Gerry, The Pacemakers

2014 original album series 5 CD set, in LP replica papersleeves. Collects five classic UK Mersey beat albums: Gerry & the Pacemakers' "How Do You Like It?" (1963) & "Ferry Cross the Mersey" (1965), plus the Swinging Blue Jeans' "Blue Jeans A'Swinging" (1964), Billy J Kramer with the Dakotas' "Listen…" and the Fourmost "The First & the Fourmost (1965)…

As unfathomable as it seems from the distance of over 40 years, for a few months, Gerry & the Pacemakers were the Beatles' nearest competitors in Britain. Managed (like the Beatles) by Brian Epstein, Gerry Marsden and his band burst out of the gate with three consecutive number one U.K. hits in 1963, "How Do You Do It," "I Like It," and "You'll Never Walk Alone." If the Beatles defined Merseybeat at its best in early 1963, Gerry & the Pacemakers defined the form at its most innocuous, performing bouncy, catchy, and utterly lightweight tunes driven by rhythm guitar and Marsden's chipper vocals…

As unfathomable as it seems from the distance of over 40 years, for a few months, Gerry & the Pacemakers were the Beatles' nearest competitors in Britain. Managed (like the Beatles) by Brian Epstein, Gerry Marsden and his band burst out of the gate with three consecutive number one U.K. hits in 1963, "How Do You Do It," "I Like It," and "You'll Never Walk Alone." If the Beatles defined Merseybeat at its best in early 1963, Gerry & the Pacemakers defined the form at its most innocuous, performing bouncy, catchy, and utterly lightweight tunes driven by rhythm guitar and Marsden's chipper vocals.

Gerry and the Pacemakers were an English beat group prominent in the 1960s Merseybeat scene. In common with the Beatles, they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein, and were recorded by George Martin…

As unfathomable as it seems from the distance of over 40 years, for a few months, Gerry & the Pacemakers were the Beatles' nearest competitors in Britain. Managed (like the Beatles) by Brian Epstein, Gerry Marsden and his band burst out of the gate with three consecutive number one U.K. hits in 1963, "How Do You Do It," "I Like It," and "You'll Never Walk Alone."

This is the excellent soundtrack album to the 1988 movie "Buster" starring Phil Collins in his feature film debut as a famed British thief. Phil also contributed to the film's soundtrack album, and the "Buster" soundtrack does have a lot of great tunes on it, not only the two big #1 hit songs from Phil, "Two Hearts" and "A Groovy Kind Of Love," but also some classic 60's tunes from the likes of Sonny & Cher, The Spencer Davis Group, Dusty Springfield, and Gerry & The Pacemakers. Phil also contributes another pair of great songs, one sung by The Four Tops ("Loco In Acapulco"), and the up-tempo, rhythmic fun of "Big Noise," while Anne Dudley composes the fine orchestral music, which is sprinkled throughout the soundtrack album (including "The Robbery," featuring Phil on drums).

Rhino release a brand-new collection featuring live shows performed by a selection of classic artists at the BBC between the following dates: Gerry & The Pacemakers (1964-73).