More than just the essentials
Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 03/26/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is one of the better compilations of this group's music, containing the essential hits together with an interesting selection of other tracks that show their roots.They began their career with three number one UK hits, these being How do you do it (an up-tempo song that was offered to the Beatles), I like it (another up-tempo song) and You'll never walk alone (the Rodgers-Hammerstein ballad from Carousel that became the anthem of both Celtic and Liverpool football clubs). They never had another number one hit but they had three more top ten hits - I'm the one (a number two hit), Don't let the sun catch you crying (their first American hit) and Ferry cross the Mersey (also an American hit). Their only other UK hits were It's gonna be alright, I'll be there and Walk hand in hand. Their early UK hits charted in America following the success of Don't let the sun catch you crying, though without the impact they'd had in the UK. Girl on a swing missed the UK charts completely but made the USA top thirty.Those ten hits are the only essential tracks but they recorded many other fine songs including covers of fifties songs made famous by Chuck Berry, Hank Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis and others. Unlike some other Liverpool groups of the time, they did not look to the Beatles as a source of songs.If you like the music of the Beatles, give Gerry and the Pacemakers a listen. You might enjoy their music."
Comparing Compilations
Staples | 07/17/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"There's more to the various Gerry & the Pacemakers `Best of' compilations than a mere variation in track count and/or choice.
The disc `The Best of Gerry & the Pacemakers: The Definitive Collection', released in 1991, offers most of its 25 tracks in stereo. The remastering (and in some cases remixing) has been very carefully done at Abbey Road Studios, where most of the tracks were recorded. The sound is very good, although some may argue it is not the original sound of the hits, as all singles were originally only issued in mono. Some stereo versions are quite primitive, as the tracks were recorded on 2-track: one for the backing track, one for vocals, just like the earliest Beatles recordings, but the people at Abbey Road managed to 'open' the sound. This CD also offers `Hello Little Girl', never before released - probably because The Fourmost had their recording released first (which was a minor hit).
Another good compilation is `Gerry & the Pacemakers at Abbey Road: 1963-1966': this offers 28 tracks (comprising the 25 of the aforementioned CD), but they are all in mono. This CD has been denoised, which, if properly done, will not degenerate the sound, but may affect the way you experience it. I found the sound to be a bit sharper, but not annoying. The booklet is very well done, detailing the band's history, and a bit of the history of Abbey Road studio's. This disc has been re-issued as `Essential', but alas without the informative booklet.
Recently the budget 2CD `The Best Of G&TP' has been released, offering 40 tracks, which is excellent value for money, but it leaves out some of the tracks which are on the other CD's, offering more album tracks like rock'n'roll and oldies covers.
All in all, I think that the choice is yours. If you come across a cheap compilation CD, other than the ones mentioned here, I recommend you listen to them first for sound quality - try before you buy!"
Track Listings (28) - Disc #1