The Merseybeats
The Merseybeats are an English beat band that emerged from the Liverpool Merseybeat scene in the early 1960s,[1] performing at the Cavern Club along with the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and other similar artists.[2]
The Merseybeats | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The Mavericks (1961–1962) |
| Origin | Liverpool, England |
| Genres | Pop, beat |
| Years active | 1961–present |
| Labels | Fontana, various |
| Members | Tony Crane Billy Kinsley Bob Packham Lou Rosenthal |
| Past members | Former members |
| Website | merseybeats.co.uk |
The current line-up is: Tony Crane MBE (founding member) lead vocals and lead guitar and his son Adrian Crane on keyboards and lead guitar.
History
The Merseybeats
Originally called the Mavericks, the band was formed by Tony Crane and Billy Kinsley in late 1960.[3] They became the Pacifics in September 1961.[1] They were renamed the Mersey Beats in February 1962 by Bob Wooler, MC at the Cavern Club. In April 1962, they became the Merseybeats. By now Crane and Kinsley had joined up with guitarist Aaron Williams and drummer John Banks.[1]
They signed a recording contract with Fontana Records and had their first hit single in 1963 with "It's Love That Really Counts",[3] followed in 1964 by their million-selling record "I Think of You", which gained them their first gold disc.[1] They suffered a setback in February 1964 when Kinsley left to form his own band, the Kinsleys.[1] He was temporarily replaced by Bob Garner (later of the Creation) and permanently by Johnny Gustafson, formerly of The Big Three.[1]
With Gustafson they had two more major hits, "Don't Turn Around" and "Wishin' and Hopin' ".[3] Other successful recordings included "Last Night", "Don't Let it Happen to Us", "I Love You, Yes I Do", "I Stand Accused", "Mr. Moonlight", "Really Mystified" and "The Fortune Teller". Kinsley returned to the group in late 1964.[1]
The Merseybeats appeared regularly at Liverpool's Cavern Club, and they claim to have appeared there with the Beatles on more occasions than any other band from that era. They were also successful abroad, touring in Germany and the US in 1964, and having their own Merseybeats Show on Italian television.
The Merseys
After their initial success had waned, the band folded and in 1966 Crane and Kinsley formed a vocal duo called the Merseys.[1] They had a major hit with their first single, a cover of the McCoys' "Sorrow", which reached Number 4 in the UK Singles Chart.[1] The introduction on the record featured a bowed bass played by Jack Bruce. A line from this song, "with your long blonde hair and eyes of blue," is included in the Beatles' "It's All Too Much", released in 1969 as part of the Yellow Submarine soundtrack album. David Bowie recorded a single version in 1973 which reached #3 in the UK Singles Chart.[1] The duo split in 1968, with Crane and Kinsley both going on to front a number of other bands.
Tony Crane and The Merseybeats
During the 1970s Crane continued to tour and perform live as Tony Crane and the Merseybeats, with various line-ups.[1]
Liverpool Express
The Merseybeats re-formed
The Merseybeats' founding member and drummer John Banks died on 20 April 1988, at the age of 44.
However, Kinsley and Crane re-formed the Merseybeats in 1993, and after celebrating 45 years in the music industry in 2006, they continued to tour and perform on the 'sixties circuit', and at venues in the UK, and across Europe.
