THE LORDS/IN BLACK AND WHITE IN BEAT AND SWEET SMC 83859 (-65) GERMANY

 German beat band from Berlin, first existing between 1959-71, later reunited several times from 1976 up to today. Started as a skiffle group, but after Beatlemania took off they turned to beat, won the "Berliner Beatles" competition and was later named "Germany's Beat Band No. 1". Continuing as a great domestic success they had eleven hits on the West German pop chart and also became the first western band allowed to perform in the Eastern Bloc, playing for a public of  25.000 in Warsaw 1967. This was their debute LP. I hear a well played cover album doing common rock standards - a couple sung in German, the rest in English. The performance always tight, though some of it almost sounds parodic, like they're doing it with a wink rather than resolute. Guess they had fun doing it and it actually brings something extra for this guy used to listening to dead serious versions of those songs. Maybe not one for daily listening, yet a welcome variation to the collection. Favorite track - "Shakin' All Over". This was German only. Vinyl reissue 1967 as "Deutchlands Beatband Nr. 1" on Die Volksplatte (SMVP 6102) with different sleeve design. 2010 CD on Bear Family Records (BCD 17127) came with four mono mixes and one live take as bonus tracks. First release had label as shown here in a thin laminated cover. (GÖXÄ*)