Clough Links

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun Mar 31, 2002 1:01 am

Roy Clough has added his review of the Reelin and a Rockin 2002 tour to Needles and Pins. This article and others by Roy have been grouped under the heading of Clough Links.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 8:35 am

Roy Clough has done it again. Another very nice article pertaining to The Searchers' music has just been posted to Needles and Pins and you can find it here.

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 3:14 am

In "The Searchers' Songbook" Roy Clough makes the following comments. Quote:Track 3
DON’T THROW YOUR LOVE AWAY
Fortunes

Not many versions of this about, The Orlons, did it originally, but this version by The Fortunes, featured on one of their albums. Rod Allen is a fine singer but the track lacks that certain something that The Searchers version had.I quite agree that there is no version of this song quite like The Searchers' recording. While the harmonies are very tight and masterfully done, the listener is captivated by the outstanding guitar riffs at the beginning and ending. These are musical bookends in the fine library of Scouser Music. The interplay of the guitars of McNally and Pender harkens back to the magic moments of Needles and Pins. These signature guitar pieces penetrated the temporal lobes of all 1960s music buffs capturing our attention through a musical magnetism that never let go. This song was very unique and was part of that inital wave of the Searchers' success that would only be present for a very brief time. "Don't Throw Your Love Away" is as fresh today as it was in the beginning. The philosophy of the song certainly speaks to a time in which parents reminded children of the importance of planning for a rainy day ..."for you might need it someday." This song is a timeless treasure. Thanks Roy for rekindling my memories on this one.

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Thu Jul 11, 2002 7:54 am

Well written Peter could not agree more, of the three number one's the band had in England this is probably the least remembered as being a number one, that opening riff and what I CALL THE TWIDDLY BIT after "lovers of today just throw their love away and play at love" de de de ded de de (this bit suggested by Black Jake I believe) really makes the song. coupled with the infectious vocals of Mike Pender.

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Jul 11, 2002 5:12 pm

Roy: I never knew that the Tony played a significant role in some of the lead work on this song. Thanks for this gem.

einar · Post by **einar** » Sun Jul 14, 2002 9:40 pm

Thanks to Roy for his Songbook. Inspiring reading. As intended (?), some of the choices are open to debate. Personally, I'd like to see Big Star's September girls (gurls) included, with the composer Al Chilton (ex Box Tops) fronting.
Does anybody know of other REAL Searchers cover versions (self penned by the group), other than the mentioned I pretend I'm with You by the Rapiers? I'm not sure if this is the sole example from Clough's list, but it would be interesting to know if there's further examples excisting.

As for Roy's TWIDDLY de de de ded de de BIT from Don't throw your love away: When first hearing it (around 1965), I thought of camels, deserts, oases, bazars. Still does. So to me, this guitar sound is ORIENTAL TWANG.

Einar

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Jul 15, 2002 1:07 am

Brilliant question Einar! I can not think of a single Searchers' composition, other than "I Pretend I'm With You" by the Rapiers, that was covered by another group. Let's see if Roy Clough comes up with any others. For me, the hallmark of a group's success has always been the willingness of other groups to cover original compositions.

I agree that the guitar riff in "Don't Throw Your Love Away" has an Eastern flavour to it and is reminiscent of some of the Beatles' work on Revolver such as Taxman. One is temporaily taken away to another place and your comments about an oasis is an excellent one. The riff really adds a unique sound to the recording and I wait for this bit each time I listen to the song.

sjd37 · Post by **sjd37** » Sun Jul 21, 2002 8:23 am

I just checked out The Searchers Songbook, which is very interesting, but I must clarify a couple of facts about The Cryan Shames. They hailed from Chicago, and their version of "Sugar and Spice" was out in '66, not '63. Huge hit in Chicago, barely Top 50 nationally in the US. I quite like it, but the Searchers' version still reigns supreme.

I am constantly on the lookout for covers of Searchers compositions, so I'll let you know if I find any.

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Sun Jul 21, 2002 12:16 pm

Thanks for the correction SJ and thanks for your kind comments on the article, as I state in the piece only ever came across this version on a compilation which no longer have so could not be 100% factual, does make me wonder why they covered it, three years after The Searchers version and after "Liverpool Mania" in 66 had long since ceased to be fashionable.

Thanks for the input.

sjd37 · Post by **sjd37** » Tue Jul 23, 2002 11:39 am

You're welcome, Roy. I'm not sure exactly what led them to cover that song, but obviously they had some ideas for a new twist on the arrangement. Knowing how big a hit their version was in Chicago, I have to wonder how high the Searchers' version charted in the Windy City. Speaking to a friend of mine who grew up there in the sixties, I learned that he loves The Cryan Shames but still prefers The Searchers' version of "Sugar and Spice"!

sjd37 · Post by **sjd37** » Sat Sep 07, 2002 2:24 pm

I knew I should have waited to respond to you, Roy. This is why The Cryan Shames covered "Sugar and Spice":

The Beatles' "If I Needed Someone" had not yet been released in the U.S., but it was getting played a lot on Chicago radio and the Shames (then known as The Travelers) were doing it live. They cut a version of it as their first single, but since the Beatles' version was unavailable in the States, the Shames' label couldn't get permission to release it. Their manager had promised local deejays and such that the group had a single coming out, so in desperation they went to see another local band called The Riddles. When The Riddles did "Sugar and Spice," it got such a great response that the Shames decided to record it as their debut single.

So it seems they didn't even get it from The Searchers.

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 9:03 am

Whatever happened to The Riddles

sjd37 · Post by **sjd37** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 7:47 am

I'm in the process of "searching" for that info!

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 9:59 am

If you haven't had the chance to visit Clough Links before, why not do so now that Roy has added his review of the Searchers' Convention 2002 to his list of topics. These articles make a very nice collection of ideas and comments about the Searchers from an avid who knows his stuff. This should come as no surprise as Roy has followed the group for, well, lets just say a few decades.