Album of the Day

Managed by Brian Epstein and produced by George Martin, Liverpool band Gerry & the Pacemakers shared a lot with The Beatles in the early 1960s, with chart success rivaling that of the Fabs; the first three Pacemaker singles (“How Do You Do It?,” “I Like It” and “You'll Never Walk Alone”) each went to No.1 in the U.K. Though the band's glory days were brief – they broke up in 1966 – Gerry & the Pacemakers were among the most upbeat and appealing of the British Invasion, as THE EMI YEARS – THE BEST OF makes abundantly clear. Along with the aforementioned hits, the 31 tracks include U.S. Top 10s “Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying” and “Ferry 'Cross The Mersey” along with plenty of buoyant pop and punchy rockers. Pacemakers leader Gerry Marsden was born on this day in 1942, and we'll wish him a happy birthday with the outstanding THE EMI YEARS – THE BEST OF collection.