Meet the Beatles

It's exciting in a way that only blunt-instrument rock'n'roll can be. And Bill Hurley is at least as good a singer as Jagger.

Interpretations of tracks from I'm Down to Get Back confirm how good the group are live and also accentuate Lennon and McCartney's own R&B songwriting roots.

In 1987, French leading newspaper Liberation invited British R&B stalwarts The Inmates to perform a concert in Paris to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Sgt Pepper album.

The Inmates delivered a legendary show made of pumped-up versions of Beatles classic rockers. The CD also features the encore: 3 classic Inmates songs, including their hit single "Dirty Water"

Thanks to Bill Hurley's fine vocals ("The best British singer" – Robert Plant) and Peter Staines blistering guitar work, The Inmates often excel other bands who play traditional Rock & Roll, simply because the band is able to give their songs and live act that extra something. The rhythm section of Ben Donnelly and Eddie (also from The Vibrators) together with Tony Oliver's killer rhythm guitar provide an unmistakable British punky R&B drive.

The Inmates were formed in North London in 1977 and soon established themselves as one of the capital's most popular live groups. Their influences included The Animals, The Pretty Things, The Rolling Stones and Dr. Feelgood. They arrived at the tail end of the pub-rock movement, but still managed to find success with their mix of originals and covers of classic R&B and Rock & Roll tunes. Of the latter, a version of the Standells's Dirty Water, included on the band's 1979 debut First Offence, became a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Capitalising on chart success throughout Europe and North America, the early eighties saw the band confirm their international status.

Bill Hurley left The Inmates in 1983 through illness and was replaced by long-time friend Barrie Masters from Eddie And The Hot Rods. In 1985 Barrie departed to reform the Hot Rods and Bill Hurley, fresh from the success of his solo album " Double Agent ", returned to his old position, centre stage.