Gerry and The Pacemakers
As unfathomable as it seems from the distance of over 40 years, for a few months, Gerry & the Pacemakers were the Beatles' nearest competitors in Britain. Managed (like the Beatles) by Brian Epstein, Gerry Marsden and his band burst out of the gate with three consecutive number one U.K. hits in 1963, "How Do You Do It," "I Like It," and "You'll Never Walk Alone." If the Beatles defined Merseybeat at its best in early 1963, Gerry & the Pacemakers defined the form at its most innocuous, performing bouncy, catchy, and utterly lightweight tunes driven by rhythm guitar and Marsden's chipper vocals. Compared to the Beatles and other British Invasion heavies, they sound quaint indeed. That's not to say the group was trivial; its hits were certainly likable and energetic and are fondly remembered today, even if the musicians lacked the acumen (or earthy image) to develop their style from its relentlessly upbeat and poppy base.
Anthology 1Marsden formed the group in the late '50s featuring himself on guitar and lead vocals, his brother Fred on drums, Les Chadwick on bass, and Arthur Mack on piano (to be replaced in 1961 by Les Maguire). They worked the same Liverpool/Hamburg circuit as the Beatles, and ran neck and neck with their rivals in local popularity. They were signed by Epstein in mid-1962 (the first band to do so besides the Beatles), and began recording for the EMI/Columbia label in early 1963, under the direction of producer George Martin. Their first single was a Mitch Murray tune that Martin had wanted the Beatles to record for their debut, "How Do You Do It?" The Beatles did record a version (found on the Anthology 1 release), but objected to its release, finding it too sappy, and in any case were more interested in recording their own, gutsier original compositions. It suited Marsden's grinning, peppy style well, though, and went to number one before it was displaced from the top spot by the Beatles' third 45, "From Me to You."
1964 - Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying
1984 - The Very Best Of Gerry & Pacemakers
1985 - It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
1986 - Gerry & The Pacemakers
1987 - The EP Collection
1988 - You'll Never Walk Alone
1992 - You'll Never Walk Alone (The EMI Years 1963-1966)
1995 - Non Stop Party Hits
1997 - At Abbey Road
2004 - A's, B's & EP's
2004 - Greatest Hits
2005 - How Do You Do It
2006 - Golden Legends
2007 - How Do You Do It 'The Live Album'
2007 - Ultimate Hits
2008 - Three Of A Kind
2010 - Their Very Best
2011 - Live in Australia (Live)
2013 - Greatest Love Songs
2014 - Rock N' Roll Masters
2018 - Live at the BBC
2019 - Rock Me Gently
Ferry Cross the Mersey is a 1965 musical film featuring Gerry and the Pacemakers. It is frequently considered to be their version of the Beatles' A Hard Day's Night.
The film shows the story of art students Gerry and Fred Marsden, Les Maguire, and Les "Chad" Chadwick as they humorously try to navigate the Liverpool beat scene. After Gerry's girlfriend Dodie (Julie Samuel) helps the group enter a music competition, their instruments are misplaced but are ultimately found in time for them to take the stage and win the contest.