Right, well, I might as well say this: I had no idea that there was another band - back in time or in another country - that had the exact same name as (the) Scorpions re: the powerhaus German rock band!

And yet there are two (2) other bands!

The only difference being that both the others add 'The' on front of their names whereas the latter just goes by Scorpions! Confused, well, if you listen to all sets of music from the bands back to back you'll certainly not be for very long, trust me!

So, as we're talking about the band from Manchester who made it big in the early 1960's in the UK here today - and not even the London-based outfit The Scorpions either - let's continue in that vein, shall we. The Scorpions were a 60's British beat group, originally from Manchester in England, that became popular notably in the Netherlands. Their most chartworthy moment came with a song actually written by Fats Domino, 'Hello Josephine.'

The band actually started at the beginning of 1961 and consisted of lead singer Peter Lewis, lead guitarist Tony Postill, his cousin Rodney on rhythm guitar, bass player Tony Briley and Mike Delaney on drums.

Although the band wasn't known in Manchester, they played in the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool. They didn't release records in the UK. Just like many other British bands, The Scorpions tried their luck on the continent. Not in Germany or France, but in The Netherlands, where the market chances for the band were bigger. And it worked for them too!

After a false start on their first two released signle, the third, 'Hello Josephine' became a hit. Indeed, it was their own version of Fats Domino's 'My Girl Josephine' that proved so successful that Briley stepped out and Terry Morton became lead guitarist. Funnily enough, Postill then switched to bass guitar and cousin Postill went on to rhythm guitar. Subsequently 'Hello Josephine' became a huge hit in the Netherlands and reached the #1 position in the Netherlands Top 40 of Radio Veronica.

Sadly, a rough time trying to find a follow-up single fell upon the band, and although the ballad 'Ann Louise' sold well, it could not compete with the success of 'Hello Josephine.' And as much as the band did release many a song in both Holland and the UK over the next feew years, it's always 'Hello Josephine' that everyone remembers the best.

And so Cherry Red Records have put together this incredible 30 song double CD of all their hits and more. Indeed, this new compilation assembles the cream of their prolific output for Dutch label CNR between 1964-66.

It includes such notable tracks as ‘Balla, Balla,' ‘Greensleeves,' ‘Bye Bye Johnny,' ‘Johnny B’ Goode,' ‘So Mystifying,' ‘What Did I Say,' ‘Sweet And Lovely’ and even ‘Mojo.’

In tying this all up with a neat bow, in Spring 2011 the band worked hard on the latest The Scorpions album, The End of the Tail. Released in June 2011 it contained 20 songs, including some songs with their Dutch guest musicians, Ruud Wegman (a blues harmonica player) and Ben Brekelmans on bass guitar.

This newly-released double CD has been lovingly put together with the help of the surviving members of The Scorpions. It also includes rare photos alongside new interviews with them for the sleeve-notes.

The complete tracklisting is as follows:

1. HELLO JOSEPHINE
2. BABY BACK NOW
3. MY BABE
4. HEY HONEY
5. THE NANA SONG
6. TOO MANY LOVERS
7. MOJO
8. WHAT DID I SAY
9. TOBACCO ROAD
10. HEY LITTLE GIRL
11. GLORIA
12. FORTUNE TELLER
13. GREENSLEEVES
14. WHO DO YOU LOVE
15. LONELY AVENUE
16. BYE BYE JOHNNY
17. SOME OTHER GUY
18. BALLA, BALLA
19. BO DIDDLEY
20. GET OUT OF MY LIFE WOMAN
21. STICKS AND STONES
22. NOT FADE AWAY
23. SO MYSTIFYING
24. RIP IT UP
25. SWEET AND LOVELY
26. LONG TALL SALLY
27. GONE MAMA
28. (AIN’T THAT) JUST LIKE ME
29. JOHNNY B. GOODE
30. ECSTACY

Reviewed by: Russell A. Trunk

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