Various Let's Stomp - Merseybeat And Beyond 1962 - 1969 (3-CD Box-Set)

(Cherry Red) 39 tracks, Papersleeves in slipcover box. incl. 24 pag.booklet.

This 3CD box set focuses on the pioneering movement that brought the world the Beatles, but was overshadowed by their success.

Hits include "Sweets For My Sweet" by The Searchers (UK #1) and "When You Walk In The Room" (UK #3), "Bad To Me" by Billy J. Kramer With The Dakotas (UK #1), "Hippy Hippy Shake" by The Swinging Blue Jeans (UK #2) and "Everything's Al'right" by The Mojos (UK #9).

Also included are The Chants (with Eddy Amoo, later of The Real Thing), The Undertakers and Lomax Alliance (both led by Jackie Lomax, who was later signed to Apple), and The Kirkbys and The 23rd Turnoff, whose singer/guitarist was the great songwriter Jimmy Campbell.

Five tracks have been remastered from producer Joe Meek's "Tea Chest Tapes," including the great bouncer "Please Stay" by The Cryin' Shames and the previously unreleased "A Different Drummer" by The Maracas.

Other rarities include an unreleased track by The Pathfinders from Birkenhead from the archives of producer Shel Talmy and a great song by Samantha Jones, formerly of Vernons Girl, found on a well-preserved acetate, as well as tracks by The Dennisons, The Seftons and The Perishers released on CD for the first time. Although the Beatles are not represented for licensing reasons, there are four compositions by Lennon and McCartney that were made available to other artists.

Merseybeat was a short-lived phenomenon, but of great influence around the world. It exploded nationwide in 1963, before Merseybeat groups led the "British Invasion" on the U.S. charts.

This box set celebrates the scene on the first two discs, then presents on disc three some of the brilliant mod, freakbeat, psych, and Mersey soul music that came out of Liverpool when the Merseybeat bubble burst and the press and public looked elsewhere.

Inspired by U.S. rock 'n' roll, R&B and Motown and the D. I.Y. attitude of skiffle, Liverpool beat groups rocked clubs like the Cavern in their hometown and the Star Club in Hamburg, as well as larger "big beat" sessions at the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton. The Searchers and Gerry And The Pacemakers became successful on the world stage, while others never made it beyond their local sphere, did a few 45s or even demos, and disappeared.