BILLY J. KRAMER WITH THE DAKOTAS/LITTLE CHILDREN LP-9267 (-64) US MONO

Merseybeat combo handeled by Brian Epstein and George Martin during the early Beatles boom. Today most known for recording Lennon/McCartney songs, covers and ones written especially for them. As part of the "british invasion" they enjoyed a two year success in US 1964-65 with six songs on Billboard 100, where of two top ten. The UK market embraced them harder resulting in two #1 - "Bad To Me" and "Little Children" - besides four more top twelve. Their last list entry being the Burt Bacharach composition "Trains and Boats and Planes" 1965 (UK #12/US#47). They only released one original UK studio album - the fourteen track "Listen" 1963 (Parlophone PMC 1209) - which according to UK EMI regulations didn't include any single cuts. This US twelve track version does. With seven tracks in common it also has "Little Children", "They Remind Me Of You" and three Lennon/McCartney compositions - "Do You Wanna Know A Secret", "Bad To Me" and "I'll Keep You Satisfied". I didn't bought them at the time. Most fun then was to hear "Beatles" stuff you couldn't get anywhere else. Listening today I like the garage feeling and early sixties atmosphere. "Great Balls Of Fire" cover is good and the Lennon-McCartney songs welcome in any shape, but to me most important for reminiscing and the historical value. First US with label as shown here and glossy cover. (YZÄ*) (ÖXCÅ*)