Best Of Gerry & The Pacemakers: The Definitive Collection CD

Digitally remastered by Mike Jarratt (February 1991, Abbey Road Studios, London, England).

This collection remains the best compilation of Gerry & the Pacemakers material that one can buy domestically in the United States, and far and away is the easiest good one to find. All of the U.S. chart hits are here, along with many of their better album cuts and B-sides, from "How Do You Do It" to "Girl on a Swing," all in excellent sound (this disc was originally prepared by Capitol Records for release on its own imprint, and then licensed to Collectables), and the notes are also quite thorough. There is only one problem with this disc, and that concerns its focus on their American release history. As their music was issued in the United States, Gerry & the Pacemakers represented the cheerful, upbeat, pop side of the Liverpool scene, and the material featured here all fits that definition. The band did have a harder, somewhat more soulful sound, however, and serious fans are advised to look beyond this disc, to See For Miles Records' British CD The EP Collection -- not only are most of the major hits (at least, for the U.K.) represented there as well, but a lot of their harder rocking sides, including "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues" and all of their live EP Gerry In California, are also present. Material that scarcely ever got heard on this side of the Atlantic. Ideally, one would own them both to get a full picture of the group's range. ~ Bruce Eder

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England and Capitol Recording Studios, New York between 1963 & 1966. Includes liner notes and discography by Steve Kolanjian and track annotations by Jeff Seckler.

Full Title: The Best Of Gerry & The Pacemakers - The Definitive Collection.

Gerry And The Pacemakers: Gerry Marsden (vocals, guitar); Leslie Maguire (piano); Les Chadwick (bass); Freddy Marsden (drums).

Producers: George Martin, Ron Richards.

Compilation producer: Ron Furmanek.

Liner Note Author: Steve Kolanjian.

Recording information: Capitol Recording Studios, New York, NY (01/22/1963-08/31/1966); EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England (01/22/1963-08/31/1966).