The annual poll results from the "Mersey Beat" newspaper

 

Bill Harry began publishing "Mersey Beat" in July 1961. The aim was to keep the youth of Liverpool informed about developments in the city's burgeoning music scene. Among the papers' contributors was one John Lennon who wrote a column under the name "Beachcomber". At the end of each year Harry ran a poll to test the popularity of the groups playing the many local clubs. These are results of those polls.

 

1961

1. The Beatles

2. Gerry & The Pacemakers

3. The Remo Four

4. Rory Storm & The Hurricanes

5. Johnny Sandon & The Searchers

6. Kingsize Taylor & The Dominoes

7. The Big Three

8. The Strangers

9. Faron's Flamingos

10. The Four Jays

11. Ian & The Zodiacs

12. The Undertakers

13. Earl Preston & The TTs

14. Mark Peters & The Cyclones

15. Karl Terry & The Cruisers

16. Derry & The Seniors

17. Steve Bennett & The Syndicate

18. Dee Fenton & The Silhouettes

19. Billy Kramer & The Coasters

20. Dale Roberts & The Jaywalkers

 
 

1962

1. The Beatles

2. Lee Curtis & The All Stars

3. The Big Three

4. Billy Kramer & The Coasters

5. The Undertakers

6. The Fourmost

7. Gerry & The Pacemakers

8. Johnny Sandon & The Remo Four

9. Vic & The Spidermen

10. The Merseybeats

11. The Swinging Blue Genes

12. The Strangers

13. Group One

14. Ian & The Zodiacs

15. Pete MacLaine & The Dakotas

16. The Dennisons

17. Gus Travis & The Midnighters

18. Mark Peters & The Cyclones

19. Rory Storm & The Hurricanes

20. Johnny Templer & The Hi Cats

 
 

1963

1. The Beatles

2. Gerry & The Pacemakers

3. The Dennisons

4. The Merseybeats

5. The Searchers

6. The Fourmost

7. The Mojos

8. Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas

9. The Escorts

10. The Undertakers

11. Vic & The Spidermen

12. The Remo Four

13. Earl Preston & The TTs

14. The Swinging Blue Jeans

15. The Chants

16. Ian & The Zodiacs

17. Sonny Webb & The Cascades

18. Rory Storm & The Hurricanes

19. The Roadrunners

20. Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen

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