Merseybeast

Merseybeast is an album by Ian McNabb, his third as a solo artist. The name is a play on "Merseybeat", a 1960s musical genre and movement. Merseybeast is also the title of Ian McNabb's autobiography, published in 2008. A second CD entitled North West Coast was also released in limited quantities.^[2] The album peaked at No. 30 on the official UK charts.^[3]

Merseybeast
Studio album by Ian McNabb
Released	19 April 1996
Recorded	1996
Venue	King's College, London
Studio	Rockfield Studios; Swanyard Studios, Islington, London; Parr Street Studios, Liverpool
Genre	Pop rock[1]
Length	69:27
Label	This Way Up
Producer	Robert Ian McNabb, Bruce Lampcov, Pete Schwier
Ian McNabb chronology
Head Like a Rock (1994) Merseybeast (1996) A Party Political Broadcast on Behalf of the Emotional Party (1998)
Singles from Merseybeast
"Don't Put Your Spell on Me" Released: April 1996 "Merseybeast" Released: May 1996

Critical reception

Roch Parisien of Allmusic praised McNabb's "open, wide-eyed innocence" on the album, remarking that the sentiments expressed in the songs defy the conventions of rock music, and that his sincerity makes them work. The site gave Merseybeast a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5.^[1]

Track listings

All tracks composed by Ian McNabb, except where indicated.

1. "Merseybeast" (6:44)
2. "Affirmation" (3:33)
3. "Beautiful Old Mystery" (4:10)
4. "Love's Young Dream" (4:33)
5. "Camaraderie" (4:17)
6. "Don't Put Your Spell on Me" (5:38)
7. "Heydays" (5:45)
8. "Little Bit of Magic" (4:54)
9. "You Stone My Soul" (6:16)
10. "Too Close to the Sun" (3:47)
11. "They Settled for Less Than They Wanted" (7:20)
12. "I'm a Genius" (4:19)
13. "Available Light" (6:20)
14. "Merseybeast (reprise)" (1:51)

North West Coast (Live bonus CD)

1. "What She Did to My Mind" (7:26)
2. "Evangeline" (6:29)
3. "I Don't Want to Talk About It" (Danny Whitten) (6:15)
4. "When It All Comes Down" (8:18)
5. "Understanding Jane" (4:08)
6. "Pushin' Too Hard" (Sky Saxon) (7:16)

Personnel

• Ian McNabb - vocals, guitar, Moog synthesizer, piano, bass, harmonica, autoharp
• Russell Milton - bass
• Don Richardson - double bass
• Henry Priestman - Hammond B3 organ, backing vocals
• Daniel Strittmatter - drums
• Preston Heyman - percussion
• Andrew Findon - flute
• Nick Warren - programming
• Craig Leon - conductor, strings
• Cassell Webb - conductor, strings
• Billy Talbot - bass. backing vocals on North West Coast
• Ralph Molina - drums, backing vocals on North West Coast
• Nick Warren - keyboards on North West Coast
• Mike Hamilton - rhythm guitar, backing vocals on North West Coast

Sources

1. "Merseybeast - Ian McNabb - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
2. "Ian McNabb". Merseybeasts. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 341. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.