Irene & the Santa Fe's was a country music group who disbanded early in 1962. The Galaxies with Doreen formed at the beginning of 1963. They comprised three ex-members of the Banshees - Dave Walker on rhythm/vocals, Jim Stead on piano/clavioline and Rob Allin on drums, together with Doreen Savage on vocals, Dave Kent on lead and Bob Hewlett on bass. Collage were a female vocal group from Chester comprising Joan Webster, Carole Balt and Chris Williams. Joan & the Demons formed in 1963 and comprised Joan on vocals, Geoffrey Jones on lead, Paul Liddy on drums, Dave Rushton on rhythm and Michael Daly on bass. They had a residency at the Kings R&B Club in Little Sutton and they also backed Chester opera singer Lee Vaughn on several occasions. The Blue Notes were a female group who formed at the beginning of 1963 and the members were Pauline Burke, Sheila Fenton and Christine McCluod. The Fast Cats were another female band who disbanded in 1962.

Irene Carroll had an amazing 40-18-36 figure which was the obvious target of good natured banter in the columns of Mersey Beat. She first began singing in Woolton clubs at the age of 16 and then began appearing at the OPB and Locarno. She won a singing contest at the Rialto Ballroom and became resident vocalist there. From a musical family, she later teamed up with her younger brother Michael in a duo called the Carrolls. In the 1970s she became a prominent figure (!) on television under the name Faith Brown in comedy series such as 'Now How Do You Do.' The Excelles were a vocal outfit with their own backing group who were discovered late in 1964 by John McLean, the Cavern office boy, who mentioned them to Bob Wooler. Bob signed them up and their first major date was an appearance on Radio Luxembourg's 'Sunday Night At The Cavern.' The group comprised twins Maureen and Frank Collins, Carroll Carter, Vicki Bird and Patric McHugh. The Rontons were a female vocal group who made their debut at Durning Road Boys Club in December 1963. They were Susan McKevitt, Marilyn Dease, Ann Brown and Carole Sayle.

The Vernons Girls were a large group of female vocalists sponsored in the late 1950s by Vernons Pools, the Liverpool football coupon firm. They appeared regularly on television and made a number of records. There were various splinter groups formed when the main mass of singers dispersed. They included the Two Tones, Lynn Cornell who became a solo artist, Maureen & the Vernons Girls a trio who had a hit with 'Lover Please' and the Breakaways. 

The Breakaways formed in 1962 and comprised Vicky Haseman, Betty Prescott and Margot Quantrell. Vicki attended the Junior Art School at the same time as myself and Cynthia Powell and she later married singer Joe Brown. Her daughter Sam Brown became a hit recording artist, but sadly Vicky died of cancer.

The Mystics were a female vocal trio who formed in 1964. Barbara Dee was a beauty queen and photographic model (36-23-36) who became disc jockey at the Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead. John Glass, manager of the ballroom, arranged for her to sing with a number of groups, including the Mersey Monsters. He set up a tour of Top Rank ballrooms for her and also found her a regular backing group. She became resident singer on Saturday evenings at the Majestic, backed by the Detours. Jackie & Bridie were a folk duo, two Liverpool schoolteachers Jaqueline McDonald and Bridie O'Donnell. Their debut single 'Roses' c/w 'Roving Jack' was released by Fontana on March 6 1964. The following September they had an album 'Hold Back The Dawn' released. The Kandies were a female group. Christine Ching was a 12-year-old vocalist who had her first single 'Winter's Here Again' c/w 'Jingle Bells' released in November 1964. 

The Three Bells comprised twins Carol and Sue Bell, together with their elder sister Jean. When the twins were 11 they entered a singing competition in Blackpool with their sister and were signed up to do a season on the Central Pier. They recorded two discs for Pye, 'Steady Date' in 1960 and 'You' in 1961. They went to Hamburg where they developed a less sugary style of harmony than they'd previously performed, then went on to Turkey. They returned to Liverpool in January 1964. 

The Charmers were a female vocal group who recorded 'Are You Sure' c/w 'My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own', supported by instrumental backing from the Nocturnes. Carole & the Corvettes formed in the latter part of 1963 and featured a female rhythm guitarist. Another outfit was Vikki Lane & the Moonlighters. Vickie Cheetham began singing at the Orrell Park Ballroom. She was a 14-year-old schoolgirl who made regular appearances with Ian & the Zodiacs. For a time she was managed by Ralph Webster. The following year Ted Knibbs became her manager.

There were many others of course, including the Squad With Rita, Four Hits & A Miss, Babs & Joan, Jackie Martin, Joan Malloy, Lilli Leyton and Irene Brown, proving that the female voice was loud and lusty on Merseyside in those early days.

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