BRITISH BEAT was the term adopted to describe the exciting new sounds out of Liverpool and other cities in the wake of The Beatles’ explosion onto the world stage in 1963/64.
Named after the slang term forever associated with The Beatles, this mammoth 6-CD box set offers around 180 tracks in chronological order from the mid-1960s, many of which are new to CD and some of which are previously unissued.
FAB GEAR draws heavily from the vaults of Pye Records and sister label Piccadilly, picking up where Castle Music’s Beat Beat Beat series left off many moons ago.
Instead of concentrating on Beat’s initial boom of 1963/64, Fab Gear is focussed instead on the scene’s later gems from 1965/66, which were often musically superior to those earlier works.
Other featured labels include independents such as Ember, President and Oak, as well as a smattering of choices from the majors (Decca, Parlophone, Columbia, Fontana, CBS et al).
FAB GEAR includes many of the era’s biggest names such as The Kinks, The Moody Blues, The Searchers and The Tremeloes and other hit acts such as The Marmalade, The Alan Price Set, The Rockin’ Berries, David & Jonathan, The Ivy League, Twinkle, Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers, Chad & Jeremy, The Tornados, Arthur Brown, Tony Jackson & The Vibrations, The Undertakers, Billie Davis, The Migil 5, The Truth, The Quiet Five and The Sorrows.
The hefty booklet boasts band-by-band histories and details of each recording, including early works by David Bowie, Status Quo, Clifford T. Ward, Manfred Mann’s Mike d’Abo, Lemmy and future members of Yes, The Move, Mott The Hoople, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Deep Purple, Fleetwood Mac, Traffic, Lindisfarne and Man.
The bonus disc 6 contains recordings which weren’t issued at the time, including many tracks which have never been heard before.
Disc1
01. Chad Stuart & Jeremy Clyde / Yesterday's Gone [0:02:31.35]
02. Carter-Lewis & The Southerners / Somebody Told My Girl [0:02:38.55]
03. The Nomads / My Whole Life Through [0:02:56.46]
04. Billie Davis / That Boy John [0:02:30.41]
05. Marilyn Powell / All My Loving [0:02:22.74]
06. The Regents / Bye Bye Johnny [0:02:16.40]
07. A Band Of Angels / Me [0:02:02.63]
08. Ray Singer / Tell Me Now [0:02:43.73]
09. Mickey Finn & The Blue Men / Reelin' And A Rockin' [0:02:21.50]
10. Le Group 5 / Baby What You Want Me To Do [0:04:09.23]
11. The Bo Street Runners / Bo Street Runner [0:02:11.09]
12. Mike Sarne & The Leroys / Love Me Please [0:02:35.56]
13. The Moody Blues / Lose Your Money (But Don't Lose Your Mind) [0:01:58.27]
14. The Mike Cotton Sound / Round And Round [0:02:35.42]
15. The Others / I'm Taking Her Home [0:02:17.02]
16. The Artwoods / If I Ever Get My Hands On You [0:02:03.07]
17. Mal Ryder & The Spirits / Your Friend [0:02:37.59]
18. Jimmy Royal And The Hawks / I'm Leaving You [0:02:07.00]
19. The Wild Oats / You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover [0:02:27.05]
20. Four + One / Don't Lie To Me [0:01:52.59]
21. Tommy Bruce & The Bruisers / Boom Boom [0:02:41.39]
22. Grant Tracy / Never Let It Be Said [0:02:05.23]
23. Angelina / Wishing My Life Away [0:02:09.66]
24. Peter Jay And The Jaywalkers / What's Easy For Two Is Hard For One [0:02:46.07]
25. Migil 5 / Seven Lonely Days [0:02:25.61]
26. The Wackers / You're Forgetting [0:02:09.35]
27. Twinkle / Ain't Nobody Home But Me [0:02:45.51]
28. The Clique / She Ain't No Good [0:02:19.50]
29. The Hi-Fis / Baby's In Black [0:02:22.62]
30. The Sheffields / Plenty of Love [0:02:21.57]
31. Four Just Men / Don't Come Any Closer [0:02:16.38]
32. Robb Storme And The Whispers / Love Is Strange [0:02:38.57]
Disc2
01. Tony Jackson & The Vibrations / Love Potion No. 9 [0:02:04.67]
02. The Midnights / Only Two Can Play [0:02:04.03]
03. Bobby Rio And The Revelles / Don't Break My Heart And Run Away [0:02:26.37]
04. The Beatmen / Please Believe [0:01:45.32]
