The Searchers'
Fantasy Album

by Roy Clough


~ Fantasy Album Criteria ~


It has always seemed fashionable to use the word 'fantasy' as a theme in entertainment. We've had 'Fantasy Island", 'Fantasy Football League" even John Lennon had a "Double Fantasy" and Gerard Kenny sang about a 'Fantasy. 1 thought, therefore, that it might be an idea to come up with a 'Fantasy Album' that 1 would like The Searchers to have recorded. Who knows, perhaps one day the National Lottery's (649) 'big finger` might decide 'It's you, Roy!" and it could become a reality." An RC Production" has a certain ring to it, don't you think?

The criteria I have used, is that I personally, must have seen the band play the songs, in their act over the years, but they have never recorded them or if they have, they have not been commercially released. To qualify, this for those who may want to debate the point, I do not class the Live CD's as a proper commercial release, you could not go into a record store and buy the CD's, okay I know that at times even CD's or the old vinyl releases, even though commercially released were difficult to get hold of, but this was more to do with some record chains deciding that they would not stock the releases, but were available if you ordered them.

The Sire releases initially were difficult to get hold of including the Raven CD released a couple of years ago. I can recall going into a major record store and asking for Searchers, the first Sire album, to be asked the question "Is it in the Charts?" when I stated "No" the answer of "Or we won't have it in stock then" had me doing my "Victor Meldrew" impression, before the character had been thought of, "How is the record supposed to get in the charts if I can't buy the ---- thing"!!!



"Fantasy Meets Reality"
Clough and McNally

~ Searchers' Fantasy Tracks 1-4 ~

I fully realise that there could be some of 'avids' who have only followed the band since the mid?'80s, who may not be aware of the fact that The Searchers have performed some of these tracks but may well know of the songs themselves. So, here goes. I've selected 22 tracks, as, with the advent of CD, this seems to be a reasonable number.

1. TAKE ME TONIGHT
Originally a Gene Pitney song, a slow ballad, and I saw them perform this song for the first and last time in 1968.

2. LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH
The Stephen Stills number which 1 saw them do, again only once, in about 1970.

3. THE NIGHT THEY DR0VE OLD DIXIE DOWN
A big hit for Joan Baez and performed the same night as the previous track.

4. PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART
A Jackie De Shannon number, which 1 saw them do in 1967. The first time I actually saw them play live.




"Up Close and Personal"
McNally, Pender, Adamson and Allen

~ Searchers" Fantasy Tracks 5-10 ~


5. BANG BANG
The Cher classic given a treatment by The Searchers, which seemed to lean more towards the version recorded by Vanilla Fudge. I saw them do this number in 74 twice, but the second time was special, as they were playing some small club in the North of England and the group were sitting in a corner of the club, on their own, it was a Disco type place that had Live acts on for about a hour then went back to DJ'S etc. This was the first time I had the opportunity to actually chat to the group and must admit to feeling nervous about approaching them, at the time, whilst in commercial terms, their "Star" had faded somewhat, in my book they were still superstars. I was surprised somewhat at how approachable and normal they seemed. John seemed friendlier than the others and I mentioned their version of Bang Bang. "We'll do it tonight for you" was his retort and I went back to my seat, a happy man but got a "Rollicking" from my wife for leaving her on her own.

6. LOVE SONG
A lovely ballad, recorded and written, by a British female singer, Lesley Duncan. It was also done by Elton John and Olivia Newton?John and is one of my favourite Searcher's non?recorded tracks. This was a feature of the stage act in the mid to late seventies and also is the only song done by The Searchers with Mike Pender and Spencer James doing the vocals, as the band started to play the number in the mid nineties at selected venues.

7. LAY DOWN YOUR WEARY TUNE
A Bob Dylan number, also recorded by The Byrds. Featured in The Searchers act during the early '70s.

8. FOOLED AROUND AND FELL IN LOVE
An Elvin Bishop number which doesn't at first glance seem to be a vehicle for The Searchers. Again from the '70s and a great version by the band.

9. COSTAFINE TOWN
Originally recorded by a duo called Splinter, circa '74, and a Top 20 hit for them. I saw The Searchers do this lovely song for the first and last time in my case, at the Sheffield Fiesta Cabaret Club in 1974. I think I am correct in saying that John and Mike both played acoustic Guitars on this number.

10. SANDMAN
'B' side of America's first hit, featuring John McNally on a shared lead vocal and with some great guitar work from him as well. Again, this dates from the '73/74 period and was normally performed at the time the Searchers had dropped the suit image for a more casual look. Take a look at the "Second Take" album for an idea of the image the band were projecting in 1974.



"New Wave"
Allen, Pender, McNally and Adamson

~ Searchers' Fantasy Tracks 11-17 ~


11. RUNNING SCARED
The classic Roy Orbison song and a creditable version from The Searchers. A 'regular' in their set during the early/mid'80s.

12. YOU GOT ME
The Searchers went New Country' before anyone had even thought of the term! A Tanya Tucker number, which, The Searchers did in the early '80's. Again, this is one of my favourite tracks. I also believe that they may have recorded this number as a demo.

13. THE ROSE
The Spencer James period, I first heard them do this on 6 January 1986, when Spencer was performing for only the second time with the band. I was knocked out by this song and any fears I confess I may have had, about the band not being as good without Mike Pender were totally dispelled.

14. IT'S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE
Performed by many artists, but The Searchers' version is up there with the best of them.

