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| The Merseys-The Cat/Change of Heart U.K. Fontana TF 845 1967 |
The Merseys were a short lived U.K. duo comprised of former Merseybeats John Banks and Billy Kinsley. Formed upon the demise of The Merseybeats, The Merseys managed to do something the Merseybeats never did: break into the U.K. Top 10, in April 1966 their cover of The McCoy's "Sorrow" peaked at #4. Unfortunately they were destined to be a one hit wonder.
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| The Merseys with The Fruit Eating Bears photo c/o https://www.themerseybeats.co.uk/ |
"The Cat" was their fourth single of six in the U.K. on Fontana. It was my introduction to the band when my friend Keith Patterson put it on a legendary mix tape he made me in 1989. Penned by Tin Pin Alley duo Roger's Cook and Greenaway it's lyrically unimpressive but the band's vocals and musical backing are amazing (interestingly the band over accentuate their Liverpool accents). The backing music reminds me a lot of The Who circa 1966 (the band were briefly were managed by Lambert & Stamp). I'm especially taken by the blistering proto raga guitar solo by future Badfinger member Joey Molland, who was a member of the Mersey's backing group The Fruit Eating Bears (not to be confused with a punk band of the same name).
The flip "Change Of Heart" was written by Tony Crane. It has a ragtime type piano and a interesting trumpet solo and the whole thing reminds me of a throwaway Harry Nilsson track or a disposable Mike D'Abo era Manfreds tune, it's not unlistenable but nothing I would play twice.
In 2021 Grapefruit records issued a thorough two CD collection of all of The Merseybeats/Merseys tracks and subsequent spin off bands and includes both sides of this 45.
Hear "The Cat":
Hear "Change Of Heart":
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