05. The Blue Aces Showband / You Don't Believe [0:02:10.30]
06. The Chapters / Dance Little Lady [0:02:44.55]
07. The First Impressions / Looking For Her [0:02:01.73]
08. The Kinks / Who'll Be The Next In Line [0:02:02.11]
09. The Limeys / Don't Cry (My Love) [0:02:22.09]
10. The Pros And Cons / Whirlybird (Part One) [0:02:49.01]
11. Carl Wayne & The Vikings / This Is Love [0:01:58.01]
12. The Epics / My Little Girl [0:02:29.55]
13. The Lemmings / My Little Girl [0:02:48.65]
14. The Monotones / Somethings Hurtin' Me [0:02:30.49]
15. The Rockin' Berries / Follow Me [0:02:09.30]
16. The Couriers / Take Away [0:02:20.70]
17. Dickie Rock , Miami & Strings / Rock And Roll Music [0:02:32.22]
18. The Buckinghams / She Lied [0:02:07.59]
19. The Eccentrics / Fe Fi Fo Fum [0:02:35.73]
20. The Riot Squad / Not A Great Talker [0:02:04.50]
21. Buddy Britten & The Regents / She's A Mover [0:02:12.68]
22. Charles Dickens / In The City [0:02:05.51]
23. The Cops ’N Robbers / Just Keep Right On [0:02:10.20]
24. The Untamed / I'll Go Crazy [0:02:12.74]
25. The Quiet Five / Honeysuckle Rose [0:02:10.30]
26. Felder's Orioles / Down Home Girl [0:04:00.28]
27. Paddy, Klaus & Gibson / I Wanna Know [0:02:15.64]
28. The Legends / I've Found Her [0:02:26.74]
29. The Searchers / He's Got No Love [0:02:36.12]
30. Mike Hurst / Show Me Around [0:02:06.24]
31. Major Rowley / Do It The Right Way [0:01:59.03]
32. Kenny Bernard And The Wranglers / You Gotta Give [0:02:28.15]
Disc3
01. The Sorrows / Take A Heart [0:03:15.70]
02. The Imp-Acts / If I Were The Only One [0:02:07.68]
03. The Alan Price Set / Any Day Now [0:02:57.69]
04. The Washington DC's / Have You Seen My Baby [0:02:01.64]
05. The New Faces / Never Gonna Love Again [0:02:47.06]
06. Ronnie Jones / I'm So Clean [0:02:42.10]
07. Russ Loader With The Ladybirds / Count The Stars [0:03:32.05]
08. The In Crowd / You're On Your Own [0:02:18.69]
09. The Syndicats / On The Horizon [0:02:49.63]
10. The Alan Bown Set / I'm The One [0:02:13.65]
11. The Chosen Few / Today, Tonight And Tomorrow [0:02:39.43]
12. The Hellions / Think It Over [0:02:04.12]
13. The Lancastrians / I Can't Stand The Pain [0:02:46.00]
14. The Nightshift / That's My Story [0:02:12.48]
15. The Truth / Come On Home [0:02:25.53]
16. The Tornados / Stingray [0:02:52.38]
17. The Action / Land Of One Thousand Dances [0:02:50.71]
18. The Chantelles / Gonna Give Him Some Love [0:02:37.42]
19. Brian Diamond & The Cutters / Bone Idol [0:02:38.67]
20. The Carnaby / My Love Will Stay [0:02:33.48]
21. The MeddyEvils / Find Somebody To Love [0:02:51.62]
22. The Slade Brothers / Don't Be Gone Too Long [0:02:16.42]
23. The Ugly's / A Friend [0:02:14.04]
24. David & Jonathan / Laughing Fit To Cry [0:02:16.14]
25. The Kirkbys / She'll Get No Loving That Way [0:02:09.14]
26. The Tomcats / Pena, Penita, Pena [0:02:57.67]
27. Shades Of Blue / Where Did All The Good Times Go [0:02:20.13]
28. Earl Preston's Realms / Nobody But You [0:02:05.60]
29. Michael Allen / I Can't Stand It [0:02:53.30]
30. The Richmond Group / That's Alright [0:03:16.21]
Disc4
01. David Bowie With The Lower Third / And I Say To Myself [0:02:29.46]
02. The Undertakers / Throw Your Love Away Girl [0:02:34.22]
03. Arthur Brown With The Diamonds / You Don't Know [0:03:34.52]
04. Episode Six / That's All I Want [0:02:32.31]
05. The Time / Take A Bit Of Notice [0:01:59.04]
06. Tony Rivers And The Castaways / Girl Don't Tell Me [0:02:44.01]
07. The Boomerangs / Upgraded [0:02:06.21]
08. The Rocking Vickers / Stay By Me [0:02:30.22]
09. The Deputies / Given Half A Chance [0:02:03.48]
10. The Clockwork Oranges / After Tonight [0:02:22.06]
11. Tony Colton / Have You Lost Your Mind [0:03:35.42]
12. Luvin' Kind / It's A Cruel World [0:02:19.43]
13. The Bats / People Like You [0:02:24.45]
14. The People / I'm With You [0:02:05.25]
15. Phillip Goodhand-Tait & The Stormsville Shakers / I'm Gonna Put Some Hurt On You [0:02:12.59]
