Genre: garage
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: The Liverbirds
Company: Star Club
Catalog: 158
003 STY
Year: 1965
Country/State: Liverpool, UK
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: German pressing; stereo pressing
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5395
Price: $150.00
All girl rock groups have become common place in this day and age, but back in the early 1960s they were a rarity.
Inspired by Liverpool's roaring music scene, rhythm guitarist Valerie Gell, singer Irene Green, former Bikinis bassist Mary McGlory, sister/guitarist Sheila McGlory, and drummer Sylvia Saunders formed The Debutones in early 1962. Following popular trends they initially started out as an instrumental-focused quartet, but following popular trends, quickly incorporated pop and R&B influences into their repertoire. Within a year Green and Sheila McGlory were gone, replaced by former folkie/guitarist Pamela Birch. Green reappeared as a member of Tiffany's Dimensions, going on to record a pair of solo singles, while McGlory joined The Demoiselles. The revamped group also opted for a name change - The Liverbirds.
Pamela Birch - Valerie Gell - Sylvia Saunders - Mary McGlory
Unable to generate much attention locally, at the recommendation of manager Joe Flannery, like many other Liverpool bands in 1963 the band packed up and relocated to Hamburg where the local press dubbed them 'The female Beatles' helping them become one of the more popular expatriot bands on Manfred Weissleder infamous Star Club circuit. Having signed a short term contract, the band returned to Liverpool, but were greeted with total indifference. Certain that he could capitalize on their all-girl lineup, in 1964 Weissleder offered them a contract on his Star Club label. They once again packed their bags for Germany, making their debut with the single 'Shop Around' b/w 'It's Got To Be You' (Star Catalogr catalog number 148 508 STF). That was followed by a second 45 'Diddley Daddy' b/w 'Leave All Our Loves In the Past (Star Club catalog number 148 526 STF).
While they weren't major sellers the 45s did well enough for their label to finance an LP. Sonically "The Liverbirds" was a bit on the raw side, though that proved the perfect setting for The Liverbirds' raw and pounding sound. Anyone expecting to hear something in the Cella Black, or Lulu pop vein was definitely in for a major shock. While they weren't the most accomplished Liverpool-based outfit you'd ever heard, these ladies generated more energy and enthusiasm than most of their male contemporaries. Musically the set featured a mixture of popular American R&B and soul covers. There was also one original - the Birch penned ballad 'Leave All Your Old Loves'. The arrangements seldom strayed far from the originals, but the girls' sheer energy managed to make the performances worthwhile. Highlights included 'Can't Judge a Book By Looking at the Cover', 'Talking About You' and a rocking 'Mona'. At the other end of the spectrum, their isolated stabs at more pop-oriented material including 'Love Hurts' and 'Leave All Your Old Loves' were simply painful. Clearly these tough chicks just weren't meant to cut a sappy ballad. Like I said, not the most original LP you've ever heard, but something I've actually put on CD-R for personal use. I would have paid to see them live ... Doubt they had attitude? Check out this Star Club promo picture:
Mary McGlory - Valerie Gell - Sylvia Saunders - Pamela Birch
"The
Liverbirds" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry) - 2:25
2.) Can't Judge a Book By Looking at the Cover (Ellington) - 2:59
3.) Love Hurts - 3:00
4.) Talking About You (Chuck Berry) - 3:03
5.) Mona (MacDaniel)- 3:22
6.) Money (Gordy - Bradford) - 3:10
(side
2)
1.) Too Much Monkey Business (Chuck Berry) - 2:38
2.) Road Runner (MacDaniel) - 3:06
3.) Diddley Daddy (MacDaniel) - 3:48
4.) Hands Off (McShann - Bowman) - 2:35
5.) Before You Accuse Me - 2:42
7.) Leave All Your Old Loves (Pamla Birch) - 3:00
8.) Got My Mojo Working (Foster) - 3:18
Maybe not a major surprise, but there isn't a great deal of online information to be found. The best site I've stumbled across is located at:
http://www.oocities.org/SunsetStrip/Villa/9500/liverbirds.htm
Perhaps of more interest courtesy of YouTube you can see a pair of Liverbird German television performances:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gEYF-IyaU0
"Peanut Butter"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrcFOhG58Ks&feature=related
"Bo Diddley Is a Lover"
