The Dennisons

The Dennisons where another very popular group who many thought would make it to the top, they made such an impact at the Cavern, DJ Bob Wooler said ‘they’ve created the biggest impression on Merseyside since The Beatles’. Record companies heard they were drawing crowds in Liverpool like The Beatles used to do and Decca rushed up to sign them releasing their debut record in July 1963,
‘(Come On) Be My Girl’, a song they had written themselves. This was followed up with their version of the Rufus Thomas song ‘Walkin’ The Dog’, the ‘B’ side, another self-penned song, ‘You Don’t Know What Love Is’ was written for them by Ben E King while they where touring with him and reached number 36 in the charts. Their final single ‘Nobody Like My Babe’, was released in November 1964 and although it was very commercial, it didn’t enter the charts. The group disbanded in 1966, Clive Hornby became an actor could be seen most weeks in the British television soap ‘Emmerdale’, playing the part of Jack Sugden until his untimely death.
The Dennisons were just one fabulous band. They looked right; they had all the right gear (Gibson 335s and Vox AC30s) and boy could they play. Very close in popularity in Liverpool to the Beatles, they were loud and brash. They had a great lead singer in Eddie Parry who had all the attributes to attract the ladies.
In Ray Scragg they had voice straight out of the Deep South of the USA and in Steve McLaren one of the best guitarists in Liverpool, perhaps getting close to skills of Colin Manley of the Remo 4. I had the pleasure of playing on the same bill as them on a number of occasions mainly at the OPB.
“The Dennisons have created the biggest impact in Liverpool since the Beatles," said the Cavern Club DJ Bob Wooler in 1963. Recording for Decca, the label which had turned down the Beatles, the Dennisons scored some minor hits, but by 1965 their potential had faded.
Here is "(Come on) Be My Girl" On Decca F 11691 From 1963 Enjoy.