Hi All, German label Bear Family Records has reissued the Starclub Recordings with better sound quality then ever before. And - most important - the complete What'd I Say version is used. The "fake" live track: It's All Been A Dream is omitted. More information at http://www.bear-family.de
Michael
Star Club Recordings
Michael: This is good news, however, I would like to ask what you mean by better sound quality. Is this remastered from the original acetate?
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
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Hi everybody,
have you all bought the Star Club cd? I think you should, as it's great listening! What a smashing Searchers year this has been: The Swedish radio sessions, the Iron Door recordings and now the Hamburg tapes, all on excellent crafted CDs! (Not to speak of possibly upcoming Searchers biography and a John Blunt CD!!).
Much could be commented on, concerning the historical recordings. It's interesting that Iron Door and Star Club are so close in time, the latter following only weeks after the Liverpool session. While Sweets for my sweet at the Iron Door is performed almost identically to the later, recorded version, the Hamburg tapes offer a more independent performance. Tony phrases differently, and they also skip the falsetto chorus at the end (hum it in normal voices). Great stuff. Hamburg also demonstrate the rather unsophisticated vocal trademark of Tony and Mike, singing on top of each other, leaving it to Chris to provide harmony. (When Chris left, John took this job, listen to his "Chris" on "Have you ever loved somebody"). My humble statement will be that e.g. Sweets for my Sweet features Tony as leading voice, more so than "lead singer". As Mike sings it with him almost all the way. This is the case on a lot of early Searchers recordings. A reversed example of this is Needles and Pins from the first Swedish session, where Tony's voice dominates over Mike's. On the hit record, it's opposite. I doubt this is a question of "lead singing", but rather a matter of microphone balance. In the studio, they decided whose voice should be on top, although they very often performed "twin singing".
Point not taken? Doesn't surprise me! Anyway, enjoy these resurfaced treasures (and especially those by Searchers#1!).
Einar
have you all bought the Star Club cd? I think you should, as it's great listening! What a smashing Searchers year this has been: The Swedish radio sessions, the Iron Door recordings and now the Hamburg tapes, all on excellent crafted CDs! (Not to speak of possibly upcoming Searchers biography and a John Blunt CD!!).
Much could be commented on, concerning the historical recordings. It's interesting that Iron Door and Star Club are so close in time, the latter following only weeks after the Liverpool session. While Sweets for my sweet at the Iron Door is performed almost identically to the later, recorded version, the Hamburg tapes offer a more independent performance. Tony phrases differently, and they also skip the falsetto chorus at the end (hum it in normal voices). Great stuff. Hamburg also demonstrate the rather unsophisticated vocal trademark of Tony and Mike, singing on top of each other, leaving it to Chris to provide harmony. (When Chris left, John took this job, listen to his "Chris" on "Have you ever loved somebody"). My humble statement will be that e.g. Sweets for my Sweet features Tony as leading voice, more so than "lead singer". As Mike sings it with him almost all the way. This is the case on a lot of early Searchers recordings. A reversed example of this is Needles and Pins from the first Swedish session, where Tony's voice dominates over Mike's. On the hit record, it's opposite. I doubt this is a question of "lead singing", but rather a matter of microphone balance. In the studio, they decided whose voice should be on top, although they very often performed "twin singing".
Point not taken? Doesn't surprise me! Anyway, enjoy these resurfaced treasures (and especially those by Searchers#1!).
Einar
Searchers amongst my teenage favourite music. Still fond of them, but earnestly a little puzzled they are considered THIS big! But I'm very excited about this forum, and will love to read it regularly, and also contribute!
Hi Einar, I don't believe that is is the other way round: Live Tony's voice dominates Mike on Needles (on Swedish Radio Sessions and on The Sullivan Years) but Mike's doesn't dominate Tony's on the Pye hit single as Tony is heard at all. Mike is double tracked, Chris does the harmony.
I also think that the reason why Tony is heard so much better on those live recordings is that he has the stronger (and louder) voice.
