Beat music, British beat, Mersey sound or Merseybeat (for bands from Liverpool beside the River Mersey), is a rock music genre that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Beat music is a fusion of rock and roll, doo wop, skiffle, R&B and soul. The beat movement provided most of the bands responsible for the British invasion of the American pop charts in the period after 1964, and provided the model for many important developments in pop and rock music. Beat groups characteristically had simple guitar-dominated line-ups, with vocal harmonies and catchy tunes. The most common instrumentation of beat groups featured lead, rhythm and bass guitars plus drums, as popularized by The Beatles, The Searchers, Gerry & The Pacemakers and others. Beat groups—even those with a separate lead singer—often sang both verses and choruses in close harmony, resembling doo wop, with nonsense syllables in the backing vocals. The most distinctive characteristic of the music was the strong beat, using the backbeat common to rock and roll and rhythm and blues, but often with a driving emphasis on all the beats of 4/4 bar. By 1966 beat music was beginning to sound out of date, particularly compared with "harder edged" blues rock and was beginning to emerge. Most of the groups that had not already disbanded moved, like The Beatles, into different forms of rock music and pop music, including psychedelic rock and eventually progressive rock.
Vol. 1
01 - The Cheetans - Mecca 02 - The Cheetans - That Goodnight Kiss 03 - The Cheetans - Soldier Boy 04 - The Cheetans - Johnny 05 - The Cheetans - Whole Lotta Love 06 - The Cheetans - The Party 07 - The Cheetans - Russian Boat Song 08 - The Cheetans - The Gambler 09 - The Cherokees - Seven Daffodils 10 - The Cherokees - Are You Back In My World Now 11 - The Cherokees - Dig A Little Deeper 12 - The Cherokees - I Will Never Turn My Back On You 13 - The Cherokees - Land Of 1000 Dances 14 - The Cherokees - Everybody's Needs 15 - The Cherokees - Rejected 16 - The Applejacks - Bye, Bye Girl 17 - The Applejacks - It's Not A Game Anymore 18 - The Applejacks - We Gotta Get Together 19 - The Applejacks - I'm Through 20 - The Applejacks - Baby's In Black 21 - The Chucks - Loo-Be-Loo 22 - The Chucks - Any Time Is The Right Time 23 - The Chucks - The Hitch Hiker 24 - The Chucks - Humpity-Dumpity 25 - The Cougars - Saturday Nite At The Duckpond 26 - The Cougars - See You In Dreamland 27 - The Cougars - Red Square 28 - The Cougars - Fly By Nite
Vol. 2
01 - The Togerry Five - Bye Bye Bird 02 - The Togerry Five - I'm Gonna Jump 03 - The Others - Oh Yeah! 04 - The Others - I'm Taking Her Home 05 - Goldie & The Gingerbreads - Please, Please 06 - Goldie & The Gingerbreads - Sailor Boy 07 - Goldie & The Gingerbreads - That's Why I Love You 08 - Goldie & The Gingerbreads - The Skip 09 - Force Five - Don't Make My Baby Blue 10 - Force Five - Shaking Postman 11 - Force Five - Yeah I'm Waiting 12 - Force Five - Don't Want To See You You Again 13 - Force Five - Baby Don't Care 14 - Force Five - Come Down To Earth 15 - Force Five - I Want You Baby 16 - Force Five - Gee To Tiger 17 - The In Crowd - I Don't Mind 18 - The In Crowd - That's How Strong My Love Is 19 - The In Crowd - Things She Says 20 - The In Crowd - Stop Wait A Minute 21 - The Syndicats - On The Horizon 22 - The Viscounts - Who Put The Bomp 23 - Sound Incorporated - William Tell 24 - Pete Macline & The Clan - Yes I Do 25 - The Peddlers - Let The Sunshine In 26 - The Persuasions - Big Brother 27 - The Persuasions - Deep Down Love 28 - Duffy Power - Farwell Baby 29 - Duffy Power - I Saw Her Standing There 30 - Duffy Power - I Don't Care 31 - The Bunch Of Fives - At The Station
Vol. 3
