August 3, 1964: Frank Allen's Contribution To The Search

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Sat Mar 01, 2003 4:30 am

With the departure of Tony Jackson, Frank Allen joined The Searchers in August 1964. He brought to the group a wealth of experience already having establishing himself as a guitarist and bassist with Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers. In reflecting on the direction the music and the Searchers' performing, tha this contribution to the group became significant would be an understatement. Whether it was fate, good luck, Franks talented voice or all of these, the group entered the recording studio shortly after his joining and recorded "When You Walk In The Room", almost an instant success. Frank writes Quote:It sounded like a hit song but we were never ever sure, especially as someday We`re Gonna Love Again was a comparative failure at #12. In the end it was such a good record that we were disappointed it didn`t go all the way to #1 (as Johnny Stewart, the producer of Top Of The Pops, said it was going to).
Frank.

To my way of thinking Frank Allen offered many things to the Searchers that the group did not have prior to his introduction. To begin, his wit, personality and stage presence have given the group an excellent spokesman and frontman. He is comfortable with the press, works the audience very well and, by all accounts, is a charmer through and through. This ability has made him a standout performer on the "Nostalgic Tours" which have continued for decades.

Moreover, Frank added to the group an excellent harmony voice and the ability to produce harmony arrangements that the group had not considered previously. He has added some nice lead vocals as well over the years and composed a number of songs that the group have recorded. The fact that he has a Rickenbacker bass has, I confess, won me over too.

So let's hear it. What is one of Frank's contributions to The Searchers that I left out.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Sat Nov 29, 2003 12:00 am

hello,
yes i think it's a worthy topic. To begin with, Allen is going to count 40 years as a Searcher next summer (sounds a bit terrifying, to me). He's been with the band through its hardest times thus being one of the four reasons why they didn't give up. He's been there when they were recording their best (imho), "Take me..." album, so he's also 'responsible' for the magic. An outstanding bassist, let me add - it is evident if you go for live recordings. To be true, i'm not very fond of his vocals, but there's at least one huge exception - 'Be my baby' which gives me shivers again and again. And yeah, a great story-teller (can't wait till the next newsletter!)
I guess Frank Allen's becoming part of the band changed their sound a lot, maybe for worse to some extent but mainly for better. He was probably superior to Jackson at bass-playing, even if i'm sure that should Jackson have stayed as 'free' lead vocalist with Allen being a bassist, the band would be a lot stronger.
And nowadays, it seems like Frank Allen has 'grown up' from 'just a hired bass player' to the band leader...

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Sat Nov 29, 2003 2:38 am

John McNally is without doubt the band leader if we got to the nitty grittty. Frank is the media man to some degree and fell into the role of front man rather than a predetermined plan.

What I do admire about him, to some degree, is that he joined the band when in essence their star was becoming dimmer, just over 2 years after joining their chart career was over, no reflection on him though. He was still a young man of 22 when their last hit "Have You Ever Loved Somebody" scraped into the top 50. At such a age he could have perhaps tried to look elsewhere, whether he did or not I clearly do not know, but as Sheena says, here he is nearly 40 years later still there and a major factor in the longevity of the band.

mygeneration · Post by **mygeneration** » Sat Nov 29, 2003 3:26 am

As Roy says John is the band leader, but Frank's contribution cannot be underestimated. I believe Frank and John jointly own The Searchers name. I also believe that the difference between The Searchers achieving the elevated status they have as a sixties orientated act is down to Frank, and his constant willingness to patiently deal with both the media and the fans.

Someone may correct me, but I know of no other group member (although one or two solo acts) who puts so much time and effort into promoting the act in question. The Searchers were recently voted the "most accessible" act of all the oldies circuit, and so they should be. They may have even been the first act to introduce the meet and greet sessions after shows as part of the routine.

Certainly Frank is hugely instrumental in the success of The Searchers web site. It was he who saw the benefit of publicising concert dates as soon as possible, he who gave the site unstinting publicity at shows, and of course, he who writes the regular Searchers news. He also contributes with as much enthusiasm for the SAS magazine.

His critics have often commented that he is just an attention seeker, and he would admit to loving the show business lifestyle, but it is also his job to get attention for The Searchers, and in that respect I believe he is the best in the business.

