NEARLY 50 years after a Black Country band split, their long-awaited debut album is finally on its way.

The Montanas, a pop group from the Dudley and Wolverhampton areas who disbanded in 1978, will see their first LP released in early November.

Despite success in the 1960s, including the American chart entry You've Got To Be Loved, the band never released a full album during their career.

Johnny Jones, the band's lead singer and a founding member, said: "I was always proud of the band because The Montanas were ultra-professional in everything we did."

The new release, titled The Montanas - As and Bs 1965-1970, will feature 19 tracks and is being issued by BGO Records.

It follows a double CD collection of the group's recordings released by BGO three years ago.

The LP will include British turntable hits such as Ciao Baby and Let's Get A Little Sentimental, as well as two songs previously only released in America.

Austin Powell, who now manages the group's business affairs, said: "The release of this LP is proof positive that The Montanas music has stood the test of time.

"The Monts always had a great reputation and it's still a mystery why several of their records never made the charts when they were first released."