01 - The Big Three - Cavern Stomp 02 - The Pete Best Four - Why Did I Fall In Love With You 03 - King Size Taylor & The Dominos - I'm Late 04 - Beryl Marsden - I Know (You Don't Love Me No More) 05 - Freddie Starr & The Midnighters - Baby Blue 06 - Lee Curtis - Skinny Minnie 07 - Mark & John - Walk Right Back 08 - The Dennisons - Be My Girl 09 - The Mojos - Don't Do It Anymore 10 - Brian Poole & The Tremeloes - Twist And Shout 11 - The Big Three - By The Way 12 - Chick Graham & The Coasters - A Little You 13 - Lee Curtis & The All Stars - I've Got My Eyes On You 14 - The Checkmates - Sticks And Stones 15 - The Mojos - Give Your Lovin' To Me 16 - The Cryin' Shames - You 17 - The Big Three - I'm With You 18 - Beryl Marsden - I Only Care About You 19 - The Pete Best Four - I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door 20 - Beryl Marsden - Everybody Loves A Lover 21 - The Checkmates - I've Got To Know Now 22 - King Size Taylor & The Dominos - I've Been Watching You 23 - Brian Poole & The Tremeloes - We Know 24 - Freddie Starr & The Midnighters - Who Told You 25 - The Mark Four - Hurt Me If You Will 26 - The Mojos - Forever 27 - The Big Three - Don't Start Running Away 28 - Brian Poole & The Tremeloes - Do You Love Me 29 - Chick Graham & The Coasters - Dance, Baby, Dance 30 - The Mojos - They Say 31 - Beryl Marsden - Love Is Going To Happen To Me 32 - Freddie Starr & The Midnighters - Peter Gunn Locomotion 33 - The Checkmates - Around 34 - Lee Curtis & The Allstars - Let's Stomp 35 - The Dennisons - Devoted To You 36 - The Big Three - Reelin' And Rockin'
Vol. 4
01 - The Mockingbirds - That's How (It's Gonna Stay) 02 - The Mockingbirds - I Never Should've Kissed You 03 - The Mockingbirds - I Can Feel We're Parting 04 - The Mockingbirds - The Flight Of The Mockingbird 05 - The Mockingbirds - One By One 06 - The Mockingbirds - Lovingly Yours 07 - The Mockingbirds - You've Stole My Love 08 - The Mockingbirds - Skit Skat 09 - The Persuasions - Big Brothers 10 - The Persuasions - Deep Down Love 11 - Pinkerton's Assorted Colours - Mirror Mirror 12 - Pinkerton's Assorted Colours - She Don't Care 13 - Pinkerton's Assorted Colours - Magic Rocking Horse 14 - Pinkerton's Assorted Colours - It Ain't Right 15 - Pinkerton's Assorted Colours - Don't Stop Loving Me Baby 16 - Pinkerton's Assorted Colours - Will Ya 17 - Pinkerton's Assorted Colours - Mum And Dad 18 - Pinkerton's Assorted Colours - On A Street Car 19 - Pinkerton's Assorted Colours - There's Nobody I'd Sooner Love 20 - Pinkerton's Assorted Colours - Duke's Party 21 - The Bunch Of Fives - Go Home Baby 22 - The Bunch Of Fives - At The Station 23 - Trend-Setters Limited - Lollipops And Roses 24 - Trend-Setters Limited - Go Away 25 - The Zephyrs - I Can Tell 26 - The Zephyrs - Sweet Little Baby 27 - The Zephyrs - She's Lost You 28 - The Zephyrs - Let Me Love You Baby 29 - The Zephyrs - I Just Can't Take It 30 - The Zephyrs - She Laughed 31 - The Zephyrs - Wonder What I'm Gonna Do 32 - The Zephyrs - Let Me Love You Baby (Alternate Version)
Sandy Denny and the Strawbs is a compilation album of songs by Sandy Denny and Strawbs. The album is a reworking of tapes recorded by the band in Copenhagen in the July 1967. Tracks from those recordings were first released on the Pickwick budget label in 1973 under the name All Our Own Work. The track listing on this album is slightly different and some of the songs have the original string arrangements that also were recorded in 1967. Sandy Denny – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar, Dave Cousins – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar, banjo, Tony Hooper – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar, Ron Chesterman – double bass, Ken Gudmand – drums and Cy Nicklin – sitar. 01 - On My Way 02 - Who Knows Where The Time Goes 03 - Tell Me What You See In Me 04 - Always On My Mind 05 - Stay Awhile 06 - Wild Strawberries 07 - All I Need Is You 08 - How Everyone But Sam Was A Hypocrite 09 - Sail Away To The Sea 10 - Sweetling 11 - Nothing Else Will Do 12 - And You Need Me 13 - Poor Jimmy Wilson 14 - I've Been My Own Worst Friend 15 - Two Weeks Last Summer 16 - Who Knows Where The Time Goes (With Strings) LINK
