More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: The Merseybeats "Don't Turn Around"

 

THE MERSEYBEATS-Don't Turn Around/Really Mystified U.S. Fontana S-1905 1964 

The Merseybeats were one of the slew of Liverpool bands signed in 1963 when A&R men descended on the city in the wake of "Merseybeat" and signed anyone with a guitar who could carry a tune, fortunately The Merseybeats were incredibly talented. Though they flirted with the U.K. charts (seven of their eight singles were in U.K. top forty, only one in the top ten) their popularity was never enough to overcome The Searchers or any of Brian Epstein's acts chart wise. They had a selection of their eight U.K. singles released in America (five) and this was their second U.S. release in June of 1964 ( in the U.K. it was their third issued as Fontana TF 459 in April, 1964 where it rose to #13, their second highest scoring British single). 

"Don't Turn Around" marked the debut recording with their new bass player/vocalist Johnny Gus (Gustafson),  recently of Liverpool's The Big Three, replacing the outgoing Billy Kinsley. Johnny Gus who was also a very competent vocalist and shared lead vocals with front man Tony Crane as well as lead vocals on many tracks. Like many of the Merseybeat's selections "Don't Turn Around" epitomizes the genre of the "beat ballad". Lead vocalist Tony Crane and Johnny Gus confidently croon over a gentle backing of bass, drums, acoustic guitar and some very Rachmainoff piano trills, the acoustic guitar lick is quite catchy and to me the number really works. Side A is "the ballad"...

On Side B we have "the beat"... "Really Mystified" was penned by Crane and Gustafson and in my estimation it is one of their best tracks. It's an upbeat catchy little beat ditty that almost sounds at times like it's a cover of an American r&b number that's sped up (the hand claps and melody especially).  As with the A side the vocals are a duet between Crane and Gustafson. It's easily their most rocking track of the Crane/Gustafson era.

Both tracks were part of Edsel records essential 1982 compilation LP "Beat & Ballads" as well as the more recent and thoroughly comprehensive 2021 Grapefruit two CD collection "I Stand Accused" which collected everything the band and it's members recorded in the 60's. 

Hear "Don't Turn Around":

https://youtu.be/RvEB7-vP4zg?si=T-RqxXEx-yDrxmKJ

See and hear the band do "Don't Turn Around" live at the 1964 NME Pollwinners Concert:

https://youtu.be/aWNLDOfPcrY?si=UKHhkN2Vn5mfHhrW

Hear "Really Mystified":

https://youtu.be/ezEhvWVtDbc?si=unKq7oPOSR6hPWyu