Because
the Liverpool Five were a British band based in America and never had any hits, many listeners expecting that they made cheap exploitation records are surprised to hear a fairly credible group whose members wrote some of their own material. Still, that enthusiasm should be tempered by the realistic observation that they were just an OK band, not a great one, and not a real original one (though not a wholly imitative one either). They play and sing consistently well on
Out of Sight; the problem is the material, which is erratic in both quality and style. The three covers of British Invasion classics (
the Troggs' "Anyway That You Want Me,"
the Who's "My Generation," and
Them's "I Can Only Give You Everything") aren't bad -- live, they probably knocked out American kids who hadn't heard the originals, which weren't all that well known in the States -- but nor are they in the same league as those originals. The other tracks include some cuts ("Gotta Get a Move On," "Do You Believe," "Get Away") that both recall and stand up well to the snarling sides done by the likes of
the Standells and
the Chocolate Watchband, though with more of a soul influence (particularly in the vocals). There are also some forgettable songs that opt for a more lightweight mood, though the driving "Piccadilly Line" -- where
the Liverpool Five sound their most British, in part owing to some fine bluesy organ and a coolly cocky lead vocal -- is a standout. So there's about half a decent, though not remarkable, LP here, and while the rest isn't lousy, it does drag the record down. ~ Richie Unterberger