Hello Again Kats & Kittens, Friend & Fiend,
We’re diving into the MERSEY River we have a long swim ahead…. maybe we should paddle, yes let’s paddle… it’s MERSEY BEAT day! All things Scouser….1960s LIVERPOOL!
The obvious choice is the FAB FOUR….The MopTops pushed the Mersey Sound, “got us all in a sweaty rage”, they were not the first….but we shall relent… here are JOHN, PAUL, GEORGE, & newly installed RINGO, from the ‘63 Please Please Me album….THE BEATLES with “Ask Me Why”…. By the by…GEORGE MARTIN recorded this album in one day….one! BEATLEMANIA was awokened….
Fun Fact: THE BEATLES have sold over ONE BILLION records…..only ELVIS has sold that many.
THE KIRBYS are up with “Dreaming” from a great comp, Unearthed Merseybeat… these Kats only lasted a couple years, mid-60’s.
FAB GEAR! BEAT BEAT BEAT is the compilation, another great find…. TONY D & THE SHAKEOUTS are on board with “Is It True”. 1964 on the Piccadilly record label.
Early MopTop Boys rivals, GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS’ first three singles went to #1 on the UK charts…. no one had ever done that…it didn’t happen again until FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD repeated in the ‘80s. (quick name those tunes). From the Definitive Collection, here’s “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying”. The band called it quits 1966….they lacked the vision of The BEATLES.
Fun Fact: GERRY & PACEMAKERS starred in the moderately successful 1965 flick Ferry Across The Mersey…GERRY MARSDEN wrote most of the soundtrack & 1964’s hit single “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is the Anthem for the LIVERPOOL FC……Go REDS Go!
DAVE BERRY is of interest, no fame really, not a great vocal range, but he made the best, had a couple moderate hits, mid ’60s. This Mersey Beat thing was short lived, you changed with the times or the times swallowed you whole…. Here’s Mr. BERRY’s version of “Little Things”, written by BOBBY GOLDSBORO from the Best of the ‘60’s British Beat Comp.
DENNY SEYTON & THE SABRES is another “almost made the charts” band, but not quite….a very good fun live band, they mostly did covers, crowd pleasers….From the Unearthed Merseybeat comp….here’s their version of JOHNNY CASH’s “Big River”.
RINGO STARR was skins-man for RORY STORM & THE HURRICANES before moving to THE BEATLES,‘62, wonder how that worked out…. Mr. STORM & Band lasted until ‘67. Popular with the Scouser IN-CROWD, they played cover tunes & passed the pints…They were the last band to play Rock-n-Roll in Liverpool’s famed Cavern Club. Mr. STORM died next to his Mum in a double suicide….’72.
Off the Unearthed Merseybeat comp. “Lend Me Your Comb”.
JULIE GRANT is up for fun (if crying is fun)….”Everyday I Have To Cry Some” …from the FAB GEAR comp…Ms. GRANT with a series of singles, toured UK with a British Pop Package Tour….versitile, strong voice…had a chance at the ring…but missed it…she got offered the TONY HATCH tune “Downtown” then passed…hmmm….PETULA would you like to record this? PETULA CLARK did just that…to the top of the charts, 1965. We think Ms. GRANT really did have to cry some…or…things will be bright when you’re DOWNTOWN!
“Sorrow” was the first & only hit from THE MERSEYS….an extension of original THE MERSEYBEATS….Many of these bands landed with a splash then faded in the pub haze…this band lasted until ‘68…. off the wonderful Unearthed Merseybeat Comp.
Many consider this next bunch the clown act of the Mersey….FREDDIE & THE DREAMERS….On stage garrulous, height challenged lead singer Freddie Garrity (5’3”) pogo’d, arms a flapping’, Cheshire grin….what silly fun….but they had success, UK hits “65 to ‘68… “I’m Telling You Now” off Best of the 60’s British Beat comp.
THE UNDERTAKERS had the pedigree, the chops, the groupies…. THE BEATLES were fans…they got recording contracts, had JACKIE LOMAX (the Beatles 1st doomed Apple Records project) in the band, got to AMERICA! with a single, even toured the US….blink….gone…what happened? The times happened…the band fractured from within….never produced a full album….musicians don’t seem to make business well... Here’s “Just A Little Bit”. from FAB GEAR comp….
We’re gonna wreck this disc….another from the FAB GEAR! BEAT BEAT BEAT comp….THE PUPPETS, 1963ish…..only singles, produced by JOE MEEK…. Strings man RITCHIE BLACKMORE hovered in the band circle too…. They also played as backup band for GENE VINCENT before crumbling in ‘67. Here’s “Three Boys Lookin’ For Love”…..ain’t we all.
THE MERSEY 5…not much about this group….couple singles…pressed in Germany…. “Slow Down”. from the Best of Liverpool: Beat-Club 60’s. Wait…. are there six guys on the cover?……hmm…no one said there’d be math.
KINGSIZE TAYLOR & THE DOMINOES were on the scene early, one of the first “beat” groups, late ‘50s….started as a “skiffle” band (hit buttons, look up). Friends with THE BEATLES, (who wasn’t at this time, they were swimming in the chaff too). Being 6’5” lead singer TED TAYLOR…(you get the ref)…got the band a KINGSIZE recording contract in Germany (what’s with the Mersey/Deutchland connect?)…made a stamp in Cherman club scene…Sax-man HOWIE CASIE joined in…check his music out…FAB…. KINGSIZE called it quits in ‘64.
“Fortune Teller” from the Unearthed Mersetbeat volume 1 comp….
We’re nearing the terminus….let’s go out with a bang, BAng, BANG! HERMAN’s HERMITS rocked the music scene for a bit..several hits, Grammy Nom., touring world, even a movie, 1966’s “Hold On!” with FAB SHELLY FABARES….BUT…they weren’t Scousers…they were from dreaded Manchester….they had the sound, they had the look, they had the talent… they had the tunes, “Henry 8, I am”, “..Kind of a Hush…” “Mrs. Brown…” “…Something Good”, “Can’t ya hear my heartbeat”, plus, plus, plus. They gave those Mersey kids a run.
from the ‘67’s chart topping, There’s a Kind of Hush. LP…..”No Milk Today”.
Powerhouse DAVE CLARK FIVE is up next with “Everybody Knows”. These Kats swung hard & big…huge sound for the day…BUT…again not from Liverpool…. these London Kats gave THE BEATLES a run too…chalking up 17 top 40 singles in USofA, in a three year span….not too shabby…ran aground in 1970…. from THE HISTORY of THE DAVE CLARK FIVE disc….
Seems we’ve made a circle…..ending where we started with THE FAB FOUR. From the With the Beatles LP, “Hold Me Tight”.
Way more music from this place & time…THE EASYBEATS, THE SEARCHERS, THE HOLLIES, THE TREMELOES, THE FOURMOST, WAYNE FONTANA, THE REMO FOUR, PETER & GORDON, CILLA BLACK, LOS BEATNIKS, plus, plus, plus……some from Liverpool, some not, but with the BEAT SOUND…
AND PADDLES UP!….Grab the rope & tie in….
Thanks for listening, until tomorrow.
Peace & Distance.
