I Love The Searchers!

Pender's Searchers though aren't really considered to be the "real" Searchers though by most of the fans from what I've learned over the years. McNally and Allen's band seems to be the honest heirs. Remember, years of lawsuits have taken place over who has the real rights and McNally and Allen always come out on top over Pender as Pender voluntarily left to pursue other options. Those who watched the special that showed up on PBS in the U.S. would have seen Pender's Searchers. Try and catch the real Searchers and you'll see an amazing difference.

 

Thanks for the advice - I'll keep my eye out. I'll tell you what reminds me of Pender's Searchers: ever seen the film "The Commitments"? The scene at the wedding reception where the bloke is absolutely murdering "Needles and Pins"? Dub a very loud synth on top of that and you're close.

One thing makes me nervous about Steve's SACD - that bloody squeaky kick drum pedal on "Needles and Pins" and numerous others will squeak with a clarity never heard before!

 

No! For the most part, the Beatles '63/'64 recordings are MUCH better sounding than the Searchers. Perhaps you've only heard them on CD? If so, do yourself a favor and purchase the vinyl of the earlier recordings.

Derek

 

The song was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who also produced the Clovers' version -- don't remember the Coasters', but L&S stopped producing them after the Date Records sessions ("D.W. Washburn," among others).

 

Chris Curtis stopped performing once he left The Searchers, so his absence from any ongoing versions doesn't really mean anything. Nor was Tony Jackson's presence a necessity, as he left the group on rather bad terms.

It's a unique situation, really. Mike Pender's lead vocals and 12-string guitar were so crucial to most of The Searchers' best songs. Yet, as Ron correctly points out, his version of The Searchers has little to do with carrying on the group's signature sound, and more to do with synths, etc. (from all I've heard...I've never actually seen them play).

The "official" Searchers are helmed by Tony Jackson's successor Frank Allen and original rhythm guitarist John MacNally. Beyond Allen's co-lead vocal with Pender on "When You Walk in the Room," neither played as prominent a role as Pender in terms of the band's greatest recordings. Nevertheless, I understand that they take great pains to reproduce the original group's sounds as authentically as possible on stage, with few concessions to a "modernized" approach. By all accounts they put on a very professional and highly enjoyable performance and go out of their way to please their fans.

For this they are to be commended, and in the end despite the unique circumstances, they do have to be considered to be the "real" Searchers.

 

For the more "completist" types, there's a 3-CD collection on Sequel (England) with 84 (count 'em) Searchers tracks. Can't hold a candle to the fidelity of Steve's disc, but it's not bad - and it has lots of my Searchers faves that are not so well-known, such as You Can't Lie to a Liar (which I have on vinyl also).

 

I bought this cheap at a department store of all places. It's a pretty nice collection. It is however, a hodge podge of stereo/mono. I'd say it leans more to the mono mixes.

The second disc "Meet the Searchers" is mono throughout. Also, "Sweets for my Sweets" & "Love Potion #9" are on both disc's.

Sound wise its OK. I don't detect and noise reduction or wonky EQing. It is on the loud side, however, its not maxed out like a buzz cut.

If your a Searchers fan, I'd open it and enjoy the music!

 

For those who haven't visited the official Searchers website, a couple of interesting stories. Chris Curtis didn't perform for much of the rest of his life but was said to be seen at a special venue or two now and then for an impromptu performance. He was also in semi-regular contact with McNally and the two were on better than speaking terms.

Jackson did show up at the band's anniversary performance a few years back but only as an audience member. They did invite him on stage but he graciously declined due to ill health. When Pender left the band, he invited Tony to join him. Tony was reported to be up for the idea until he was informed he'd be a salaried side member instead of a full partner.

Wendy Burton of the band's website wanted me to pass along that the boys, the official ones, will be in the states again this coming year for several shows. I've seen it, a great and solid performance.

Visit: www.the-searchers.co.uk

 

I've heard the vinyl.

I don't know if you are, but some people have a tendency to prefer the sound of some recordings over others because the MUSIC might be superior. I used to think that the Beatles recordings were the best-sounding on the planet. Now I realize that it's simply the best music on the planet (IMO) while not reaching the sonic heights of some far better-sounding recordings.

I stand by my original statement.

 

I like the Searchers too, they just aren't as well recorded as the Beatles were. I stand by my comment - you're mistaken.

Derek

 

Referencing the mono Searchers vs. Beatles 45's, I don't hear a lot of sonic differences, to be honest..or at least none that bug me overmuch. As for the stereo, also pretty much a wash, though at least the Searchers' US Lp's were decent sounding, lacking the futzing US Capitol did with the Fabs. And of course the Searchers Lp's were true stereo and consistent in quality, something not true of the Beatles' Capitol output as a whole during that timeframe. When you have guys like George Martin and Tony Hatch around, the resulting music ain't gonna sound like crap. Can you imagine how happy folks would be if Hatch had produced the Kinks instead of Shel Talmy? Not sure how different the stylistic result would have been, but there would certainly have been more stereo than we got...

 

If you heard Steve's SACD mastering of The Searchers (which opened up Rob's eyes), I believe you might not make this comment. The Searchers were very well-recorded. The master tapes prove this but, as Steve indicated in this thread, one has to actually locate the right tapes, as he did...

Bob

 

Steve's Searchers SACD gives us a strong hint of what he might be able to do with the best available Beatles tapes sitting in the EMI vaults...a very enticing prospect which will likely never happen, but if you want a hint of what that would be like, snag a copy!

That aside, anyone doubting the sound quality of Hatch's Searchers productions should check the stereo Kapp vinyl, which is pretty solid for its time, better than any other British Invasion act's sonics in the US, IMO....

 

I have Steve's SACD, and I still stand by my previous comments. IMO, the recordings are very typical English recordings, too much compression and not mixed all that well. My favorite Searchers track is "When You Walk In The Room" and I first heard it in mono. The vocals are mixed a bit too low and it's overcompressed. The stereo version on the SACD opens things up a bit, but the vocals are still too low.

In contrast, the only a handful of early Beatles singles have any real problems, and the mixes are always great. The Beatles 1964 recordings blow away any of the Searchers tracks on the SACD.

Derek

 

I think we ALL would like to hear that, but as you say, it's unlikely to happen. My second choice would be Ron Furmanek, because he's already worked with much of the catalog and seems to have some measure of insiderness needed to get the assignment.

Derek

 

I'm presuming that Steve must have worked with Paul Mcs 'people' or even Macca himself when he did RAM and BOTR.....Paul must have got copies. What was his feedback? Did he like Steves work? It would seem to me that Paul is the guy who needs to be exposed to the differences that good mastering would have on the Beatles catalogue. If you can pesuade him half the job is done!
William

 

Are there any really good CDs of the Searchers' Sire albums? I love the first one.

Tim

 

No, the Raven cd is absolutely dreadful, incredibly bright. Not that the original vinyl wasn't on the bright side but this just magnifies the problem. To add insult to injury, a couple of tunes suffer from tape damage. They drag in a spot or two, no excuse for that. Quality control should have caught that right away and tried for a better tape.

 

Have to say though that they do have a bit of a "sparse" sound to them, at least the first couple Kapp stereo lp's do. Somewhat bright without a lot of bottom.