There's some strange releases coming out of EMI these days. And this is another - a beautifully put together 4 CD set chronicling Gerry's heady days with EMI in the early 1960s when Liverpool was the centre of the music world and Gerry temporarily wore the crown before the Fab 4 left him floundering in the bow wave of the Ferry Cross the Mersey.

But there was a time when Gerry was King and this set of over 120 tracks captures just about every single note of it including unreleased recordings, alternate mixes and the legendary October 1964 gig at the Oakland Auditorium in the States.

Complete with a lavish booklet and enough facts to choke a donkey, this really is all the Gerry and The Pacemakers you'll ever need, and more. The re-mastered sound is wonderful and all those hits you remember so well - How Do You Do It, I Like It, You'll Never Walk Alone - sound as fresh as daisies.

Released to coincide with a 60-date UK tour, this is the perfect companion purchase to a ticket. If only all retrospectives were put together this lovingly.

****

Review by Pete Whalley