Michael
I also think that the reason why Tony is heard so much better on those live recordings is that he has the stronger (and louder) voice.
Michael
Group & Michael,
I didn't check, but then; Tony's voice is not audible on the recorded NAP. Thanks for your correction!
But back to Star Club, Hamburg, 1963: What a smashing performance by the Searchers! The enthusiasm showcased by these 4 20+ year old boys is impressive. Especially their singing. Although Tony is the most featured main singer, their vocals are a real group effort. Listen to Chris'
supreme frontmanship on tracks like I can tell and Sick and Tired. This man was a standout for his time! And Mike: Showing his talents in buckets! E.g. Hey Joe, where he even does a little yodeling! On Always it's You, the warm blend between Mike's and Chris' voices is effectively demonstrated. And take Sweet Nothin's, a track I previously didn't care too much about. The Searchers is really boiling on this one! All three (four?) singers give it all. Especially Mike shows muscles, and demonstrates that he can shout, too. (Chris and Tony had true, screaming and shouting voices).
John is given one solo singing spot, and does Rosalie very ably indeed. He probably contributes more on the vocal side than he is given credit for, too. I can't think of many groups around at that time that posessed 4 such strong singers! (George, as 3rd voice in the Beatles was not near this level before 1965/66, and 3rd Hollie Tony Hicks has never had as great a voice as any of the 3 Searchers frontsingers anno 1963).
I'd also like to say a few words on the tag "Harmony Group". The Searchers was never very much so, in my opinion. Their singing style (at this early stage, anyway, was dominated by "Call and answer" singing. Their harmonizing is surprisingly subdued,I think, though often given a flair of originality through Chris' talent. Mike and Tony often took to unison singing, as also demonstrated at the Star Club. (Ain't that just like me, Listen to me, Sure know a lot about love). I feel though, that Frank is more of a harmony man, and brought that into the group.
Wish I was there!
Sorry 'bout the English. The spelling control is gone!
Einar
(PS Michael: Looking forward to your complete Hamburg runthrough!)
I didn't check, but then; Tony's voice is not audible on the recorded NAP. Thanks for your correction!
But back to Star Club, Hamburg, 1963: What a smashing performance by the Searchers! The enthusiasm showcased by these 4 20+ year old boys is impressive. Especially their singing. Although Tony is the most featured main singer, their vocals are a real group effort. Listen to Chris'
supreme frontmanship on tracks like I can tell and Sick and Tired. This man was a standout for his time! And Mike: Showing his talents in buckets! E.g. Hey Joe, where he even does a little yodeling! On Always it's You, the warm blend between Mike's and Chris' voices is effectively demonstrated. And take Sweet Nothin's, a track I previously didn't care too much about. The Searchers is really boiling on this one! All three (four?) singers give it all. Especially Mike shows muscles, and demonstrates that he can shout, too. (Chris and Tony had true, screaming and shouting voices).
John is given one solo singing spot, and does Rosalie very ably indeed. He probably contributes more on the vocal side than he is given credit for, too. I can't think of many groups around at that time that posessed 4 such strong singers! (George, as 3rd voice in the Beatles was not near this level before 1965/66, and 3rd Hollie Tony Hicks has never had as great a voice as any of the 3 Searchers frontsingers anno 1963).
I'd also like to say a few words on the tag "Harmony Group". The Searchers was never very much so, in my opinion. Their singing style (at this early stage, anyway, was dominated by "Call and answer" singing. Their harmonizing is surprisingly subdued,I think, though often given a flair of originality through Chris' talent. Mike and Tony often took to unison singing, as also demonstrated at the Star Club. (Ain't that just like me, Listen to me, Sure know a lot about love). I feel though, that Frank is more of a harmony man, and brought that into the group.
Wish I was there!
Sorry 'bout the English. The spelling control is gone!
Einar
(PS Michael: Looking forward to your complete Hamburg runthrough!)
Searchers amongst my teenage favourite music. Still fond of them, but earnestly a little puzzled they are considered THIS big! But I'm very excited about this forum, and will love to read it regularly, and also contribute!