The Merseys A- And B-Sides, Rarities And More - 1964-68 (CD)

The Merseys had a big pop-rock hit in the UK in 1966 with Sorrow, which was later covered by David Bowie (on Pinups), but never matched the success of that debut. They were a breakaway from the Merseybeats, who were one of the most popular Liverpool bands of the British Invasion, although they never scored a hit in the United States. The Merseybeats disbanded in 1966, and lead guitarist Tony Crane (born April 17, 1946 in Liverpool) and assistant Billy Kinsley (born November 28, 1947 in Liverpool) formed the Merseys. Unlike the Merseybeats, a quartet in its own right, the Merseys were a duo backed on stage by the Fruit Eating Bears, who had two drummers and with whom Ioey Molland (later of Badfinger) played lead guitar. The Merseys were managed by The Who managers Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp, which seemed a solid indicator of future growth, although Kinsley said Lambert and Stamp naturally focused their attention much more on The Who.