Now Yearbook Presents The 1960s Volume 2: 1963-1964

(Sony Music/EMI)

If anyone had thoughts that the compilation album market was not alive and kicking, then the huge success of the Now series should make them think otherwise. The ideas behind the compilations never seem to abate, and while there is still demand, the series will continue to thrive.

This latest 4 CD and vinyl issue concentrates on two years when British pop music was starting to become an entity in its own right as opposed to a pale imitation of what music-wise was coming out of America.

Here, tracks from Gerry & the Pacemakers, The Searchers, The Merseybeats, Billy J Kramer, and Cilla Black effectively represent the Merseybeat genre. The notable exception missing here is The Beatles, who have always been very selective about appearing on compilation albums.

With such a big time span since the tracks were originally released, there are many that sound dated and, in a lyrical sense, rather twee – whilst others have aged better.

The names contained in this comprehensive compilation read like a who’s who of early sixties pop from the likes of Shirley Bassey, Elvis Presley, Marvin Gaye, Roy Orbison and The Supremes, amongst others.

The durability of the acts means that a few are still touring now, such as Sheffield-born Dave Berry, Manfred Mann as The Manfreds and The Drifters.

For anyone who needs a good musical education on where pop music found its own ground or anyone wishing to remember a period that was the beginning of many a musical career, this compilation is a good example.