I first heard the Liverpool Scene, when they did poetry readings for John Peel on his weekly show on BFBS in Germany in 1968. They still are one of my favorite bands and in my view one of the best bands rock has ever seen.

In the late 60s/early 70s there were a number of recordings available under the generic title of The Liverpool Scene. Key members were: Adrian Henry, Andy Roberts, Mike Hart and Mike Evans.

The Liverpool Scene was the title of a poetry book in 1967, published in London and bringing to the public the works of Roger McGough, Brian Patten and Adrian Henry (nowadays better known as an artist).
These three poets had gathered a growing following in the early 60's by often reading their poems in places like Steates Coffee Bar, O'Connors' Tavern and the Everyman Theatre. When the nation got aware of the existence of Liverpool (by way of the Beatles) these poets started to sell their books in growing piles, especially since the aformentioned book was released with an LP. Allen Ginsberg had said, the Scene was the conscious center of the human universe.

The record became the link to pop. Much of this new poetry was influenced by popsongs and therefore it was a logical step, when the poets joined the musicians.
The first to do this was Roger McGough along with Scaffold. Next step was a penguin book (The Mersey Sound) featuring Henri, McGough and Patten. Roger McGough saw it this way:The kids didn't see this poetry with a capital p, they understood it as modern entertainment, as part of the pop-movement.

During the summer of love 1967 the nucleus of Liverpool Scene was Mike Evans (sax - formerly with the Clayton Squares), Mike Hart (g), who were without regular bands, Adrian Henry (voc.), who gave lessons at an art school, Brian Patten ( voc) and Andy Roberts (g), another member of the Clayton Squares. They lived just above O'Connor's Tavern, where they held their regular Tuesday-sessions. After an increasing importance of they were joined by Percy Jones (bs) and Brian Dodson (dr).

Liverpool dj John Peel (then with pirate radio station Radio London), became aware of the Liverpool Scene and started to support them. He produced the first LP in 1968, which didn't sell very well despite the promotion through John Peel.
Mike Hart left after this album and started a solo career. In the summer of 1969, during a tour where they opened for Led Zeppelin, they lost Brian Dodson, who had to go to hospital because of tuberculosis. Although they found another good drumer with Pete Clark (formerly Escorts), the inner chemistry of the group was disturbed.

The second LP, still done with Dodson, had the same fate as the first. By the end of 1969 the band went to the USA, but the tour was a financial disaster. They used their impressions of the USA by doing the 3rd lp, called St. Adrian & Co., Broadway and 3rd. The pressure of one night stands and financial problems brought the band to a halt. Now ever often individuals of the band did their own thing.

In summer 1970 Mike Evans and Percy Jones left the Scene, to set up the jazz-rock-band Highly Inflammable. This was the end of Liverpool Scene. Adrian Henri went solo too, joined by Andy Roberts every now and then. With the retreat from the rock circuit they lost contact with the other musicians and with the audience as well. Poetry was written with a capital p again.

In 1972 there was a serious attempt to create something similar with the new band GRIMMS (Gorman-Roberts-Innes-McGough-McGear). Liverpool Scene recorded at least 4 albums. I have 4 of them, the ones I have are:

Discography:

Re-release: Amazing adventures/Bread on the night on: www.bgo-records.com

Incredible New Liverpool Scene Songs: Knees Down Mother Brown I Say, I Say, I Say For You Everything's Going To Be Alright My Johny Joined the Army Let Me Die a Young Man's Death The New >Oir Times< (poem) Adrian Henrišs Talking After Christmas Blues Don't Worry Everything's Going To Be Alright Classroom Blues Tonight at Noon Love Is In the Midnight Hour The Day Before Yesterday Mother Theres a Strange Man At Linchtime: A Story of Love Mrs. Albion You:ve Got a Lovley Daughter Car Crash Blues Adrian Henrišs Last Will and Testiment

Amazing Adventures of Songs: Tramcar To Frankenstein Che Guevara Gliders and Parks Burdock River Run Che Guevara Universes Batpoem Che Guevara Percy Parslow`s hamster farm Happy Burial Blues Palms Che Guevara Love Story RCA Victor LSP-4189 Produced by John Peel Copyright 1969 Line Up: Andy Roberts, Vocal Guitar Adrian Henri, Poet Mike Evans, Vocal, Guitar Mike Hart, Vocal, Guitar Percy Jones, Bass Brian Dodson, Drums Material is written by various group members, mainly Adrian Henri

Bread on the night RCA Victor SF 8057 Songs: The day we danced at the dole The Raven GBS Blues The entry of Christ into Liverpool 64 Come into the perfumed garden Maud See the conkering heroine comes Winter poem I've got those Fleetwood Mac Chicken Shack John Mayall can't fail blues Copyright 1969 Line Up: Adrian Henri Vocals Andy Roberts Voc, guitars, accordion, harmonica, penny whistle Mike Evans Vocals, tenor, alto Brian Dodson Drums Percy Jones Bass, harmonica Material is mainly written by Mike, Adrian and Andy.

St. Adrian & Co., Broadway and 3rd Songs: Made in UA Human tapeworm Night song Bomb commercials Colours Baby RCA SF8100 Copyright 1970 Line Up: Andy Roberts, Vocal Guitar Adrian Henri, Poet Mike Evans, Vocal, Guitar Pete Clarke, Drums Material is written by various group members, mainly Adrian Henri Side 2 was recorded live at the Airport Lounge, University of Warwickon October 1, 1970

• PLUS:
• Heirloon, RCA SF8134, 1970
  The Official post break-up 'Best of' album, comprising of material already recorded and in the archive. Contains Adrian's beautiful poem 'Love is'.
• Recollections, Charisma CS3, 1972
  'Recollections' was a later 'Best - of' album on Charisma.
• The Liverpool Scene featuring Adrian Henri & Andy Roberts, Polydor 2310055, 1972
  A 'Best - of' featuring some of the best of the Liverpool Scene and a couple of Andy's solo songs.

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