Record Buyer & Music Collector December 2001

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Jan 15, 2002 3:31 pm

I just finished reading a brief article written in the most recent edition (December 2001) of the Record Buyer in which frontman Frank Allen makes a number of interesting comments about The Searchers. I have included his quotes below.Quote:- We'd like a hit disc and a return to international recognition again

- I knew from my days in Hamburg that Tony [Jackson] was a bit of a lad. He liked a drink or two but I don't know exactly why they wanted rid of him. However, while this was going on I had dinner in London with my friend Chris Curtis who said 'I suppose you're happy being in the Rebel Rousers?' Well our group had just signed a deal with Brian Epstein, which seemed to promise great things , and I didn't want to rock the boat. So I turned down his offer of a job. When I went back on tour with Cliff Bennett I mentioned the approach to our saxophonist, Moss Grove. He said 'You must be mad! Phone Chris back, say you've changed your mind and would they like a sax player too!'

- I didn't have time to rehearse. I just studied their [Searchers] records and when we went on tour there weren't any real problems. I think When You Walk In The Room was and still is this group'smost dynamic song. We close our show with it after Needles and Pins.

- Around 1986 there was a sea change when 60s music became fashionable with younger people. It was cool to dig groups like ours. And when the Solid Silver Shows started 15 years ago, even more people paid attention, though I admit the audience mainly revolved around the 30-40 age group. Mind you, we had people aged five to ancient as well.

- Mike [Pender] broke this agreement. He began to use the Searchers in large letters and with his own name much smaller. He also called the group Searchers and even the new Searchers. Punters were getting confused, so we had to take High Court action in 1988. On the day of the hearing, Mike backed down ... and we've had no trouble since.

- Actually, Ed - or Eddie - is called Walter but we said we didn't want any Wallies in our group! Ed took it all in good nature.

- Hopefully we'll stick with this aggregation [McNally, Allen, James, Rothe] until we get that elusive hit record!

- When I joined Cliff Bennett I thought is might last for three years and when I joined the Searchers I thought about another five years tops. Until now it's been 35 years!

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Jan 16, 2002 5:42 am

I find Frank's comment about wanting a hit and returning to "international recognition" an interesting one. My question is, how can The Searchers get a hit record without going into the recording studio? Spencer is very active in this regard and would seem to have the technical skills, not to mention a great voice, to assist The Searchers in making this dream a reality. Is anyone else perplexed by Frank's comment?

david · Post by **david** » Wed Jan 16, 2002 7:19 pm

You might be interested in Frank Allen's reply to my question placed on the Searchers Official Web Site back in October 2001."Does the band think it is feasible to re-release any of the earlier hits to see if they might achieve chart success over again?"
Answer :This is purely in the hands of the company that owns the masters.There is always a chance particularly when the song is allied to an advert or a film.The other way is to duet with a major star but they would have to instigate it.There was talk
of doing Walk In The Room with Cliff Richard at one point but it came to nothing.

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Jan 17, 2002 6:38 am

Yes I am interested David. I neglected to mention in the Record Buyer Article that Frank, speaking of another chance at recording a hit, commented Quote:To be honest, I don't think we can do it ourselves. We'd have to collaborate with somebody like Tom Petty or Cliff Richard. A big name would give us a boost, as we've always appeared rahter faceless. We did talk about it with Cliff a couple of years ago but the idea just seemed to fizzle out, even though he did put 'When You Walk In The Room' on his latest disc. We haven't approached Tom or anyone else, but now our secret is out.
I am wondering why Frank mentioned Tom Petty. What song they would do with Tom?

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Thu Jan 17, 2002 8:38 am

Teaming up with Cliff or Tom Petty would not get them back into the charts. The music(let's be kind ) in the charts these days is a totally different ballgame

Cliff struggles to get a recording deal these days. Why Tom Petty, I suppose the jangling guitar sound is a reason, I don't beleive Petty is that big a name over here though.

What they would achieve however would be exposure which might push up their fees for a while and give them back a celebrity status for a bit.