It is not hard to figure out why record labels wouldn't touch Big Lost Rainbow and why it stood no chance of gaining a widespread audience at the time of its 1973 release date. The album runs completely counter to the pompous hard rock that was plastered all over the airwaves at the time and is far too subtle and mature for mass consumption. Although their initial gig was played before a crowd of 10,000, Big Lost Rainbow were not cut out for the arena. Their music requires a much more intimate setting and response, and their sole album is a surprising musical delight constructed out of elements of folk, jazz, and classical music, all of which expose gorgeous, supple melodies, mostly composed by lead vocalist and guitarist Ridley Pearson. The album brings to mind the best aspects of soft early '70s folk-pop, but unlike much of that genre, there is a genuine sorrow (as opposed to anger) threaded throughout the music; a sorrow, perhaps, brought about by the changing times but one that is not the least bit cynical. It is, instead, a sort of celebratory sentimentality. The songs are all exceedingly strong. Big Lost Rainbow infuse the music with an uncanny emotional resonance whether they are expressing joyous or melancholy sentiments. The opening cut, "Sail" (written by Otis Read), is powered by harmonies nearly equal to those of Crosby, Stills & Nash, while "Oh! Idaho" is a lilting, upbeat tune that soars with scatty harmonies a la Seals & Crofts. Even the upbeat songs, though, are not exactly bouncy. The album is entirely drum-less, so acoustic guitar, piano, bass, and cello are all up front with Pearson's vocals, which sound like a gentler, more somnolent Jonathan Edwards or James Taylor. When the mood is slowed down, the songs are incredibly touching. "Slow Rider" has a hint of the Bee Gees in their most heartbreakingly fragile and evocative melodic moments. And the gorgeous "Allegiance of Apathy," the one song included from the group's 1992 reunion, offers not only evidence that the members still have the magic but also a perfect, poignant closing for the album. Overall there is a tender, communal hippie vibe to the album, very sunny and optimistic without descending into silliness and entirely avoiding jadedness. There is a sense of lost innocence and the process of growing wiser, as if the band is singing a lullaby to the wistfulness of youth. From beginning to end, Big Lost Rainbow is romantic and lovely.(AMG) 01 - Sail 02 - I Go Alone 03 - Lady Love 04 - Brothers Of The Future 05 - Ocean 06 - Oh! Idaho 07 - It's Over Now 08 - Morning Sunshine 09 - Lady Of Music 10 - Slow Rider 11 - Patricia Jane Moon 12 - Allegiance Of Apathy LINK
Stonehouse Creek 1971 is a GREAT Heavy Rock record. Oftentimes wrongfully lumped into the hard progressive sub category, this is just plain old killer articulate early 70s Heavy Rock. The music and vocal stylings bear a slight resemblance to their fellow UK musicians in Free or very early Bad Company. The thing that definitely sets Stonehouse apart from other commonplace hard rock groups is their musicianship. Instead of arranging their material around the guitar, all the musicians use the acoustic piano as a rhythmic springboard allowing them all a more melodious approach to their individual contributions. The Piano is in no way dominant throughout the album, nor are the arrangements too angular. Unfortunately this was the groups only offering and details on the members & their activities are as rare as the RCA record itself. Peter Spearing (guitar, vocals), James Smith (vocals), Ian Snow (drums) and Terry Parker (bass). Excellent early 70's British Metal. Comparable to Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.