Members
Current
- Tony Crane – lead guitars, lead vocals (1961–present)
- Adrian Crane - keyboards, lead guitar (2000-present)
Former
- Billy Kinsley – rhythm guitars (previously bass), lead vocals (1961–1964, 1964–1974, 1993–2020)
- David Elias – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1961–1962)
- Frank Sloane – drums (1961–1962)
- Aaron Williams – rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1962–1966)
- John Banks – drums (1962–1966)
- Bob Garner – bass guitar, lead vocals (1964)
- Johnny Gustafson – bass, lead vocals (1964)
- Ken Mundye – drums[4] (1965–1966, 1969–1974; a member of "The Fruit Eating Bears" during the time of "The Merseys")
- Allan Cosgrove – drums (1974–2000)
- Bob Packham – bass, backing vocals (1974–2021)
- Colin Drummond – keyboards, violin (1986–1993)
- Dave Goldberg – keyboards (1993–2000, 2009–2011)
- Lou Rosenthal – drums (2000–2021)
- Chris Finley – keyboards (2011)
- Toni Baker – keyboards (2011)
- Alan Lovell – rhythm guitars, lead vocals (2011)
- Rocking Johnny John Houghton – Lead guitars, backing vocals (1979-1981)
The Fruit Eating Bears (Merseys' backing band; 1966–1969)
- Joey Molland – guitars
- Chris Finley – keyboards
- George Cassidy – bass
- Kenny Goodlass – drums
- Ken Mundye – drums
Discography
Albums
- 1963: Oriole compilation – This Is Merseybeat Volume One (one track – "Our Day Will Come")
- 1964: Fontana – The Merseybeats – UK #12:[5]
- Milkman
- Hello Young Lovers
- He Will Break Your Heart
- Funny Face
- Really Mystified
- The Girl That I Marry
- Fools Like Me
- My Heart and I
- Bring It on Home to Me
- Lavender Blue
- Jumping Jonah
- Don't Turn Around
- 1966: Wing – The Merseybeats (reissue of the Fontana LP)
- 1977: Look – The Merseybeats Greatest Hits
- 1978: Crane Productions – Tony Crane Sings Elvis Presley
- 1982: Edsel – The Merseybeats Beats & Ballads
EPs
- 1963: Fontana – I Think of You:
- I Think Of You
- Mister Moonlight
- It's Love That Really Counts
- The Fortune Teller
- 1964: Fontana – The Merseybeats on Stage:
- Long Tall Sally
- I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry
- Shame
- You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover
- 1964: Fontana – Wishin' and Hopin':
- Wishin' and Hopin'
- Hello, Young Lovers
- Milkman
- Jumping Jonah
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Record Label | B-side | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||||
| 1963 | "It's Love That Really Counts" | 24 | Fontana | "The Fortune Teller" | |
| "I Think of You" | 5 | "Mister Moonlight" | |||
| 1964 | "Don't Turn Around" | 13 | "Really Mystified" | The Merseybeats | |
| "Wishin' and Hopin'" | 13 | "Milkman" | |||
| "Last Night (I Made a Little Girl Cry)" | 40 | "See Me Back" | |||
| 1965 | "Don't Let It Happen to Us" | — | "It Would Take a Long, Long Time" | ||
| "I Love You, Yes I Do" | 22 | "Good, Good Lovin'" | |||
| "I Stand Accused" | 38 | "All My Life" |
CDs
- 1990: Fontana – The Merseybeats
- 1992: Trace – The Merseybeats
- 1993: Amadeus – I'll Get You
- 1993: Amadeus – I'll Get You (Extended)
- 1996: Javelin – The Merseybeats
- 1997: Karussell – The Very Best of the Merseybeats
- 1999: Crane – The Merseybeats Greatest Hits
- 2002: Bear Family Records – I Think of You – The Complete Recordings
- 2003: Crane – The Merseybeats Greatest Hits
- 2003: Merseybeat – Anniversary Tour 2003
- 12-track compilation with The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Fourmost; The Merseybeats' four tracks – "Sorrow" / "This Time" / "Don't Ask Me to Be Friends" / "Poor Boy from Liverpool"
- 2003: This Time – "This Time" / "Don't Ask Me to Be Friends" / "Poor Boy from Liverpool"
- 2021: Cherry Red Records - The Merseybeats/The Merseys - I Stand Accused - The Complete Sixties Recordings
Cassettes
- 1977: Crane Productions – The Merseybeats Greatest Hits
Videos
- 1999: The Merseybeats in Concert
- 1999: Tony Crane Sings Elvis Presley
The Merseys discography
- 1966: Fontana – "Sorrow" / "Some Other Day" – UK #4[5]
- 1966: Fontana – "So Sad About Us" / "Love Will Continue"
- 1966: Fontana – "Rhythm of Love" / "Is It Love"
- 1966: Fontana – Rhythm of Love (EP)
- 1967: Fontana – "The Cat" / "Change of Heart"
- 1967: Fontana – "Penny in My Pocket" / "I Hope You're Happy"
- 1968: Fontana – "Lovely Loretta" / "Dreaming"
- 1968: Fontana – "Honey Do" / "It Happens All the Time" (as Crackers)
- 1973: Philips – "Sorrow" / "I Think of You"
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Biography by Bruce Eder and Richie Unterberger". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ Pingitore, Silvia (28 September 2021). "Interview with The Merseybeats' Tony Crane - The Shortlisted Magazine". the-shortlisted.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 837. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ "The Wild Men of Rock". BBC World Service. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 361. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
Further reading
- Call Up the Groups, Alan Clayson, 1985, Blandford Press – ISBN 0-7137-1553-7
- Leigh, Spencer (October 2012). "With Your Long Blonde Hair..." Record Collector. No. 406. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
External links
- Official website
- The Merseybeats discography at Discogs
- The Merseys discography at Discogs
- The Merseybeats biography at Allmusic
- Liverpool Express website
- Lou Rosenthal Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2019)