Desdemona

mdenger · Post by **mdenger** » Fri May 02, 2003 5:38 am

Hi All,

a new label - but better luck? After Liberty the Searchers became RCA recording artists. And they started off comparatively well - with the first single Desdemona.

Just point your browser at:

http://home.rhein-zeitung.de/~mdenger/

Would be nice to hear from you. Any additions welcome!!!

Michael

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue May 13, 2003 5:36 am

Michael: Thanks for the update. This must have been a time of mixed emotions for all of the Searchers. It had been more than five years since they had a hit and one can hardly refer to the photo on the Desdemona single as upbeat. I am sure that Billy Adamson must have been full of hope while the others may have been less optimistic.

Do you suppose that Mike Pender was planning his departure from The Searchers as far back as the early 1970s after this 1971 recording met with little success?

Unlike Desdemona (The satellite of Uranus that is fifth in distance from the planet) this recording was not out of this world. Or from Othello, the complex character that is a maiden never bold or the curse of a marriage. Desdemona did not lead to success for The Searchers. So what is in a name anyway?

einar · Post by **einar** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 11:53 pm

Hi,
There's a couple of lines in Desdemona, which is sung in a distinct deeper voice than Mike's lead singing for the rest of the song. Who does this (voice) belong to? My guesses:
1. John
2. Mike (forced singing)
3. Frank
4. Billy (his one and only featured vocal).

This is one of the better non-PYE, non-SIRE Searchers recordings!

Einar

tim · Post by **tim** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 9:13 am

Frank contributed vocals on the RCA tracks (mainly on the B-sides of the singles). John also used to contribute a deeper voice to songs. Billy never contributed vocally. My guess is therefore:
1. Frank
2. John

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 7:42 am

I would say without a shadow of doubt it is John contributing the vocal.

mdenger · Post by **mdenger** » Sun Sep 28, 2003 11:12 pm

Haven't been here for a while. For Einar: If you mean: I'm not a boy with a toy I'm a boy who knows what lovin' is
that's Mike Pender.

Michael

einar · Post by **einar** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 3:49 am

Michael: That's exactly the part I'm referring to!
If these are the same lines that Roy attributes to John (without a shadow of doubt, and I tend to agree with him, although not without some doubt), while Tim (perhaps) goes for Frank; THEN we have a discussion going!

Einar
junior member

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 8:27 am

you've got me wondering now Michael, I will endeavour to get a definitive answer

tim · Post by **tim** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 10:59 am

I've played it through again and I have to say that the only voice I can hear is that of Mike Pender including the line 'I'm not a boy with a toy I'm a boy who knows what lovin' is'.

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 12:14 pm

I suspect you are correct as Michael says but unless it is good editing he switches quickly a few octaves(think that's right)

tim · Post by **tim** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 10:03 pm

That's right Roy, Mike drops down a bit to sing that line. It also might have a lot to do with the way the various parts of the song were put together in the studio.

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 6:14 am

Michael is indeed correct, it is Mike Pender, (in Elvis mode) confirmed by Frank Allen, surprised me.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 6:20 am

Thanks for resolving this Roy.

einar · Post by **einar** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 9:23 pm

Hi everybody,
I still think it is John!! (Joking).
Thanks all. Looking forward to next
"whose voice is that"- debate.

Einar