01 - Stonehouse Creek - Part 1 02 - Hobo 03 - Cheater 04 - Nightmare 05 - Crazy White Folk 06 - Down Down 07 - Ain't No Game 08 - Don't Push Me 09 - Topaz 10 - Four Letter Word 11 - Stonehouse Creek - Part 2
Bangor Flying Circus was a progressive rock trio from Chicago, USA, formed in mid-1967 and breaking up in 1969. It is notable for being formed by members of the Shadows of Knight and H.P. Lovecraft and for being a predecessor band to Madura. Bangor Flying Circus consisted of David "Hawk" Wolinski (bass, keyboards, vocals), Alan DeCarlo (guitar, vocals), and Tom Schiffour (drums), who was replaced in late 1968 by former H.P. Lovecraft member Michael Tegza (drums, percussion). Wolinski and Schiffour had previously been in the Shadows of Knight. They put out one self-titled album in 1969, which peaked at No. 190 on The Billboard 200.After they broke up, Wolinski and DeCarlo formed Madura, while Tegza participated in two reconfigurations of Lovecraft, a successor band to H.P. Lovecraft. 01 - Violent Man 02 - Come On People 03 - Ode To Sadness 04 - Concerto For Clouds 05 - A Change In Our Lives 06 - Someday I'll Find 07 - Mama Don't Know (That Your Daughter's Acting Mighty Strange) 08 - In The Woods 09 - Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) LINK
Middle of the Road are a Scottish pop group who enjoyed success across Europe and Latin America in the early 1970s. Three of their singles sold over one million copies each, and received a gold disc. The tracks were "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" (which went on to sell over 10 million), "Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum" and "Soley Soley". By early 1972 alone the group had sold over five million records. Lead singer Sally Carr, drummer Ken Andrew, guitarist Ian McCredie and his bassist brother Eric McCredie, founded the band on 1 April 1970. They already played together under the name Part Four since 1967 and later in Latin American style under the name Los Caracas. They moved to Italy in 1970 because they had not found success in the United Kingdom. There they met the Italian music producer Giacomo Tosti, who gave the band their distinctive sound and gave them their international break. Sally Carr, Ken Andrew, Ian McCredie, Eric McCredie and Neil Henderson. The fourth and last album from the band, Music Music, was released on Ariola Records. Acceleration & Drive On (1971) 01 - Sacramento 02 - On This Land 03 - Queen Bee 04 - Love Sweet Love 05 - Then You'll Know What Love Is 06 - Soley, Soley 07 - The Talk Of All The U.S.A. 08 - Louise (My Little Ship) 09 - Samson And Delilah 10 - Try A Little Understanding 11 - Medicine Woman 12 - Yellow Boomerang 13 - Universal Man 14 - See The Sky 15 - Wheel Of The Season 16 - Blind Detonation 17 - Union Silver 18 - Honey No 19 - Eve 20 - On A Westbound Train 21 - Bottoms Up 22 - Nothing Can Go Wrong 23 - Kailakee Kailako Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (1973) 01 - Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 02 - Lingering Sounds 03 - Fate Strange Fate 04 - I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top 05 - To Remind Me 06 - The Sun In Your Skin 07 - Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum 08 - Give In Time 09 - Rainin' n Painin' 10 - Yellow River 11 - The Way Of Life 12 - We Are The Founders Of All That's Around Us 13 - El Condor Pasa 14 - Do Not Cry 15 - Happier Than I 16 - Ain't No Mountain High Enough 17 - Places 18 - Superstar LINK Part 1LINK Part 2
Rare Earth is an American rock band affiliated with Motown's Rare Earth record label (which was named after the band), who prospered in 1970-1972. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members. (The Rustix were signed before them and were an all white act, but did not have any hits). One World is the fourth studio album by Rare Earth and was released in June 1971. Rare Earth was on an incredible hot streak from 1970 - 72. Once again, "I Just Want to Celebrate" became a Top 10 Gold certified hit. "One World", the album would become the 3rd and final Gold album from the ensemble. Those hits over the first 3 years of the decade insured that the band can still tour today, albeit on the oldies circuit. But Rare Earth made their mark.
