This is yet another album I added the other night on the adding spree I went on, and I can honestly say I don’t know anything about nor have I ever heard of Liverpool Five. That being said, a quick google search tells me that they were a beat group from the mid 1960s originating in England. During the 1960s they played shows with musicians and bands like Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, and The Byrds. There isn’t a whole lot about the band on Wikipedia at least. I guess with that, I’ll jump on into the music.
“Any Way That You Want Me” has a super interesting feel it right at the start, it’s reminiscent of the classic doo-wop groups, but it feels a little slower, with a definite classic rock and roll feel. Wow, I’m super digging this track right now. The sound of the organ mixed with the background vocals creates a really unique sound. The chorus reminds me a lot of The Beatles’ version of the classic Isley Brothers song, “Twist and Shout”.
“My Generation” is a super slick cover of The Who song – I’m super digging this one. It reminds me a bit of the Count Five’s cover of the same song, with its garage rock sort of feel, but this one has a little bit more of a cool, laid back approach to it. That bass guitar is super tasty, wow. And then that electric guitar part, wow. This cover is super awesome, I’m really digging the Liverpool Five right now. The main vocals are super cool in their approach. Great tune.
“Picadilly Line” has a really energetic, sort of early punk, garage rock feel to it. The playing sounds so sure of itself, if that makes sense. The way the drums sort of continue pumping the song forward, while the electric organ really lays into the track, and the bass guitar sort of acts as the connective tissue really makes the song sound super awesome. I’m really digging this song.
“I Can Only Give You Everything” starts out with a really great sounding electric guitar playing a reliable lick that the song sort of sits on. The keys really add a great little flavor to it. The song almost sounds like it’s teasing The Rolling Stones’ 1965 song, “I Can’t Get No (Satisfaction)”, which funnily enough really creates a lot of tension in my mind as I’m listening, since I’m really expecting Mick Jagger to come through with the lyrics to that song. It’s both bothersome, and supremely awesome at the same time – really sweet tune.
“Baby, Out of Sight” has almost a dream-like feel to it with the soft approach from all the instruments in this one. The song feels like it is about to crescendo, only for the song to sort of start again with another verse. I love the way the band seems to play with expectations for how a song might typically go, because I’m really digging this one.
“Gotta Get a Move On” brings that garage rock feel back to the mix with that raw electric guitar sound and the way the lyrics are arranged in the track. That bass guitar tone is so tasty. Oh wow, I’m really digging this little instrumental break with the clapping and the electric guitar. The drums have such a raw sound to them as well. It’s almost like a pseudo-surf rock feel to it as well.
“She’s (Got Plenty of Love)” has a really serene sound to it with the instrumentation in this one. Wow, the vocals almost fade in and out of itself, and really reminds me a bit of The Beach Boys. I’m really digging this galloping feel to the drums and bass in this one.
“Do You Believe” has like an almost psychedelic western wandering cowboy feel to it. The vocals don’t really have words at the moment, but sort of add to the soundscape in a mystical way. Wow, the piano adds a really sweet flavor to it. Wow, this song really adds a lot of range to the album in terms of genre. I’m super into this one. There are actual words to the vocals after a certain point, but that psychedelic western wandering cowboy feel remains the whole time. Awesome song.
“The Snake” picks up a bit where that journey from the previous song left off in some sort of psychedelic desert western vibe. The song feels like it’s picking up momentum and not letting up. Oh wow, I’m really digging this song with how it’s playing with momentum and tension. I’m almost reminded of Jim Morrison and The Doors with this song a bit, with the dark vibes, the organs, and the shouting and unique vocal lines.
“I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man” is a great sounding Liverpool Five version of the blues standard. There’s like a strange, garage rock, psychedelic, surf rock, almost L.A. style rock feel to this one. I’m absolutely digging the flavor of this one. Oh wow, that electric guitar in the instrumental break has such great flavor to it, and really feels like it resolves some tension built up throughout the album, but definitely doesn’t stop for anything. That swirling organ, the bopping bass, the driving drums, and those guttural vocals, plus that tasty guitar riff really brings this song to life in a unique way that does justice to the song, in my opinion. Definitely a really sweet track.
“Get Away” feels like a garage rock, surf rock sort of jam piece for the band. I’m really digging the maracas on one side of the mix with that pulsating snare on the other side. Oh wow, that guitar is super tasty. I’m really liking the way that bass is both centered and feels like it’s on top of the mix at the same time. The vocals sound like they’re giving a nice send off to the album. Really neat track to end the album.
Wow, I can’t believe I hadn’t really heard of Liverpool Five before. The group broke up in 1968, but these songs are really awesome. Fans of late 60s rock, garage rock, psychedelic rock, and even a little surf rock (though I don’t think the music is necessarily surf rock, only that is has some flavors of it), will probably enjoy this one the most, though music fans of other types should give this one a listen, as it’s quite digestible in both music and duration. If you do decide to give this one a listen, I hope that you enjoy it at least as much as I did.
-A