Genre: rock
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Liverpool Five Arrive
Company: RCA Victor
Catalog: LPM-3583
Year: 1966
Country/State: UK / US
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: mono pressing
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5141
Price: $25.00
I bought this one without knowing anything about the band and with relatively low expectations - perhaps they'll be semi-competent Mersybeaters ... Turns out these guys are quite good and one of the more interesting stories in early-to-mid 1960s rock.
Forget the name. None of the original lineup had any connection with the city of Liverpool. Bassist Dave Burgess was Cumbrian, while guitarist Dave Cox, keyboard player Ron Henley, singer Steve Laine and drummer Jimmy May were all from London. Formed in 1963, the group scored a contract with Pye Records' budget Piccadilly subsidiary. The band made their recorded debut the following year with the single 'Lum D' Lum D' High' b/w 'Good Golly Miss Molly' (Piccadilly catalog number 1255). While the single did little commercially, it generated enough attention for them to find work throughout Europe. With help from their German-born manager, credited to The 5 Liverpools, they even managed to record sophomore single for CBS Germany. The group also won an opportunity to tour Southeast Asia and perform at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics where they were billed as the 'Official Rock and Roll Representatives'. Here's where it starts to get weird. Returning to the UK from their Tokyo shows, the band stopped in the Philippines where they played a concert for the US Embassy in Manila. The American ambassador was so impressed with the group that he arranged for them to tour US military bases throughout South Asia and eventually acquire American work visas.
By 1965 the band had relocated to Spokane, Washington where they hired Paul Handler as their manager and subsequently signed with RCA Victor. Working with producer Al Schmitt the band spent the next two years releasing a surprisingly impressive and diverse (if commercially disappointing) series of 45s:
- 1966's 'Heart' b/w 'I Just Can't Believe It' (RCA catalog number 47-8725)
- 1966's 'Sister Love' b/w 'She's Mine' (RCA catalog number 47-8816)
In spite of the lack of national success, 1966 saw RCA Victor release a Liverpool Five LP - the Al Schmitt produced "Liverpool Five Arrive". While you could hardly be blamed for expecting to hear a lame set of Merseybeat exploitation numbers, the truth was anything but that ... Compiling the group's earlier singles and new studio material, the album served to spotlight the band's considerable talent. Laine was an excellent and adaptable lead singer, while the rest of the band could pound it out with the best of the competition. Sure they wore the requisite mop top haircuts and narrow ties, while tracks like 'A Shot of Rhythm and Blues' could have easily been mistaken for the Fab Four, but the rest of the album offered up a mixture of popular pop and soul covers that were far more distinguished making it clear these guys were far more than mere Beatles imitators. Tracks like the opening rocker 'She's Mine', 'Heart' and a fuzz guitar propelled 'I'm Not Your Stepping Stone' (far tougher than The Monkees version) showcased their garage rock credentials, while covers of Curtis Mayfield's 'Sister Love' and 'Let the Sun Shine In' offered up first-rate blue-eyed soul. In fact the only real disappointment here was the lame Cockney-esque 'What a Crazy World (We're Living In)'.
"Liverpool Five Arrive" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) She's Mine (Dave Burgess - Ken Cox - Ron Henley - Steve Laine - Jimmy May) - 2:20
2.) Sister Love (Curtis Mayfield) - 2:40
3.) I'm Not Your Stepping Stone (Tommy Boyce - Bobby Heart) - 2:35
4.) A Shot of Rhythm and Blues (T. Thompson) - 2:04
5.) Let the Sunshine In (Barberis - Randazzo - Weinstein) - 3:28
6.) What a Crazy World (We're Living In) (Alan Klein) - 2:14
(side
2)
1.) That's What Love Will Do (To You) (Curtis Mayfield) -
2:10
2.) Just a Little Bit (D. Gordon) - 2:13
3.) Hey Little Girl (Curtis Mayfield) - 2:16
4.) I Just Can't Believe It (Barry DeVorzon - Bodie Chandler) - 2:10
5.) Sticks and Stones (T. Turner) - 2:11
6.) Heart (Clark - Aber - Tony Hatch) - 3:28
