In the summer of 1968, Vanity Fare achieved a UK hit single with their first release, a cover of "I Live for the Sun", originally recorded in 1965 by the California group The Sunrays.

[3] For their next release, "Hitchin' a Ride", they added keyboardist Barry Landeman (born 25 October 1947, Woodbridge, Suffolk, England), formerly of Kippington Lodge, to the group.

"Hitchin' A Ride", written by Peter Callander and Mitch Murray, gave them a second million-selling hit,[3] reaching No.

[4] The hit was preceded by a tour of the United States, following which both Dick Allix and Tony Goulden left the band and were replaced by guitarist and singer Eddie Wheeler and drummer Mark Ellen (died 18 February 2021).

Over the next couple of years more singles were released, including Tony Macaulay's "Better By Far" on DJM Records in 1972, but none of them entered the charts.

From the mid-1970s, amid many band member changes – including the departure of Jarrett, who was replaced by Bernie Hagley – the group recorded only sporadically.

In August 2015, after having played with the band for 45 years, drummer Mark Ellen retired and was replaced by Howard Tibble.