HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?

If asked which artist or group reached number one with their first three singles many people would say Elvis Presley or The Beatles but they would be wrong as it was another Mersey Beat group who lay claim to this achievement. It was 1963 and, in common with The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers were from Liverpool and were managed by Brian Epstein. However, unlike the 'Fab Four' they became the first ever act to hit the top spot with their first three releases, a feat not equalled for 20 years. With the recent sad news of Gerry Marsden's passing I am going to take a look back at their early years and successes.

Gerry Marsden formed the group in 1959 with his brother Fred on drums, Les Chadwick on bass, Arthur Mack on piano while he played lead guitar and lead vocals. In 1961 Mack was replaced by Les McGuire. Originally they called themselves The Mars-Bars but had to change their name when the Mars Company complained!

Playing the same clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg as The Beatles they soon came to the attention of Brian Epstein who signed them in mid-1962 and would negotiate a record deal with Columbia Records where they would record at Abbey Road Studios under the guidance of George Martin.

Their first session was held on 22nd January 1963 where they recorded the Mitch Miller composition How Do You Do It and Away From You, written by Marsden & Chadwick. Released as a single in March it reached number one where it stayed for three weeks before being knocked off the top spot by The Beatles with From Me To You.

Interestingly How Do You Do It was also recorded by The Beatles and George Martin wanted them to release the song for their first single. They reluctantly recorded the song but convinced Martin that their own song, Love Me Do, was a better choice. The Beatles version finally found a release on Anthology 1.

Gerry and the Pacemakers released two more singles in 1963. In May I Like It backed with It's Happened To Me followed the pattern of the previous single with a Mitch Miller composition backed by another Marsden/Chadwick song. Hello Little Girl, a Lennon & McCartney composition, was recorded and considered as their second single but I Like It was chosen instead. A good decision as, like their debut single, it hit the top spot. Ironically it replaced From Me To You at number one and would hold that position for four weeks.

For their third single Marsden recalled a song he had seen in the film Carousel as a youngster. Written by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II, You'll Never Walk Alone was recorded on 2 July 1963 while the flipside, It's Alright, a Marsden original, was recorded a few weeks later in August. Released in October it seemed unlikely that they would be able to repeat the success of their first two singles. However, in late October it hit number one for the first of four weeks at that position. They became the first group to ever reach number one with their first three singles. The friendly rivalry between them and The Beatles continued when You'll Never Walk Alone was knocked off the top spot by She Loves You.

By 1964 Marsden was writing most of their material including their fourth single, I'm The One, which stalled at number two and stopped them having four consecutive number ones. They never managed another number one but did chart with several songs including Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying, It's Gonna Be Alright, Ferry Cross The Mersey, I'll Be There and Walk Hand In Hand.

A popular draw on the concert circuit they toured the length and breadth of the UK, often on the same bill as The Beatles, as well as touring America. A concert at the Oakland Auditorium in California on 24 October 1964 was recorded and an extended play album, Gerry In California issued featuring four tracks, Dizzy Miss Lizzy, What'd I Say, My Babe and Away From You.

Often referred to as their version of The Beatles A Hard Days Night film the band starred in the 1965 musical Ferry Cross The Mersey. Marsden wrote most of the soundtrack which featured catchy songs like I'll Wait For You, It's Gonna Be Alright, Fall In Love and Why Oh Why. Also appearing in the movie, and on the soundtrack, were The Fourmost and Cilla Black who contributed I Love You Too and Is It Love. The incidental music was provided by The George Martin Orchestra and one track was also added to the album, All Quiet On The Mersey Front.

They only released two albums, How Do You Like It, a play on their first two singles which funnily enough didn't include either song, and the soundtrack to Ferry Cross The Mersey. The albums reached number two and nineteen respectively.

A popular format at the time, they also issued several extended play albums with titles like How Do You Do It, I'm The One, Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying and Rip It Up. 

In America their recordings were issued on the New York based record label Laurie. Their biggest stateside hit was Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying which peaked at number four. They also coupled How Do You Do It with You'll Never Walk Alone and I Like It with Jambalaya which gave them top ten and top twenty hits. America also had their own album releases... Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying, Gerry And The Pacemakers' Second Album, I'll Be There and Girl On A Swing.

Over the years there have been many compilations and the best being At Abbey Road 1963-1966 and You'll Never Walk Along (The EMI Years - 1963-1966). The first featured all the hits along with unreleased recordings and studio chatter while the latter, a four-disc set with 123 tracks, included mono and stereo versions, early takes, undubbed ('no strings') versions and unreleased material. It was also the first time the complete Oakland Auditorium concert had been released.

By late 1965 their popularity was declining both in the UK and America and in 1967 they disbanded. However, their catchy, bouncy and lightweight songs driven along by guitar, drums, piano and Marsden's chirpy vocals were likeable and hold fond memories for many people.