, at that period they concentrated on purely instrumental numbers. With the addition of singer Al Jackson in '63 they began playing rock 'n' roll songs and secured a residency at Solihull Civic Hall.. During that time they changed their name to The Jaguars before settling on the name which was to become known to pop fans all over the country.

Signed to Decca late in 1963, their success was largely due to the strength of their first record,"Tell Me When", released in February 1964, which was an incredibly strong number. The met the Beatles during rehearsals for a TV appearance and Leenon & McCartney provided the group with a song which was to be their second single "Like Dreamers Do". Disappointingly, the record only reached No. 20 in the charts. Their final hit was "Three Little Words", also in 1964.

Although Decca continued to issue Applejacks recordings during 1965 (including the first released version of Ray Davies' "I Go To Sleep") they met with little response from the public leading to a rapid return to playing local gigs.