Gary

tim · Post by **tim** » Sat Nov 29, 2003 4:55 am

If it had not been for Frank's support and input, The Searchers Appreciation Society would have never got of the ground. Frank's vocal input should not be underestimated either. Their finest single (imho) "When You Walk In The Room" owes a lot to the dual lead vocal of him and Mike Pender. One live number I have very fond memories of is "Skinny Minnie" which was at one segued into their "Switchboard Susan" encore (and featuring a wicked guitar figure from John McNally as well!) - great Rock and Roll.

jjr · Post by **jjr** » Sat Nov 29, 2003 6:22 pm

I think his contributions are: bringing stability to the band for the long haul; playing a style of bass that better fitted the evolution of the sound Curtis was driving for (perhaps why he pushed for Frank?). [I can't see Frank originating that booming bass on LP #9. Tricky Dicky, etc.]; making the harmony better and stronger-again better fitting in with the sound that developed; and being able to take over frontman duties when Chris left- a job neither Mike nor John seemed willing (or able) to fill.

jeff_zang · Post by **jeff_zang** » Sat Dec 06, 2003 1:28 pm

One thing about Frank is that he's a terrific bass player as anyone who's seen the Searchers live knows. I wish he weren't mixed down on so many of the records as he often is.

Frank has been the spokesman for many years now and I have to feel that he and John are the Searchers at this point.

Jeff Zang

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 7:51 am

Roy and Gary,
not that i want to argue in any way, i just guess we have different visions of what a 'band leader' means. To me, being a band leader means being the 'face' of the band, it means responsibility for everything the band does, including publicity and media thing - and the trouble of being kicked and spit over. So it's hard to imagine a 'guy' who's hiding behind the backs of his pals for most of the time taking the role of a band leader. No offence meant to John McNally; he's a nice person but not much likely to be a 'publicity' man. For instance, if your knowledge of the Searchers' repertoire is limited to hits only, you'd never guess why he's credited for vocals. I like modest people, that's fine, but it's more about being an 'actualizer' than a 'leader'.

mygeneration · Post by **mygeneration** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 8:49 am

Sheena,

How many band leaders do you know that take responsibility for everything the band does, including publicity and media? I can see solo artists having a greater involvement but still I don't think they do everything. The Searchers in total don't do everything. There are mamagers and promoters for example.

Nor is it the case that John hides behind the others. It is his and Frank's rapport on stage that produces most of the comedy element. Frank handles announcements. John handles friendly snipes behind his back <g>.

I think during the hit years John had the lowest profile of all the group members, but certainly from the Sire era - when he had to take over lead guitar duties from Mike - he started to come into his own. He now handles what I would say is the most important aspect of any professional group - the legal and contracts side. He handles negotiations, prices etc. and he decides when and where they play.

I've had some interesting chats with John when he has let me in to some of the dealings he has had, particularly with prospective tours, where he comes across as extremely astute. Whilst I have the utmost respect for all of The current Searchers line-up, there is no doubt in my mind that John's role is the most important. His succes or failure is the difference between financial success - and continued Searchers tours - and early retirement due to a lack of income

jeff_zang · Post by **jeff_zang** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 2:51 pm

It's amazing when you think how long John and Frank have been doing this. I think Gary makes an excellent point of John's more subtle roll as the leader in terms of organization and finance. It may be simply that Frank is better at keeping a crowd moving with the show, and this is very important. But I personally look at it this way, Frank is the "heart" of the Searchers, John is the "head". You need both to keep a band going for 40 years.

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 9:03 am

You also need a solid fan base to some degree which The Searchers have in some ways. Gary makes some excellent points and John really was becoming the business leader from early seventies. I would think that financially they don't really need to carry on doing it, but I actually think that they still enjoy it most of the time.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 8:05 am

Gary, that's right but that's not what you see from outside. From outside, what you see is Frank Allen. He's the spokesman for the band (although what he says could be greatly influenced by John McNally, i believe) and he probably more resembles what they call "rock star" than any other Searcher. It's a hard job, to be a "rock star", and i cannot but respect him for doing it well.
As for 'hiding', what i meant was that John McNally is not the one to show off (that's great) and that he didn't quite release his own singing and songwriting potential, imho (that's really a pity). Or i might be wrong. Still, he's my favorite leadsinger even if technically the others might be far superior.

jeff_zang · Post by **jeff_zang** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 8:35 am

One thing about Frank, it's hard to imagine a nicer guy as far as relating to fans is concerned. The three times I've seen the Searchers live Frank has been only too happy to chat and sign some records. If you ask a question on their web site he almost always gets back quickly. Very few people in bands take the time to be as kind to fans as Frank is.

Unrelated note, he's a hell of a good writer too.

Jeff

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 1:27 pm

Totally agree Jeff but John is a nice guy too but he is a little more difficult to get close too,although if you do he is very affable to talk to, but all of the band are friendly guys who even if bored stiff with what you have to say,99% of the time do not show it.