The Swinging Blue Jeans were Mersey group pioneers. The first popularity poll for Liverpool groups appeared in Mersey Beat in 1961. The Beatles were top, but as that magazine’s contributor, Liverpool’s top club DJ, Bob Wooler, pointed out, « I excluded The Swinging Blue Jeans (then known as The Bluegenes) as they were beyond comparison and in a class of their own ». The Swinging Blue Jeans were the epitome of the Mersey Beat sound and all that great group’s best recordings can be found here. As probably the best known band on Merseyside at the time, the group headlined at the Cavern club every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening. When that club decided to open on a sday, they were asked not only to appear but also to introduce guest groups. Among the acts they gave Cavern debuts to were Gerry & The Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and, in March 1961, The Beatles. This album includes all of their greatest hits and much more besides. Hits include The Hippy Hippy Shake, Good Golly Miss Molly, You’re No Good, Don’t Make Me Over as well as Shakin’ All Over, Tutti Fruiti, Lawdy Miss Clawdy and Save the Last Dance For Me.
