The Good Old Days

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Jan 04, 2002 2:51 am

Posted below is one of my favourite Searchers' photos when the group was in the limelight. While I enjoy all Searchers' music, past and present, when I hear the name "Searchers" this is the first image I have of the group. I would very much like to hear what other fans have chosen as their favourite Searchers' photo.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sat Jan 05, 2002 9:13 am

For a larger image of this photo please visit the Searchers History List.

jjr · Post by **jjr** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 7:26 pm

Pete,

That photo was the cover for the second Kapp LP "This is Us". It's my favorite as well.

JOHN

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 12:20 am

Right you are John. I have always enjoyed "This Is Us." I revisit the excitement of listening to this album in the 1960s each time I play it.

sjd37 · Post by **sjd37** » Fri Jan 11, 2002 12:22 pm

The photo from the front cover of Take Me For What I'm Worth was pretty cool. Very contemporary, yet not trying too hard to fit in with the changing times.

Also, the photo from The New Searchers LP and the "individual" photos from Sounds Like Searchers (which were used on the US Searchers No. 4) remain favorites of mine.

scouser · Post by **scouser** » Sun Jan 27, 2002 7:05 pm

There's another thread, "Did Early Line-up Changes Damage The Searchers?" that sort of falls in line with this one for me. When I think of the Searchers, I always see the original group, just like the photograph that Peter has posted. I guess that this is because I knew them way back then and we played on the same stages, in and around Liverpool, almost every weekend for almost three years.

To be honest, I never got used to seeing Frank Allen in the group as I had met him in Hamburg when he played with Cliff Bennet & the rebel Rousers. Don't get me wrong - I have nothing against Frank as either a person or a musician. Now, after almost 30 years of being a 'Searcher', Frank seems to be the spokesman or, at least, the most outspoken of the group.

I do think that those early changes damaged the Searchers that I knew. I have to agree with Peter when he says "when I hear the name 'Searchers' this is the first image I have of the group."

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun Jan 27, 2002 11:52 pm

Chris: Should you get a moment, I would be most interested in any memories that you may which to share pertaining to The Searchers. I understand that it is four decades later, however, welcome any information that you may be able to provide.

marie · Post by **marie** » Mon Jan 28, 2002 10:11 am

A MINOR DETAIL, BUT THE CURRENT LINE UP IS THE ONLY ONE SOME OF US KNOW, WE CAN LOOK AT PHOTOS OF THE "PAST" VARIOUS LINE UPS OF THE GROUP, BUT UNLIKE MANY BEFORE THEM WHO REMAIN IN POP HISTORY,THE CURRENT FOUR KEEP THEMSELVES AS POPULAR(IF NOT MORE SO) ADDING MODERN SONGS TO THIER STAGE SHOW AND ADAPTING TO A YOUNGER AUDIENCE AS WELL AS THIER DIE HARD FOLLOWERS, LONG MAY THEY CONTINUE!

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Jan 28, 2002 2:22 pm

You are spot on Marie. Even the "older" fans can appreciate the remarkable talents of John McNally, Frank Allen today along with the relatively newer members, Spencer James and Eddie Rothe. I would like to hear more about the reasons why you are taken by the current line-up.

scouser · Post by **scouser** » Mon Jan 28, 2002 5:22 pm

Peter, I must say that you are the comsumate moderater...LOL!

Marie, I take note of your 'MINOR DETAIL' and didn't mean any disrespect with my comments. In fact, I have an instance of 'THE CURRENT LINE UP IS THE ONLY ONE SOME OF US KNOW' that I will tell you about. My group, The Undertakers, broke up in 1965 after a whirlwind three years of success. We had a killer stage show and toured without stopping, played the Star Club seven times for gigs ranging from two weeks to two months and recorded for Pye Records.

Then, in 1968, two of the other members re-formed the group with other musicians, using the Undertakers name. That group is still together after all these years and though they never made any more hit records, or were on the original records (except for the original two members) that made the group popular, they go on tour and play all the nostalga shows and everybody thinks of them as THE Undertakers.

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Tue Jan 29, 2002 1:06 am

RIGHT PETER YOU ASKED FOR IT !!!!! I WIKLL WRITE TO YOU AND LET YOU KNOW IN MORE DETAIL(TO PUT MY VIEWS ON THIS SITE WOULD PROBABLY BORE THE PANTS OF EVERYONE) MARIE...NB PLEASE DONT TAKE OFFENCE AT MY TOTAL USE OF CAPITALS, I REALISE IN COMPUTER TERMS THIS CONVEYS "SHOUTING" BUT I LIKE TO USE THEM AS I LIKE THE LOOK BETTER (TYPICAL FEMALE)

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Wed Jan 30, 2002 12:50 pm

I would accept Marie that there are many "fans" who have only know the present or previous line up with Billy Adamson.

Any group or artists success however is based on the hit singles that first propel them to fame.

The line up shown and subsequent line ups in the sixties were the individuals who established the sound that The Searchers have built their future around.

That is not to decry the contribution that Spencer James brought to the band, indeed he has played a significant part in the history of the Searchers and indeed added a new dimension to the band in some ways. To make the assertion that the band are more popular now then they were withprevious lineups is simply not correct.

What I do find amazing not only in The Searchers case but for other sixties acts, is that despit not having had any commercial success in over 35 years they still can attract a audience. I cannot think of any other decade of music where the artists from that era can still be popular or even contain as many original members

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Thu Jan 31, 2002 12:17 am

I DO AGREE, AND I REALLY WISH I HAD BEEN AROUND TO SEE THE ORIGINAL LINE UP, AND ALTHOUGH I HAVE TRIED, ORIGINAL FILM FOOTAGE IS HARD TO GET HOLD OF, I DON'T GET INVLOVED MUCH WHEN YOU DISCUSS THE EARLY DAYS AS I ONLY KNOW WHAT LITTLE I'VE PICKED UP FROM A LITTLE "RESEARCH",I DIDN'T EVEN SEE THEM WITH BILLY ADAMSON, HOWEVER AS YOU SAY YOU FIND IT AMAZING THEY STILL CAN FILL THEATRES WITH THEIR OWN SHOW,PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE THEY STILL MANAGE TO GAIN YOUNGER FOLLOWERS WHO PASS THE WORD AROUND ( I WISH I WAS ON COMMISION) I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GO TO SEE MIKE PENDERS SEARCHERS, BUT THEY RARELY COME MY WAY BUT IWANT TO COMPARE, AND SEE SOMEONE ELSE WHO WAS FUNDEMENTAL IN MAKING THE SEARCHERS ONE OF THE GREAT GROUPS IN THE SIXTIES AND FOR THOSE OF US NOT AROUND AT THE BEGINING

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Thu Jan 31, 2002 9:13 am

Marie

Try and catch Mike Pender on the Reelin and Rocking tour which hits England late Feb.

A ggod bill of sixties acts with the theme being origiinal lead singers( I am not going to debate the argument Tony Jackson was original lead singer) others on bill are Brian Poole, Dave Berry, Mike D'Abo and Gerry Marsden, although recent tragic events concerning Gerry may put his appearance on every show in doubt.

Also and I can't work this one out The Nolans or what's left of 'em are on the bill, forgive my conjecture , but may be your era.

I have a list of venues , so if interested contact me direct.

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Thu Jan 31, 2002 10:33 am

Marie: The list of venues for the ReelinandaRockin Tour 2002 can be found here

Roy: Is there a debate over who was the Searchers' original lead singer?