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Product Description
CD Description
Digitally remastered and expanded edition of the soundtrack to the 1965 motion picture starring Gerry & The Pacemakers which also featured Cilla Black, The George Martin Orchestra and The Fourmost. Now expanded to 28 tracks, this edition also includes cuts from The Black Knights, Earl Royce & The Olympics, The Blackwells and The Kubas. EMI. 2009.
Product Description
GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS Ferry Cross The Mersey (2009 issue UK Extended Edition 28-track CD album - Ferry Cross The Mersey tells the fictional story of a rock group beginning in Liverpool. Gerry an art student fronts a beat group with his three band mates [Fred Les & Chad]. Pushed by Gerrys on-screen love interest the band gets the attention of manager Jack Hanson who buys them new instruments and stage clothes. The boys then go on to win the Liverpool heat of the European Beat Competition [compared by Jimmy Saville] with promises of fame and fortune. The original soundtrack was released in the UK in February 1965. Nestled alongside Marsden originals such as Its Gonna Be Alright & Why Oh Why are recordings by the second wave of acts emerging from Liverpool at that time including Earl Royce & The Olympics The Blackwells and The Black Knights. Other acts managed by Brian Epstein The Fourmost and Cilla Black also appear on the soundtrack whilst the films Musical Director George Martin contributed with the haunting All Quiet Along The Merseyfront. This expanded version of the soundtrack includes the recording sessions for the original soundtrack from Gerry & The Pacemakers and supporting artists and includes a massive 16 Bonus Recordings 2 of which are previously unreleased. For those awaiting the films official re-release this new soundtrack captures the essence and excitement of the picture and is an aural snapshot of the mid-60s Mersey Sound)
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
When The Beatles hit the big time in 1963, all the major record companies shouted `Klondike' and headed north to Liverpool to sign a plethora of groups in the hope of cashing in on this seemingly rich vein of talent. Other than a handful of bands, those who saw a single reach no higher than the dizzy heights of No. 30 in the charts returned to the obscurity from whence they came whilst the groups that didn't experience even that euphoria packed it in. One of those that did hang around for a few years was Gerry and The Pacemakers, probably number two in the popularity stakes behind the Fab Four (albeit a distant second). Like `A Hard Day's Night', a film had to be made before it all went pear shaped and there had to be an accompanying soundtrack LP, which now gets an expanded release. Actually, it's an extended release for those in the UK, something that needs an explanation. Originally issued in 1965, three songs heard in the film were missing over here but turned up on the USA album; this is now rectified; `I Gotta Woman' by The Black Knights, `Shake a Tail Feather' from Earl Royce and The Olympics, and `I Love Her' by The Kubas is the trio. However, as the film and album were vehicles for Gerry it isn't surprising he was prominent on the UK version.
Additionally, this CD includes a further eight songs from those artists, seven of which were all previously issued on obscure (and now expensive) singles; the eighth track, The Black Knights' `Angel of Love', gets its premier here. Rounding off the 28 tracks are three stereo versions of the aforementioned three missing songs, and a previously unreleased version of `Ferry Cross the Mersey' without the orchestra overdub. Yes, it certainly dispenses with that string accompaniment, but this is the film version, not the record, which has a slightly different vocal.
But is all this any good? If you enjoy mid 60s music, and Merseybeat in particular, this is well worth adding to your collection. Though the title track, `It's Gonna Be Alright', `Why Oh Why' and Cilla Black's `Is It love' are stand out songs, listening to the bonus tracks, it's not too difficult to understand why none of those featured worried the charts, all ending up as a footnote in the annals of British Beat music as just four of the many hundreds to try their luck. The one thing these bonus selections have in common is very weak lead vocals with even weaker backing. The groups involved are also guilty of being `one trick ponies', regurgitating the same instrumental themes throughout; even `Que Sera Sera' and `Shake a Tail Feather' are both given the same treatment. But that's what makes all this so quaint. As an antonym to those poor backing vocals mentioned above, the nine Gerry and the Pacemakers songs are unusual in that they have none. And to be honest, the Pacemakers were really just three other blokes in which nobody had any interest; they could have been anyone, which is probably why they're absent from the cover.
Additionally, this CD includes a further eight songs from those artists, seven of which were all previously issued on obscure (and now expensive) singles; the eighth track, The Black Knights' `Angel of Love', gets its premier here. Rounding off the 28 tracks are three stereo versions of the aforementioned three missing songs, and a previously unreleased version of `Ferry Cross the Mersey' without the orchestra overdub. Yes, it certainly dispenses with that string accompaniment, but this is the film version, not the record, which has a slightly different vocal.
But is all this any good? If you enjoy mid 60s music, and Merseybeat in particular, this is well worth adding to your collection. Though the title track, `It's Gonna Be Alright', `Why Oh Why' and Cilla Black's `Is It love' are stand out songs, listening to the bonus tracks, it's not too difficult to understand why none of those featured worried the charts, all ending up as a footnote in the annals of British Beat music as just four of the many hundreds to try their luck. The one thing these bonus selections have in common is very weak lead vocals with even weaker backing. The groups involved are also guilty of being `one trick ponies', regurgitating the same instrumental themes throughout; even `Que Sera Sera' and `Shake a Tail Feather' are both given the same treatment. But that's what makes all this so quaint. As an antonym to those poor backing vocals mentioned above, the nine Gerry and the Pacemakers songs are unusual in that they have none. And to be honest, the Pacemakers were really just three other blokes in which nobody had any interest; they could have been anyone, which is probably why they're absent from the cover.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
I dig it! Fab + Gear!
19 Jan 2012
By George Griggs
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I never knew Gerry Marsden was so multi-talented: he wrote all 9 of the original songs he sings in this film score. His voice is great and perfect for his material. The songs are catchy, fun, and sum up "the Merseybeat" sound in one listen. The guest stars are no slouches either: Cilla Black has a great set of pipes, knows how to use dynamics in a song and conveys sincere emotion. The rest of the guest bands rock out! I liked this soundtrack so much, I soon ordered the DVD of this film. Gald I did. To me: a song like "Ferry Cross The Mersey" rates up there with another great pop song about a special location that means a lot to the songwriter, "Waterloo Sunset" (Ray Davies.) Gerry's love of his Liverpool upbringing comes thru his songs. I saw him on Ed Sullivan a few times (many years ago) but I underestimated his talent. GERRY MARSDEN and his 3 bandmates are very talented. Gald I bought this CD!
5.0 out of 5 stars
essential
18 Feb 2013
By MATT
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Great CD. Uk Version is superior to the US.
Liner notes are very informative
If only they would issue the movie officialy on DVD
Liner notes are very informative
If only they would issue the movie officialy on DVD
0 of 3 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Ferry Cross The Mersey soundtrack
21 Jan 2010
By Eric Anderson
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought the cd mostly for the title track, the rest of the cd has some okay songs, some songs I didn't care for at all. All in all, I'm glad I purchased it for my music library.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
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