01 - What'd I Say 02 - If I Die 03 - The Seed 04 - I Just Want To Celebrate 05 - Someone To Love 06 - Any Man Can Be A Fool 07 - The Road 08 - Under God's Light 09 - Child Of Fortune One World 10 - Hey Big Brother 11 - King Of A Rainy Country
Extremely rare Southern California 1967 privately pressed psych / pop girlgroup album, that is highly sought after. The original L.P. was limited to only 500 copies. This album includes 12 tracks and the girls play all their own instruments, guitars, bass, drums, organ, the occassional fuzztone and sometimes horns and flute. Two of the members, Rosemary (as Rosemary Butler) and Shel Le (as Shele Pinizzotto) later went into the all female hard rock trio "Birtha" who released two albums in 1972 and '73. Rosemary Lane (vocals, guitar, bass guitar), Shel Le (vocals, rhythm and lead guitar), Dee Dee Lea (vocals, flute, harmonica, percussion) and Camille (vocals, piano, organ). 01 - I'll Come Runnin' 02 - All Because Of Him 03 - Zzotto 04 - Run Spot Run 05 - Unhappy For Me 06 - Got To Get You In My Arms 07 - Superfluous Daisy 08 - Love Them All 09 - We'll Meet Again 10 - Love To Share 11 - I'll Say Goodbye 12 - Final Hour LINK
Named after the 19th Century mariner and novelist, this Glaswegian band made just one privately-pressed LP. Its back cover announces that ‘Captain Marryat is a Scottish band, and have been playing together for just under a year. They already have a sizeable following in the pubs n’ clubs circuit and this, their first LP, is a sample of the music that brought them success’. The line-up was Tommy Hendry (vocals, acoustic guitar), Ian McEleny (lead guitar, acoustic guitar), Allan Bryce (organ, vocals), Hugh Finnegan (bass, vocals) and Jimmy Rorrison (sic) (drums, vocals). They were originally intending to record a single, but the engineer at the Glasgow studio they’d booked told them that there was time enough to make a whole album. They therefore taped five tracks they’d already written (‘Blindness’, ‘It Happened To Me’, ‘A Friend’, ‘Songwriter’s Lament’ and ‘Changes’) and finished the LP with an improvised jam (‘Dance Of Thor’). The result came in a drab flipback sleeve, and according to one dealer is ‘a progressive rock rarity with psych flourishes – doom-laden organ plus acid guitar riffs and strong male vocals’. The 250 copies pressed were sold at gigs, and two that surfaced on eBay in late 2008 went for around £3000 each. (RMJ) 01 - Blindness 02 - It Happened to Me 03 - A Friend 04 - Songwriter's Lament 05 - Changes 06 - Dance of Thor LINK
Dr Marigold’s Prescription started in 1968 as a backing group for Billy Fury, after the Blue Flames, (which included Georgie Fame) and The Plainsmen. Alan French (keyboards), Bill French (bass), Dave Morris (drums), Fred Radley (guitar, vocals). In the early days Dr Marigold did back several artists to include: Bruce Channel (USA), John Walker (Walker brothers) USA, The Flirtations, Madeline Bell, Dominic Grant was not a member of the band, although Dr. Marigold backed him for a while on a promotional tour. They produced two albums. "Pictures Of Life” is their debut from 1969. The second album ‘’Hello Girl’’ did very well. ‘’Hit Songs From London’’ – that was an American bootleg version of Pictures Of Life album.(LFM) 01 - Sweet Cherry Wine 02 - My Future Is Past 03 - Land Of Fusan 04 - Visions Of A Hobo 05 - Can't You See I'm Right 06 - You've Got To Build Your Love On A Solid Foundation 07 - I Threw It All Away 08 - A Mother's Love 09 - Picture Of Life 10 - Tie Me Down LINK
In February 1972 former Rhinoceros members John Finley, Michael Fonfara, Danny Weis, Larry Leishman and Peter Hodgson reunited as a new act calling themselves The Blackstone Rangers. The line-up is completed with new drummer, Richard Steinberg, and ex-McKenna Mendelsohn Mainline member Frank 'Zeke' Sheppard. Not long after, the band soon has to shorten its name to Blackstone after being threatened by the local Black Panthers' motorcycle escort who have the same moniker. Within the year former Rhinoceros' producer/creator Paul Rothchild travels to Toronto and records the group's debut (and only) album "On The Line". With the album getting poor reviews and sales, by March 1973, the group's membership begins jumping ship. Fonfara and Weis carry on briefly with new singer Mike Stull and ex-Bush bassist Prakash John and drummer Penti 'Whitey' Glan, but the band crashes and burns in Los Angeles. John and Glan would go on to join Lou Reed's touring band (and eventually Alice Cooper) while Fonfara and Weis become top session musicians. John Finley (vocals) Michael Fonfara (piano, organ) Danny Weis (guitar) Larry Leishman (lead guitar) Peter Hodgson (bass) Richard Steinberg (drums) Frank 'Zeke' Sheppard Mike Stull (vocals; replaced Finley; 1973) Prakash John (bass; replaced Hodgson) Penti 'Whitey' Glan (drums; replaced Steinberg; 1973) 01 - Qualified 02 - Mountain 03 - Change Is Gonna' Come 04 - Back Door Man 05 - Aint Gonna' Let It Go 06 - Oopoopadoo 07 - Ain't Nobodys Business 08 - Likakowpi 09 - Sunday's Song 10 - Gonna Getcha LINK
