Gerry And The Pacemakers

  • Real Name: Gerry Marsden
  • Birth Date: 24th September 1942
  • Birth Place: Liverpool
  • Freddie Marsden
  • 23rd October 1940
  • Liverpool 
  •  Les Maguire
  • 27th December 1941
  • Wallasey
  • John Chadwick (Les)
  • 11th May 1943
  • Liverpool
  • The Marsdens and Les Chadwick first played skiffle together during the late 1950s. Like many of the Liverpool groups of their time they travelled to Hamburg and soon acquired the second 'Les', Maguire, on keyboards to complete the Pacemaker's classic line-up.They soon caught the attention of Brian Epstein and became the next group after the Beatles to join his 'stable'.
    The 1963 EP shown on the right (SEG8257) was Gerry & The Pacemaker's first on that format and was simply a coupling of their first two #1 hits. Despite this it sold relatively well and is among the easier EP releases by the group to find.
     Sleeve of SEG8257

    Gerry & co. had the best start of all the contemporary groups, reaching the #1 spot with all three of their first releases- an achievement that stood unequalled for over two decades until fellow-Scousers Frankie Goes To Hollywood managed the same feat (on significantly smaller sales) in 1984.. The group gradually moved its style from the upbeat and cheeky to slow and sentimental- and were loved for all of it. Their rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' became a football anthem, firstly by supporters of their own native Liverpool and then by those of England.

    The group lasted until 1967 after which Gerry started out as a solo performer. Although his presence disappeared from the chart he had by then become a loved performer and found work on the stage and TV. He returned to the public eye during 1987 when he was to lead a host of fellow musicians as the 'Crowd' in a re-make of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' in aid of those suffering after the fire at Bradford Football Club in 1985. Then, following the tragedy at the Hillsborough football ground in 1989 he remade 'Ferry Across the Mersey' with the same ideals in mind.

    Gerry and the Pacemakers reformed with increasing frequency over the years and can be found as regular performers on 1960s nostalgia concerts.

    1950s & 1960s 45rpm UK Discography

    • Listings include UK 45 singles releases only
    • See list below for EP releases
    • Collector's Items are shown In Red

    Columbia DB4987 1963 How Do You Do It/ Away From You #1
    Columbia DB7041 1963 I Like It/ It's happened To Me #1
    Columbia DB7126 1963 You'll Never Walk Alone/ It's All Right #1
    Columbia DB7189 1964 I'm The One/ You've Got What I Like #2
    Columbia DB7268 1964 Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying/ Show Me That You Care #6
    Columbia DB7353 1964 It's Gonna Be All Right/ It's Just Because #24
    Columbia DB7437 1964 Ferry Cross The Mersey/ You You You #8
    Columbia DB7504 1965 I'll Be There/ Baby, You're So good To Me #15
    Columbia DB7738 1965 Walk Hand In Hand/ Dreams #29
    Columbia DB7835 1966 La La La/ Without You  
    Columbia DB8044 1966 Girl On A Swing/ A Fool To Myself  

    EP Discography

    • Collector's Items are shown In Red
    • See Upper List For Singles releases

    Columbia SEG8257 1963 "How Do You Do It" #2
    How Do You Do It/ I Like It/ It's Happened To Me/Away From You
    Columbia SEG8295 1964 "You'll Never Walk Alone" #8
    You'll Never Walk Alone/Jambalaya/Chills/A Shot Of Rhythm & Blues
    Columbia SEG8311 1964 "I'm The One" #11
    I'm The One/You've Got What I Like/You Can't Foo Me/Don't You Ever
    Columbia SEG8346 1964 "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" #15
    Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying/Show Me That You Care/Summertime/Where Have You Been
    Columbia SEG8367 1964 "It's Gonna Be Alright"  
    It's Gonna Be Alright/It's Just Because/Maybelline/You're The Reason
    Columbia SEG8388 1965 "Gerry In California"  
    Skinny Lizzie/My Babe/Away From You/What'd I Say
    Columbia SEG8397 1965 "Ferry Cross The Mersey"  
    It's Gonns Be All Right/I'll Wait For You/Why Oh Why/Ferry Cross The Mersey
    Columbia SEG8426 1965 "Rip It Up"  
     


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