After famed Liverpool group The Merseybeats dissolved, front man Tony Crane and rhythm guitarist Billy Kinsley changed their name to the Merseys and released a string of successful singles.

“Sorrow” was the first, and a smash hit for the duo. It was originally released in 1965 by the McCoys, and was actually the second of three versions they would record, featuring some of the top UK session musicians of the time- Jimmy Page on guitar, John Paul Jones on bass, Jack Bruce on stand-up bass, and Clem Cattini on drums.
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David Bowie would also cover it years later and he wasn’t alone, as we hear George Harrison reference it at the end of the Beatles “It’s All Too Much”, which is one of my all-time favorite songs. 

Clarence Smith aka Sonny Rhodes was born in Smithville Texas in 1940 and started playing the guitar by the age of eight. He was a highly regarded session player for Junior Parker, Freddie King, and Albert Collins with a career that lasted over sixty years. After serving in the Navy, Sonny signed a contract with Galaxy Records and released several sides with them.

“You Better Stop” was recorded and released in October of 1967, and is a funky little number that not only showcases his ability as a songwriter and arranger, but as a capable lead vocalist.
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Sadly, we lost Mr. Rhodes in December, but before he passed, he left behind some wonderful music and an underrated legacy that should never be forgotten. ​

James was formed in 1982 in Manchester England. Their sound and style has changed over their forty year career, in which they scored four top ten singles and nine top ten albums in the UK alone. On this side of the Atlantic, they never achieved that same level of notoriety or acclaim, which they rightly deserved.
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“Just Like Fred Astaire” was released in October of 1999. It was produced by Brian Eno, and is a shimmery alternative rock ballad that celebrates the dizziness of new love. I adore the lyrics to this song, especially when you dig deep into them. I also can’t believe it’s been twenty three years since it was released. A lot has changed in the world since then, but not when you’re lucky enough to have fallen in love. 

As professional recording equipment has become more affordable over the years, the “bedroom” musician has been able to create sounds and songs that mainstream producers and record labels would dismiss.
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The glitter party is the moniker for multi-instrumentalist Sam Cohen, a young man from Toronto, Ontario. “endlessly” is a stand-alone single, and an upbeat take on shoegaze and psychedelia. I especially love the drifting, saturated near loop between 1:29 and 1:39.
 
For more information on Sam and his glitter party:
https://glitterparty.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwvn1vHc03olRidX6Ilfpxw