INTRODUCTION
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Welcome to the Merseybeat section of Beatles Now.
A question asked many times is, would there have been the Beatles without Merseybeat? Well, the answer has got to be a resounding yes! The Beatles were certainly part of the Merseybeat scene, they played the same clubs, they drank in the same pubs and they dreamed of making a piece of plastic that spins at 45rpm. What the Beatles had above the others was the drive to get there, the talent to write songs from an early age, knowing that this was the way forward and also one Brian Epstein. Eppy worked tirelessly initially to get them gigs outside of Liverpool, then in London, to get them their record deal with EMI and once they met George Martin well that was it. Meeting George was a marriage made in heaven and the old cliche, the rest is history could never had been put to a better use. But what of the other bands on the Merseybeat scene? The Epstein stable including Gerry & the Pacemakers, Cilla Black, The Fourmost, Tommy Quickly & Billy J Kramer was almost assured of success with Lennon & McCartney supplying material that enabled Cilla, The Fourmost, Tommy & Billy J to achieve their initial chart breakthroughs. Gerry Marsden was writing his own material for the Pacemakers after initial chart success with a couple of Mitch Murray songs 'How Do You Do It? & I Like It. The Searchers mostly relied on the genius of Tony Hatch to supply them with hits while they wrote some brilliant B-sides. The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Merseybeats, The Mojo's & The Undertakers all achieved notable success in varying degrees before the Merseybeat boom subsided. |
Some bands were happier on the stage rather than the confines of a studio.
The Big Three were a prime example, their live at the Cavern EP is an out & out classic but their studio output could never match their live performances. The same could be said for two Liverpool showman Rory Storm (and the Hurricanes) & Faron (Faron's Flamingos) who's releases could never match their stage performances but were stars of the Liverpool live scene. The recorded output from the Merseybeat era is increased substantially from the time the bands spent in Hamburg. Lee Curtis & Kingsize Taylor, had greater success in Germany or West Germany as it was in the 60's and probably missed out on bigger success in the UK because they remained in Hamburg under contract when Merseybeat was at it's peak in the UK. Kingsize Taylor & the Dominoes would often end up in the studio in the early hours, record an album, see it released under a different name and never receive any royalties. Other bands who made it big in Germany were Ian & the Zodiacs, the Undertakers & the first all girl Merseybeat group The Liverbirds. It was a big decision to give up your day job in the 60's and many bands including the original Remo Four/Group One remained in Liverpool where they could hold down a full time job, play nightly with the band and keep their wives happy! The Merseybeat era still has a presence in Liverpool with the Merseybeats, the New Undertakers, Lee Curtis, Faron, Karl Terry and the Cruisers, the Hideaways, the Kirby's & Beryl Marsden amongst others still playing live and occasionally releasing CD's while resident bands at the Cavern Club, the Shakers, Liverpool Beat and the Rockits help to keep the flame alive in today's Merseybeat scene. |
MERSEYBEAT REVIEWS
CD/LP At the Cavern - Various Artists
CD Unearthed Merseybeat Vols. 1-3 - Various Artists
CD A Whole Lotta Shakers - The Shakers
EP Cavern Stompin' - The Shakers
EP Mach Shau! - The Shakers
CD Unearthed Merseybeat Vols. 1-3 - Various Artists
CD A Whole Lotta Shakers - The Shakers
EP Cavern Stompin' - The Shakers
EP Mach Shau! - The Shakers
MERSEYBEAT DISCOGRAPHIES
MERSEYBEAT PHOTO ALBUMS
06.04.18 The Searchers - The Plaza, Stockport
01.04.18 Some Other Guys - Big Three Documentary - FACT, Liverpool
14.09.17 The Merseybeats, Cavern Club, Liverpool
29.08.17 BW17 - The Big Three - The Cavern Club
28.08.17 Karl Terry & the Cruisers, The Liverpool Pub
24.08.17 Merseyrats, Lathom Hall
20.05.17 A Night at the Cavern, Playhouse 2, Shaw
17.06.16 Remembering Perch Rock, New Brighton
04.08.13 Liverpool Originals
21.07.13 The Undertakers, Merseycats, Formby Festival, Formby
BW 2012 Gerry & the Pacemakers- the Cavern Club, Liverpool
BW 2012 The Searchers
BW 2012 The Undertakers/Karl Terry & the Cruisers/Lee Curtis - The Liverpool Pub
BW 2012 Ringer/Beryl Marsden/The Overtures
18.09.09 60's Night at the Cavern
BW 2008 The Undertakers, the Liverpool Pub
BW 2007 Merseybeat Concert, Liverpool Empire
08.07.07 Kingsize Taylor & the Brotherhood of Rock and Soul, Cavern Club, Liverpool
23.06.07 The Ultimate Merseybeat Concert
16.01.07 Cavern Club 50th Anniversary
27.08.01 The Undertakers, Kingsize Taylor & Lee Curtis - Liverpool Pub
16.01.97 40th Anniversary of the Cavern Club
01.04.18 Some Other Guys - Big Three Documentary - FACT, Liverpool
14.09.17 The Merseybeats, Cavern Club, Liverpool
29.08.17 BW17 - The Big Three - The Cavern Club
28.08.17 Karl Terry & the Cruisers, The Liverpool Pub
24.08.17 Merseyrats, Lathom Hall
20.05.17 A Night at the Cavern, Playhouse 2, Shaw
17.06.16 Remembering Perch Rock, New Brighton
04.08.13 Liverpool Originals
21.07.13 The Undertakers, Merseycats, Formby Festival, Formby
BW 2012 Gerry & the Pacemakers- the Cavern Club, Liverpool
BW 2012 The Searchers
BW 2012 The Undertakers/Karl Terry & the Cruisers/Lee Curtis - The Liverpool Pub
BW 2012 Ringer/Beryl Marsden/The Overtures
18.09.09 60's Night at the Cavern
BW 2008 The Undertakers, the Liverpool Pub
BW 2007 Merseybeat Concert, Liverpool Empire
08.07.07 Kingsize Taylor & the Brotherhood of Rock and Soul, Cavern Club, Liverpool
23.06.07 The Ultimate Merseybeat Concert
16.01.07 Cavern Club 50th Anniversary
27.08.01 The Undertakers, Kingsize Taylor & Lee Curtis - Liverpool Pub
16.01.97 40th Anniversary of the Cavern Club