15. YOUNG GIRL
The first time I heard them do this, in late 1986, I was "blown away" as they say. They've changed the arrangement slightly since then and it's the earlier version I actually prefer.

16. RUNAWAY
The Del Shannon classic, which gives Spencer's synthesiser guitar a chance to show its versatility. For those who may be unaware Spencer has done this number, albeit a different arrangement, on his new solo album "Love Remains."

17. CAN'T CRY HARD ENOUGH
A song, found by John, originally done by The Williams Brothers and only released in the States. A popular choice amongst many 'avids', I would think.




"Searchers with Rickenbackers"
McNally, James, Allen and Adamson

~ Searchers' Fantasy Tracks 18-22 ~


18. ONLY LONELY
A fast uptempo number with some great guitar work by John. Done in the mid/late '80s. Apparently written by a Canadian fan, who offered the song to the band at some gig.

19. TWISTIN' THE NIGHT AWAY
The Sam Cooke number, done intermittently by The Searchers, but in my view a better version than Rod Stewart's.

20. IN THIS LIFE
A 1990's song originally done by Colin Raye. The Searchers or rather John had decided to do this song shortly after it was originally released by Colin Raye. However for some reason they did not get round to performing the song for over 12 months, during in which time, Bette Midler had released a version and Michael Ball also. Even Ronan Keating did a version on his solo album and The Fortunes have also recorded the song.

21. MR. TAMBOURINE MAN
The Byrds classic, which some claim was influenced by The Searchers sound, they have only started to do this song quite recently, albeit intermittently, but a great version.

22.TENNESSE STUD
A John McNally solo, performed sometimes at suitable venue's, I have no idea as to the origin of this song, but believe it goes back to the time when Johnny Sandon was lead singer

Finally, the album title? How about "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow - THE SEARCHERS - An RC Production."





"Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"
Roy Clough's Fantasy Production

~ Searchers' Songs Never Recorded~


I thought it might be of interest to list songs, which I know the band has performed, or broadcast on radio but have never recorded.

Rockin' all over the world (Status Quo)
Let's twist again (Chubby Checker)
You'll never walk alone (Gerry & The Pacemakers)
You've got a friend (James Taylor)
Nutbush City Limits (Ike & Tina Turner)
Beach Baby (First Class)
Whole Lotta Shakin (Jerry Lee Lewis)
Johnny Be Good (Chuck Berry)
All the above numbers have been part of the stage act at some point.

They also did a song in their act, in the seventies, called How Do You Free The People. I have no idea who recorded this, but I recall liking it very much. Equally in the nineties, the band appeared on a radio show, to celebrate D - Day, yes I couldn't figure out why either! Nevertheless they did a number called Over There which they also performed in their act for a short while during this period. I believe this was a song originally done in the forties and The Searchers did a modern arrangement and result was a catchy little number, which I enjoyed.

The following are songs I have personally heard them do on radio but not live. Look At Me (Bread) featured on the first Bread album, only heard this the once, on a radio show in the early seventies. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (Beatles) featured on The Beatles "Abbey Road" album. The Searchers did this on a radio show, same one as "Look At Me" was performed, if memory serves me right.

A huge fan of the band in Norway, a lady called Torill Olsen, listed a number of songs, some years ago in the Fanzine produced by Tim Viney, that she had heard the band perform, although it was not made clear whether she had heard them do the songs live or if she had heard them perform the songs on radio. I gather the band did a lot of radio broadcasts in the sixties/seventies, in Sweden and Norway. Indeed I gather that a new CD is to be released in late November featuring some of the tracks I am about to list. Torill's original list, only gave song titles, so where possible, I list what I believe to be the artist who did the song originally.

Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Rock and Roll Music (Chuck Berry)
Show Me The Way (Peter Frampton)
Let Your Love Flow (Bellamy Brothers)
Let The Four Winds Blow* ( Fats Domino?)
Red Sails In The Sunset* (Fats Domino)
Memphis* (Chuck Berry) *These tracks will be on the new CD apparently.
My World Is Empty Without You (Supremes)
Those Were The Days (Mary Hopkin)
Take Me In Your Arms and Love Me (Gladys Knight)
Southern Man (Buffalo Springfield) I know that they performed this song at a gig in Madison Square Gardens on a British Invasion Tour in the mid seventies, some press reviews I recall, stated they had confused the audience by playing such a song.
Don't Think Twice It's Alright (Bob Dylan)
To Love Somebody (Bee Gees)
For What It's Worth (Buffalo Springfield)
Kentucky Woman (Neil Diamond)
This Little Girl Of Mine (Tony Jackson) I don't recall who did this originally but TJ recorded this, it was the "B" Side of his second single.
San Franciso (Scott McKenzie)

I have no idea who did the following songs but they are also on Torill's list.
Questions
Soldier
Are You Ready
Send Me a Letter
Lay Me Down
Sad Gypsy
Irish Soldier

I clearly do not doubt Torill's veracity, but I do find that there seems to be a lot of songs that in 35 years of going to seeing the band play, I have never heard them do. Some of the songs seem rather strange choices also. Perhaps they saved the songs listed for a different market. Before anyone corrects me I have purposely left out songs like White Christmas, Silent Night, Winter Wonderland songs that around Christmas time they tend to put in the act to get into the Christmas spirit I suppose. I also don't count the infamous Wheelbarrow Song. It will interesting if others come up with songs not listed and I don't suppose there is a chance of John or Frank confirming above, they probably do not remember.

Submitted October 28, 2001
© 2001 Roy Clough. All rights reserved.




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