Beat Waves 'Cross the Mersey

Music, eh. After a flurry of excitement in the 50s, the few years before 1963 bought along a series of anodyne singers all performing equally dull songs, with faultless personalities to match that blandness. As a cure for insomnia, it was perfect. Fortunately, something was stirring that would jolt the world from its slumber.From the hundreds of groups that were plying their trade around Merseyside in the late 50s and early 60s, you would struggle to use all the fingers of one hand to count those that could be considered to have made an impact. The initial wave up to 1964 was the lucrative one, and when every record company around shouted `Klondike!' and headed for the city, it actually sounded the death knell. Producers and labels were looking for the next Beatles, but they had already moved onto the next level. However, that first impact was such that it encouraged hundreds more to try their luck (in addition to the many hundreds elsewhere around the country and, later, across the Atlantic).Author Manfred Kuhlmann's labour of love has managed to reference 607 groups (this is a revised and updated copy of `The Sound With The Pound' that includes more pages and illustrations) of which 164 are looked at in-depth. Foregoing their discography, the leading light of `Merseybeat' is given three pages of text, the same as 'no hopers' (and that isn't being unkind) as The Maraccas, The Thoughts, and The Defenders to name but three of many, which is what makes this reference work so good; everyone is treated the same. (Being no better or worse than any other group at the start, The Beatles didn't `invent' Merseybeat; they were one of its products.) There is a lot of cross reference, as the author gives details as to who played in each group at their formation, where they went and who replaced them, etc.The vast majority of the groups featured here will be unfamiliar to students of the era, and the members of these groups have probably forgotten their involvement too, such was their brief flirtation with `fame'. However, a few did have members that went onto more profitable careers (not necessarily in the music industry); witness actors Lewis Collins and Clive Hornby, and comedians Freddie Starr and Faith Brown.What this book does tell you is how many of the groups featured had as much chance of `making it' as you do of walking on Mars. Though half did have records released, and many of the others all recorded demos pressed onto (usually) a single acetate, what stopped them from achieving anything other than oblivion was either fourth rate songs, equally fourth rate labels (Rex, Stresa or Solar anyone?), sounding the same as everyone else, or a combination of everything. But they all enjoyed what they were doing. A further disservice were the mix of either misnomer or silly names (The Executioners, The Kansas City Five - they're were six of them - Count Grenville & The Krinks, The Schatz - not a name to introduce on telly - and The Satanists), though Rikki & The Red Streaks came to international prominence when name checked by the Fab Four. Without exception, something else apparent is how many changes of personnel all the groups went through, which, bar the obvious, certainly didn't do them any favours.From the earliest recordings known of the groups mentioned here through to changes of name and all their eventual demise in the 70s, with ten years research behind him, Kuhlmann is to be congratulated on producing a tome that should be required reading for anyone with even a passing interest in UK beat music. No, make that required reading for everyone with an interest in UK music. The sounds produced by the artists within in some way begat what's heard now, and, however insignificant they might seem, each one played their part.The independent nature of the publisher is this book's only drawback, though hardly unexpected, meaning the quality of many of the illustrations leaves something to be desired, as the content of those photos is worthwhile. Something like this needs a mainstream publisher. Superb!

Bought this for my cousin who was in a band in Liverpool in the 60's. Great detail, a lot of work has gone in to the production of this book.

OK, what we have here is someone from Germany writing about the 1960's British Invasion, centered principally around Liverpool, or Merseybeat if you prefer. Kuhlmann has done a truly outstanding job of gathering information, synthesizing it and making for a readable tome. This isn't something you're going to want to sit down with and read like you would a novel since its encyclopedic in its scope......there's a lot of groups, a lot of recording artists, a lot of people who jumped from group to group to group and then some! Profusely illustrated, this is for the person who is more than just the casual lover of the big groups that emerged from Liverpool in the 1960's - there were a lot more than the Beatles, Searchers, Gerry and the Pacemakers - a lot more. This is the updated version of an earlier work and has even spawned another volume - just in an attempt to get every group and singer listed. Obviously a labor of love, if you're into the Mersey sound, you need to grab this - then get the CDs which were issued so you can hear some of the groups written about. Then, get the sequel "Some Other Guys" which contains information and photos of even more groups and singers. Yes, there were a lot of them!! Excellent job!!

Anyone thinking of buying this book might like to consider his comments on the Beatles - "their success went to their heads and with a few exceptions, they started releasing trashy songs like Yellow Submarine, Ob La Di Ob La Da and I Am The Walrus. He goes on, "Michelle and Girl, are no more than third class pop songs". There are more words of wisdom - "it's hard to understand why Sgt Pepper is considered their best album, many American groups had done similar things years before". I had no idea. And who knew George Harrison had to wait until the formation of The Travelling Willburys before gaining real recognition. He does concede someone else could write a better book on this subject. You might want to wait until someone does.

An excellent mine of information. Over 600 pages and lots of photos. A must for any Merseybeat/60's group fan.Beautifully presented with cover and quality paper. Excellent packing and delivery service as usual.Makes a compantion for Manfred's "Some other Guys" Merseybeat book, which is actually his follow on book. No problem to read out of order.