Beryl Marsden

Our pick of the pops

British singer Beryl Marsden had a powerful voice and a taste for soulful American songs. Despite frequent billing as the “next big thing”, she never quite made it as a solo artist. She continues to record to this day.

She was born Beryl Hogg in the Toxteth district of Liverpool, on England’s north west coast, in June 1947.

At 14 she joined a local group called the Undertakers. However, when the group was invited to appear in Hamburg, the under-age singer got left behind.

She began singing at the famous Cavern Club and, when she was old enough, appeared at Hamburg’s Star Club. Upon her return, she headed for London and found a manager, Tony Stratton-Smith, who later managed a number of groups including Genesis.

He secured her a recording contract with the Decca label in 1963, where she released two singles.

The first was an excellent cover of Barbara George’s I know – retitled I know (you don’t love me nomore) – which was also recorded my Mersey girl Tiffany and 1950s star Alma Cogan. The follow up was a version of the Supremes’ When the lovelight starts shining thru' his eyes. Sadly, neither of these releases was a hit.

In 1965 she switched to the Columbia label. Her

first two singles on the new label are both more

notable for their B-sides.

The first, Who you gonna hurt?, released in

October that year, had the great girl

group-styled Gonna make him my baby on

the reverse.

The second, issued shortly afterwards, was

Music talk, the B-side of which was

Break-a-way (a cover of an Irma Thomas

track, also a UK hit for actress/comedienne

Tracey Ullman in the 1980s), which was

produced by Ivor Raymonde, the man

behind many of Dusty Springfield’s hits.

Her final solo single, the Mod favourite

What’s she got, was issued in April 1966.

When none of these releases attracted the attention of record buyers, she did stints with Rod Stewart’s Shotgun Express and the girl group She Trinity. She also formed her own band, Gambler, and later the Beryl Marsden Band.