Johnson and Frew were replaced by Billy Irving and Raymond Duffy respectively and the group also recruited a front man - Thomas McAleese - who took the name "Dean Ford".

In 1964, they attended an EMI audition held by producer Norrie Paramor in Glasgow the following year where they were offered a recording contract with Columbia.

Beginning as a "pop" band, their live repertoire began to include more American R&B material and this was reflected in their early singles. Their debut was a cover of Chubby Checkers' "Twenty Miles", the record sold well in Scotland but failed to break into the national charts. They succeeded it with "Mr. Heartbreak's Here Instead". For their third single, The Gaylords covered Shirley Ellis' "The Name Game", confirming their affection for American music.

In an attempt to gain more recognition, the group moved to London and Graham Knight replaced Irving. A fourth single was released but again met with little success.

By 1967 Duffy had left and been replaces by "sassanach" Alan Whitehead, and the group itself had evolved into The Marmalade. As such they became one of the leading hit-making groups of the late-sixties.