We 've been down this road before , but unless a third party is willing to put up the "Dosh" the band are not going to risk their money and do a studio album, whether Spencer does put up his own money, I do not know, but Icertainly hope that even if it is only a token release done for fans, they do one final release before calling it a day

jjr · Post by **jjr** » Thu Jan 17, 2002 2:00 pm

They could try " Needles and Pins" with Petty. It couldn't be any worse than the version Petty did with Stevie Nicks. Seriously, I'd go with "Goodbye, My Love". Gives a better usage for ALL the musicians

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Jan 17, 2002 5:03 pm

John: How about the Searchers doing a version of "Free Fallin"?

scouser · Post by **scouser** » Fri Jan 18, 2002 4:36 am

In Real Estate there is a saying: "Location, location, location". Likewise, in music there is a saying: "Material, material, material". The Searchers need a song that, regardless of who sings it, would be a hit.

Musical styles have changed over the years and it's a debatable point as to whether the record companies or the public dictate who should or shouldn't occupy the top of the hit parade. Irregardless, just teaming up with another, albeit, somewhat more contemporary artist or group is no gaurantee of success. They need to search out - excuse the pun - song(s) that appeal to todays music listening/buying public.

All this brings up another interesting question: Does the singer make the song or does the song make the singer? I think that there is an argument for each condition but that, in many more instances, it is the latter rather than the former. For instance, there was a time when a Lennon/McCartney song was almost a 100% gaurantee of a hit record with both name association and great songs. Conversely, there are certain singers who give so much personality and attitude to the songs that they sing that they too gaurantee success.

For the Searchers my bet is on finding the right material...

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Jan 18, 2002 6:41 am

Chris: The best example of the "song Making The Singer" that I can think of is Bob Dylan. While finding the right material is likely the key, it would seem that The Searchers or at least Frank Allen is not confident that they can do it alone. I suspect that a high profile group or artist may be able to convince some label to give it a go. The dilemma here is what would motivate a big name to assist the Searchers at this point?

scouser · Post by **scouser** » Fri Jan 18, 2002 3:35 pm

Bob Dylan is a great example: A singer who, arguably, never sang a note in his life and yet spoke for a generation with his succinct brand of social commentary.

Re: the moivation of a big name singer assisting the Searchers? Like you, I don't see that happening. Again, it comes down to getting the right material. How many times have we heard a cliched "hit song" on the radio and liked it, irregardless of who the artist was?

pam · Post by **pam** » Mon Jan 21, 2002 12:28 am

Hi all just want to add my bit to this discussion. It's okay to say material, material, material but what about airplay? It's no good recording good songs even with a well known singer if they are only going to end up being sold at performance venues. The stuff has to be marketed commercially in other words in the music stores and a video would help to go on shows like MTV. The whole thing hinges on publicity and lots of it. One thought for you all to ponder on is what about a duo with Spencer and Bette Midler doing The Rose with the rest of the guys doing back up??? The song is popular and so is Bette Midler should get some interest!!! I'd also like to see this thing about the old stuff put to rest once and for all too and the best way is to put the whole lot (no matter how bad or good) on a cd for the 40th Anniversary. Reckon the guys could afford to get that one rolling. What do you lot reckon. Cheers, Pam

tim · Post by **tim** » Mon Jan 21, 2002 8:39 am

My own suggestion is Tom Petty and The Searchers doing "When You Walk In The Room". Tom Petty recorded a live version of "Needles And Pins" on his "Pack Up The Plantation - Live" album.

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Tue Jan 22, 2002 8:31 am

This topic was prompted by Frank Allen stating that he felt the only way they could have another hit, would be by teaming up with people like Cliff or Tom Petty.

Neither act would produce a hit single, best we could hope for is if someone like Robbie Williams decided to do a tribute album to the Sicties, bit like his Swinging album, not a fan of the guy personally, but that is a one off pairing that may get them back into the charts for one more time.

I reckon Williams could do a credible version of Walk In The Room, with The Searchers jangling guitarsin the background.