The annual poll results from the "Mersey Beat" newspaper
Bill Harry began publishing "Mersey Beat" in July 1961. The aim was to keep the youth of Liverpool informed about developments in the city's burgeoning music scene. Among the papers' contributors was one John Lennon who wrote a column under the name "Beachcomber". At the end of each year Harry ran a poll to test the popularity of the groups playing the many local clubs. These are results of those polls which are re-produced here with his kind permission.
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1961 |
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1. The Beatles |
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2. Gerry & The Pacemakers |
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3. The Remo Four |
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4. Rory Storm & The Hurricanes |
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5. Johnny Sandon & The Searchers |
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6. Kingsize Taylor & The Dominoes |
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7. The Big Three |
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8. The Strangers |
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9. Faron's Flamingos |
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10. The Four Jays |
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11. Ian & The Zodiacs |
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12. The Undertakers |
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13. Earl Preston & The TTs |
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14. Mark Peters & The Cyclones |
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15. Karl Terry & The Cruisers |
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16. Derry & The Seniors |
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17. Steve Bennett & The Syndicate |
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18. Dee Fenton & The Silhouettes |
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19. Billy Kramer & The Coasters |
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20. Dale Roberts & The Jaywalkers |
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1962 |
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1. The Beatles |
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2. Lee Curtis & The All Stars |
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3. The Big Three |
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4. Billy Kramer & The Coasters |
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5. The Undertakers |
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6. The Fourmost |
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7. Gerry & The Pacemakers |
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8. Johnny Sandon & The Remo Four |
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9. Vic & The Spidermen |
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10. The Merseybeats |
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11. The Swinging Blue Genes |
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12. The Strangers |
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13. Group One |
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14. Ian & The Zodiacs |
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15. Pete MacLaine & The Dakotas |
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16. The Dennisons |
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17. Gus Travis & The Midnighters |
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18. Mark Peters & The Cyclones |
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19. Rory Storm & The Hurricanes |
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20. Johnny Templer & The Hi Cats |
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1963 |
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1. The Beatles |
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2. Gerry & The Pacemakers |
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3. The Dennisons |
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4. The Merseybeats |
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5. The Searchers |
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6. The Fourmost |
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7. The Mojos |
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8. Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas |
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9. The Escorts |
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10. The Undertakers |
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11. Vic & The Spidermen |
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12. The Remo Four |
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13. Earl Preston & The TTs |
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14. The Swinging Blue Jeans |
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15. The Chants |
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16. Ian & The Zodiacs |
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17. Sonny Webb & The Cascades |
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18. Rory Storm & The Hurricanes |
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19. The Roadrunners |
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20. Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen |
© Bill Harry, printed with permission.