If you have the wonderful book "150 Glimpses of the Beatles" by Craig Brown, please read the delightful fantasy that is Chapter 148, an alternate reality in which Gerry and the Pacemakers and not The Beatles become the phenomenal success:
Why did Gerry and the Pacemakers succeed in overtaking musical rivals like the Dave Clark Five, the Searchers, the Beatles and the Swinging Blue Jeans to become four of the best-known faces in the world of pop?
For a start, their repertoire was broader than their rivals’: by 1960 they had built up a repertoire of 250 songs, from rockers like ‘What’d I Say’ to ballads such as ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow?’ Contemporary Merseybeat groups like the Beatles, who met with similar success in the early years, never possessed quite the same range. Moreover, the Beatles lacked a front man, so had no focal point. It’s hard to imagine, but had things gone differently, the world might now be talking of John, Paul, George and Ringo (the first names of the Beatles) instead of Gerry, Fred, Les and Arthur....
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29 comments:
Pacemakers?
The jokes write themselves : )
his "ferry has crossed the Mersey"
'Cause this land's the place I love
And here I'll stay
And here I'll stay
Here I'll stay
RIP
I was a fan. Saw the movie based on Ferry Cross The Mercy. I remember thinking it was fab. Have no recollection of what it was about - they ate and sang, is about all I remember. After the movie release they seemed to disappear.
Before my time. RIP
Where were the Pacemakers when he needed them?
That song sounds like it was written to be sung by Paul McCartney, but I can see why the Beatles passed on it, even if it did go on to become a hit.
Surprised the British even used the term Pacemaker.
It's usually something slightly different, like Deaf Aid for Hearing Aid.
"'I Dig a Pygmy', by Charles Hawtrey and the Deaf Aids ..."
I wonder if that was a play on Gerry and the Pacemakers?
Ms. Hopkins, a contemporary, would like to say Goodbye
(what's up with lateral incisor #10?)
"'I Dig a Pygmy', by Charles Hawtrey and the Deaf Aids ..."
I wonder if that was a play on Gerry and the Pacemakers?
Gerry Marsden was a close friend of the Beatles, so maybe. (Charles Hawtrey was a British comedian, best known for the "Carry On" films.)
They belong in a costume museum, the way they and the audience are dressed. Long way from that to heavy metal bands, and over a time span of only 25 years or so.
Hmmm... so Marsden and either Chad or Jeremy recently departed.
#EricBurdonDeathWatch
tim maguire said...
That song sounds like it was written to be sung by Paul McCartney, but I can see why the Beatles passed on it, even if it did go on to become a hit.
It was written by Mitch Murray. As related above, it was George Martin's pick for the Beatles first single. John and Paul worked up an arrangement of the song and actually recorded it before lobbying Martin to use Love Me Do as their first single. I would expect the Pacemakers version was based on the Lennon-McCartney arrangement.
And another part of my youth goes on up to Valhalla.
Thanks for the Merseyries.
Gerry and the Pacemakers were a favorite of mine of the British Invasion groups along with The Beatles. The Beatles’ version of “How Do You Do It.” is pretty nonchalant like they were going through the motions to humor George Martin when they really wanted to record a song that they had written. John Lennon is the lead singer. This version is on The Beatles Anthology 1 Album. The Pacemakers’ version is much more upbeat and worked out really well for them to get their career to take off.
Rest in peace, Jerry Marsden. If there is a jam session of 1960’s British Invasion musicians in heaven, they will have a hell of a band!
Tip the ferryman, Gerry! RIP.
Narr
And good night
Looking through all the posts today. A pretty spectacular day of blogging Ms. Althouse. Sleep in tomorrow.
Wouldn't it have been a big hit for the Beatles, as well?
Who would have thought in 1965 that Vera Lynn would die six months before Gerry Marsden!
Vera Lynn made it to 103!
And don't get me started on how George Harrison died years ago but Keith Richards is still walking around on top of the sod.
Scotty, beam me up at 9:55 has it exactly right. I've heard the Beatles version of this record and it's dreadful. The more uptempo version by GATP is eminently listenable and danceable.
Unfortunately, it was the only one their records I found listenable and danceable. The ballads - like Ferry Cross The Mersey - curdle milk.
The notion that they could've become what the Beatles became is laughable.
Brings back sweet memories!
Heard a brilliant instrumental jazz version of "Ferry Cross the Mersey" the other day. It's a ferry good song.
God bless him.
I've loved this clip since I stumbled on it a few years ago. In addition to a great live performance, the reactions of the audience are hilarious. Despite the screams at the beginning of the tune--which I half-suspect were dubbed in--they seem as excited as waiting for study hall to end. And it's a great performance!
Maybe they thought they were going to see the Beatles?
Nag: When everything Liverpool took center stage back in the early '60s, never read a single word how it made its bones as the biggest, richest slave port in England.
The Beatles’ version of “How Do You Do It.” is pretty nonchalant like they were going through the motions to humor George Martin when they really wanted to record a song that they had written. John Lennon is the lead singer. This version is on The Beatles Anthology 1 Album. The Pacemakers’ version is much more upbeat and worked out really well for them to get their career to take off.
I just pulled up my Anthology 1 album to check this out. Right on all counts!
Ferry Cross the Mersey was THE MOST requested ballad of it's time. Been there, done that.
I saw a documentary short on Gerry Marsden recently though I forget the source.
There is an interesting part about his hit song 'You'll never walk alone'. It was adopted by the Liverpool football club. The fans sing it in unison at every match. It is quite poignant - so many off key voices.
In another 15 years there will be few people alive who know the Pacemakers hit tunes from personal memories. Yet fans will likely be singing 'You'll never walk alone' at Liverpool games a hundred years from now.
It's a pleasant song, but you can see why the Beatles passed. Their version barely has any harmony at all, just a few places where McCartney goes "oo" under phrases like "do it to you".
Musically, it's well behind what they were doing in their live act at the time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwuhGV4CPSw
I am not quite sure some commenters know that "Pacemakers" does not refer to the heart device. It is like the pace car that leads the other cars, to set the pace, be the leader. Maybe this is an old person thing . . . or perhaps this old person is missing all the subtle punning humor.
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