At the outset of Beatlemania in July 1963, the tiny U.K. Oriole label went to Liverpool with a mobile sound unit to record unsigned local beat groups for a pair of compilation LPs (combined onto this reissue). Only a couple of them (the Nomads, who soon became The Mojos, and the Merseybeats) achieved any British hits. A full 24 of these 28 tunes are covers of U.S. R&B/rock/pop standards. In comparison to the originals they sound pale -- the vocals are often especially twee -- and the four originals are derivative and unexceptional, a bit cloddish even. This comp illustrates that The Beatles were more a unique product of the Mersey sound than a representative one.