mercy! sound!! uk!!! 1964-1969!!!!

THE UNKNOWN SIDE OF UNITED KROSSDOME : UK XIAN BEAT EXORCIZING PLASTIC UNAVAILABLE - GET SAVED OR GET LOST!!

Something completely new and different after hundreds of compilations dealing with UK 60s beat? Yes! (And no...) While lots of nuggets from R&B via Merseybeat to psych excursions can be found on the way to Golgatha, the UK xian beat scene has been widely neglected, or at least ignored. But soon as we had compiled what we thaught to be the cream of the heavenly crop, we had to find out, that our friend Michael Vee had done a wonderful job in this field over at his „60s (mostly) uncompiled“ blog, called „the xian syde“ more than 2 years ago. You'll find this fine „companion“ comp at 60s (mostly) uncomped. To avoid more than the absolutely inevitable doublettes, we kept on digging deeper, and it was worth our while, and yours too, I guess. This one rocks, and where it doesn't, it rolls away the Stones...

They don't call me the lolly pope for nothing, but often there's not more than the mere facts of the recordings handed down (see the attached covers), and some of these, like The Pilgrims, haven't been released back then, but only showed up on private CDs much later. Infallibility doesn't necessarily mean omnisience, and some of the groups have their own sites meanwhile (google yourself!).

Here's just a bit of what I found out on this crusade: London's church punks The Pilgrims, who later mutated to xian prog band Out Of Darkness, had a 7“, but the best stuff was released on a CD called „Telling Youth The Truth“ some years ago.

Liverpool's Witnesses only released an EP on Herald, but all 4 songs are worth a listen.

Merseyside comrades The Crossbeats recorded 2 singles and an LP for Pilgrim Rec., and on „Changes“ they sound like re-modelling The Roulettes' „Bad Time“ with Ringo on vocals. The Joystrings were the Salvation Army's pride, and had at least 2 LPs and a lot of 45s. The Gospelfolk from Scotland released a garage album of some sorts on Emblem called „Prodigal“, with some songs too wild for inclusion on a „beat“-comp. (See previous entry on spurensicherung for another of their hits. But they had weirder stuff...) The Strangers are the earliest here with an extract from the world's first rock opera „A Man Dies“ (64). The Living Stones' LP „Jesus Music“ was released at late as 74, but sounds like recorded in the late 60s. Like, say, VU jamming with Quintessence. (This band shouldn't be confused with the German xian band of the same name, who recorded the classic „Christen und Heiden“ („Christians and Heathens“) among others.) The all black Overcomers from London (via Kingston, probably) sound like God's own Equals with a bit of ska thrown in for good measure on this EP, the very first release of the Key label. All Things New's only recordings appeared on the xian compilation „Alive“ (Key, 69), the LP that already delivered 2 songs by The Whispers Of Truth to the legacy of Brit psych. (see Syde Tryps Vol.1)

The Advocates' bubblegum R&B comes from the debut EP (72) and is the second contribution here that was released in the 70s. The Liverpool Raiders sound like Jonathan Richman fronting The Bonzos on this sole EP on Tower CLM. But draw your own conclusions... There's a lot to discover. While words (and even music) sometimes come close to the most hilarious and freaky moments of Prae-Kraut Pandaemonium, this is vintage British beat of the 60s. Rhythm in religion! Who said the devil's got ALL the good music?!? ( Well, me probably, but there's pie in the sky too, so get your fingers sticky now, if you dare.)

1: THE PILGRIMS – Thank You Lord

2: THE WITNESSES – The Winning Side

3: THE CROSSBEATS – I Know

4: THE OVERCOMERS – If You're Saved

5: THE ENVOYS – Door

6: THE PEACEMAKERS – Millionaire

7: THE JOYSTRINGS – No Time To Lose

8: THE GOSPELFOLK – Be In Time

9: THE PILGRIMS – Hey You

10:THE PEBBLES – He Knows The Way

11:THE STRANGERS with RICKY FORDE – Just Look At Him

12:THE LIVING STONES – Forever To Stay

13:THE SHARONS – You Must Believe Me

14:THE JOYSTRINGS – Love That's All Around

15:THE PEACEMAKERS – Power

16:THE MESSENGERS OF THE CROSS – This Concerns You

17:THE CROSSBEATS – Change

18:THE WITNESSES – Why

19:THE OVERCOMERS – By The Door

20:ALL THINGS NEW – Jesus Is Coming Again

21:THE ENVOYS – Danger

22:THE COBBLERS – Not A Chance

23:THE PILGRIMS – There's Someone In Your Life

24:THE CHORDIALS – Dreams

25:THE ADVOCATES – Jumping Jeremiah

26:WHISPERS OF TRUTH – Ode To Arnold

27:THE LIVERPOOL RAIDERS – Lord And Giver Of Life

mercy!sound!!
(mp3 / art and liners included / direct download)