This DVD is a companion piece to The Beatles Liverpool, showcasing places where the band played outside of the city and talk to those who were there at the time.  Much like that DVD, this is one that will likely appeal to rabid fans of that band and only be slightly entertaining to everyone else.

The beginning of The Beatles: Merseyside has the same narrator, Spencer Leigh, visiting various venues where the Beatles performed.  At each venue he talks with people who were there at the time who have various stories and anecdotes about what was going on.

What’s a bit interesting here are some of the stories, especially in regards to people like Stu Sutcliffe. Since Sutcliffe was with The Beatles before they really hit it big, there isn’t a lot of detailed information in Beatles history about him.

When Spencer interviews June Furlong who was a model at the Liverpool Art College where John Lennon and Stu Sutcliffe were students, she goes on and on about her conversations with John Lennon and what he was about, giving some insight into what he was like in his younger days before the Beatles went global.

There is memorabilia galore surrounding the places visited on the disc.  Many of the locations seem to be doing their best to capitalize on The Beatles tourism drive.  The people here are only too happy to get their faces in front of a camera to try to draw attention and business to themselves.

Other locations don’t have quite the same appeal.  There are visits to the graves of former Beatles manager Brian Epstein as well as John Lennon’s mother, Julia, which left me feeling a bit uncomfortable.  I am sure these places already see entirely too much in the way of tourists who are disrespectful to the solemnity of the place, and this would only bring more.  The only upside is I’m sure there aren’t enough people who are going to view this documentary that there will be a rush at the cemetery.

The archives at the Liverpool Post also get a nod as they were among the first to review the band’s music back in the day.

I didn’t think it was all that interesting. I’ve been to Liverpool and suggest that anyone who really wants to soak up the atmosphere would do better to take a trip themselves.  What’s on this isn’t that compelling and would only appeal to the most die-hard Beatles fan.