16. The Bluechips / I Know A Boy [0:02:45.72]
17. The Moonlighters / We'll See It Through [0:02:51.05]
18. The Spartans / Lies [0:02:23.48]
19. The Fingers / I Go To Sleep [0:02:32.45]
20. Chris Curtis / Aggravation [0:01:59.29]
21. The Ivy League / One Day [0:02:06.01]
22. The Cymbaline / Top Girl [0:02:40.65]
23. The Jeeps / The Music Goes Round [0:02:19.47]
24. Paul's Troubles / You'll Find Out [0:02:28.14]
25. The Bystanders / Have I Offended The Girl [0:02:33.32]
26. The Chevlons / It's My Problem [0:02:33.10]
27. The Debonaires / A Love Of Our Own [0:02:37.25]
28. The Majority / Simplified [0:02:56.23]
29. The Ministry Of Sound / Back Seat Driver [0:02:25.42]
30. The Appalachians / Look Away [0:02:28.02]
31. Hayes & Wadey / What Does She Want? [0:02:36.67]
Disc5
01. The Tremeloes / Good Day Sunshine [0:01:58.32]
02. Tuesday's Children / High And Drifting [0:02:41.56]
03. The Rogers / Little Girl [0:02:12.36]
04. Marmalade / It's All Leading Up To Saturday Night [0:02:20.27]
05. Mick & Malcolm / Little Venice [0:02:15.32]
06. The Kytes / I'll Give You A Better Love [0:02:32.07]
07. Hat And Tie / California Jazz Club U.S.A. [0:02:06.20]
08. The Renegades / Walking Down The Street [0:01:50.08]
09. The Thoughts / All Night Stand [0:02:27.44]
10. Gates Of Eden / Too Much On My Mind [0:02:25.68]
11. The Knack / Sad Subject [0:01:56.56]
12. The Knack / Take Your Love [0:02:28.74]
13. The Montanas / That's When Happiness Began [0:02:12.23]
14. Gnomes Of Zurich / Please Mr. Sun [0:02:27.08]
15. The Attraction / Party Line [0:02:20.39]
16. Five's Company / Session Man [0:02:33.39]
17. The Doc Thomas Group / I Just Can't Go To Sleep [0:02:31.64]
18. The Spectres / Hurdy Gurdy Man [0:03:18.19]
19. Steve Hammond / The World Is Wrapped Around My Neck [0:03:16.67]
20. The Factotums / I Can't Give You Anything But Love [0:02:28.66]
21. The Symbols / Canadian Sunset [0:03:07.43]
22. The Secrets / Such A Pity [0:02:06.22]
23. Marcus Tro / We Can Make It Baby [0:01:55.23]
24. The Athenians / Steppin' Out [0:02:57.44]
25. The Peenuts / The World's Been Good To Me [0:02:39.45]
26. The Exceptions / Girl Trouble [0:02:18.66]
27. The Spectrum / Saturday's Child [0:02:31.14]
28. Bobby Johnson And The Atoms / Do It Again A Little Slower [0:02:21.68]
29. Katch / Makin' My Mind Up [0:02:33.59]
Disc6
01. Five’s A Crowd / I’m Not Ready For You [0:02:00.60]
02. The Cherokees / Poison Ivy [0:02:33.03]
03. The Web / I'll Try [0:02:08.55]
04. The Changing Times / Louie Louie [0:02:59.58]
05. The Second Thoughts / Help Me [0:03:01.27]
06. Count Downe & The Zero's / Always On My Mind [0:01:45.34]
07. The Baskervilles / Love Potion No. 9 [0:01:57.65]
08. The Mighty Atoms / Wanderin’ Eye [0:02:37.41]
09. Five Steps Beyond / Heartbreak Love Or Paradise [0:02:14.16]
10. The Silence / Down Down [0:02:59.60]
11. Herbie's People / So Fine [0:02:50.13]
12. The Connoisseurs / Make Up Your Mind [0:03:00.74]
13. The Silence / One More Chance [0:02:26.38]
14. Barney J Barnes And The Intro / It Must Be Love [0:02:28.18]
15. Glenda Collins / Run To Me [0:02:27.06]
16. The Uprooted / You’re Not There [0:02:35.36]
17. The Fadin' Colours / You’re No Use [0:02:46.68]
18. The Brood / You’re Just Another Girl [0:02:27.07]
19. The Flies / Just Won’t Do [0:01:59.68]
20. The Trendbender Band / I Can’t Stand The Pain [0:02:40.35]
21. Jeff Curtis And The Flames / Everybody Loves A Lover [0:02:23.17]
22. Earl Preston & The T.T.'s / Betty Jean [0:02:37.21]
23. The Mike Stuart Span / Follow Me [0:02:29.06]
24. Outer Limits / Any Day Now [0:03:36.49]
25. The Cordes / Carabella [0:03:07.59]
26. The Newtowns / Tomorrow [0:02:50.56]
27. The Bo-Weevils / I’m A Lover Not A Fighter [0:03:03.07]
28. The Xit / Time Will Tell On You [0:02:12.36]
29. Mike Forde & The Fortunes / Sweet Little Rhythm And Blues [0:02:25.18]
30. Rory Storm & The Hurricanes / Lend Me Your Comb [0:01:48.43]
