The Merseybeats (sometimes written as the Mersey Beats) are an English band that emerged from the Liverpool Merseybeat scene in the early 1960s,

The group's original members were Tony Crane (vocals, lead guitar), Billy Kinsley (vocals, bass), Aaron Williams (rhythm guitar) and John Banks (drums). Kinsley left the group at the beginning of 1964 and was replaced by John Gustafson, though Kinsley returned at the end of that year. The group split in 1966, with Crane and Kinsley continuing as a duo dubbed the Merseys. The Merseys ended in 1969. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Merseybeats would stage several occasional reunions before reforming permanently in 1993.

The current line-up is Tony Crane and his son Adrian Crane on keyboards and lead guitar.

History

The Merseybeats

Originally called the Mavericks, the band was formed by singer/guitarist Tony Crane and singer/bassist Billy Kinsley in late 1960. They became the Pacifics in September 1961. They were renamed the Mersey Beats in February 1962 by Bob Wooler, MC at the Cavern Club. In April 1962, they became the Merseybeats. By now Crane and Kinsley had joined up with guitarist Aaron Williams and drummer John Banks. (filled in for Banks for a few gigs during 1965)

  • Chris Finley – keyboards, backing vocals (1969–1986)
  • Derek Cashin – drums (1969–1974)
  • Tony Coats – bass, backing vocals (1969–1974)
  • Bob Packham – bass, backing vocals (1974–2021)
  • Allan Cosgrove – drums (1974–2000)
  • Rocking Johnny John Houghton – lead guitar, backing vocals (1979–1981)
  • Colin Drummond – keyboards, violin (1986–1993)
  • Dave Goldberg – keyboards (1993–2000, 2009–2011)
  • Lou Rosenthal – drums (2000–2021)
  • Chris Finley – keyboards (2011)
  • Toni Baker – keyboards (2011)
  • Alan Lovell – rhythm guitar, lead vocals (2011)

Early members

  • David Elias – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1961–1962)
  • Frank Sloane – drums (1961–1962)

Members of the Merseys (1966–1969)

  • Tony Crane – lead vocals (1966–1969)
  • Billy Kinsley – lead vocals (1966–1969)

with backing group the Fruit Eating Bears:

  • Joey Molland – guitars
  • Chris Finley – keyboards
  • George Cassidy – bass
  • Kenny Goodlass – drums
  • Ken Mundye – drums

The Merseybeats discography

Albums

Various artists: This Is Merseybeat Volume One

:Oriole Records 1963

:Includes one Merseybeats track, "Our Day Will Come"

The Merseybeats

:Fontana Records June 1964

  • "Milkman"
  • "Hello Young Lovers"
  • "He Will Break Your Heart"
  • "Funny Face"
  • "Really Mystified"
  • "The Girl That I Marry"
  • "Fools Like Me"
  • "My Heart and I"
  • "Bring It on Home to Me"
  • "Lavender Blue"
  • "Jumping Jonah"
  • "Don't Turn Around"

:UK Number 12

The Merseybeats

:Fontana Records 1990

:First CD release of the album with several of the group's non-album A- and B-sides added

I Think of You: The Complete Recordings

:Bear Family Records 2002

:Compiles the group's entire discography on one CD

Anniversary Tour 2003

:Merseybeat Records 2003

The Merseybeats/The Merseys: I Stand Accused: The Complete Sixties Recordings

:Cherry Red Records 2021

:Double CD comprising the complete discographies of both the Merseybeats and the Merseys

EPs

I Think of You

:Fontana Records March 1964

  • "I Think Of You"
  • "Mister Moonlight"
  • "It's Love That Really Counts"
  • "The Fortune Teller"

The Merseybeats on Stage

:Fontana Records March 1964

  • "Long Tall Sally"
  • "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry"
  • "Shame"
  • "You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover"

Wishin' and Hopin

:Fontana Records November 1964

  • "Wishin' and Hopin'"
  • "Hello, Young Lovers"
  • "Milkman"
  • "Jumping Jonah"

Singles

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;

|-

!rowspan="2"|Year

!rowspan="2"|Title

!colspan="1"|Peak chart<br />positions

!rowspan="2"|Record Label

!rowspan="2"|B-side

!rowspan="2"|Album

|- style="font-size:smaller;"

!align=centre| UK

|-

|rowspan="2"| 1963

|align=left| "It's Love That Really Counts"

| 24

|rowspan="8"| Fontana Records

|rowspan="1"| "The Fortune Teller"

|rowspan="1"|

|-

|align=left| "I Think of You"

| 5

|rowspan="1"| "Mister Moonlight"

|rowspan="1"|

|-

|rowspan="3"| 1964

|align=left| "Don't Turn Around"

| 13

|rowspan="1"| "Really Mystified"

|rowspan="1"| The Merseybeats

|-

|align=left| "Wishin' and Hopin'"

| 13

|rowspan="1"| "Milkman"

|rowspan="1"|

|-

|align=left| "Last Night (I Made a Little Girl Cry)"

| 40

|rowspan="1"| "See Me Back"

|rowspan="1"|

|-

|rowspan="3"| 1965

|align=left| "Don't Let It Happen to Us"

| —

|rowspan="1"| "It Would Take a Long, Long Time"

|rowspan="1"|

|-

|align=left| "I Love You, Yes I Do"

| 22

|rowspan="1"| "Good, Good Lovin'"

|rowspan="1"|

|-

|align=left| "I Stand Accused"

| 38

|rowspan="1"| "All My Life"

|rowspan="1"|

|-

|}

Videos

The Merseybeats in Concert

:1999

The Merseys discography

Albums

The Merseybeats/The Merseys: I Stand Accused: The Complete Sixties Recordings

:Cherry Red Records 2021

:Double CD comprising the complete discographies of both the Merseybeats and the Merseys

Singles

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;

|-

!rowspan="2"|Year

!rowspan="2"|Title

!colspan="1"|Peak chart<br />positions

!rowspan="2"|Record label

!rowspan="2"|B-side

|- style="font-size:smaller;"

!align=centre| UK

|-

|rowspan="3"|1966

|align=left| "Sorrow"

| 4

|rowspan="8"| Fontana Records

|rowspan="1"| "Some Other Day"

|-

|align=left| "So Sad About Us"

| —

|rowspan="1"| "Love Will Continue"

|-

|align=left| "Rhythm of Love"

| —

| "Is It Love"

|-

|rowspan="2"|1967

|align=left| "The Cat"

| —

| "Change of Heart"

|-

|align=left| "Penny in My Pocket"

| —

|"I Hope You're Happy"

|-

|rowspan="2"|1968

|align=left| "Lovely Loretta"

| —

| "Dreaming"

|-

|align=left| "Honey Do" (as Crackers)

| —

| "It Happens All the Time" (as Crackers)

|}

Notes

References

Further reading

  • Call Up the Groups, Alan Clayson, 1985, Blandford Press –
  • [ The Merseybeats biography at Allmusic]
  • Liverpool Express website
  • Lou Rosenthal Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2019)