"IT'S the best record I've ever made," says Herman about his new disc, "A Must To Avoid" on Columbia D.B. 7791. And this sort of statement from an artist who has sold over ten million records in the last 18 months must mean something! The song is one of four which Herman's recording manager commissioned P.F. Sloan to write for the Hermits' first film "Hold On" - which will be seen here in the Spring.

HERMAN withdrew from his seven-city British tour in a cloud of mystery after only three dates last week, leaving co-stars the Love Affair to move to the top of the bill.     "Commercially the tour was a seven-day disaster," said co-promoter Barrington Saunders. "I feel pop tours have been deteriorating for some time and things finally came to a head."     Herman's Hermits left the tour (Dave Berry, Parking Lot, the Sponge and compere Johnnie Walker completed the bill) after last Tuesday's two shows at Leicester and at each of the remaining venues - Kettering, Bristol, Brighton and Bournemouth - fans were offered their money back before the shows.     "But only five people did, in fact, take advantage of the offer," said Saunders.     But rumours circulating in pop circles this week that part cause of Herman's withdrawal was a combination of poor houses and better reception for the Love Affair, were strenuously denied by Herman's manager, Harvey Lisberg.     Herman himself said after opening night at Newcastle: "if I was 15 again, I wouldn't go to see a pop tour. There isn't the excitement any more. We've done this tour because we've only worked in cabaret since last August and you begin to feel a bit old if you don't play to teenyboppers once in a while."