Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The Ventures were like God on the guitar to me when I was a kid, I learned a lot of their songs, which were mostly covers actually, like Honky Tonk, Apache, Perfidia, Slaughter on 10th Avenue, Walk Don't Run, Walk don't Run 64, Pipeline. Others which escape me now too.

Bob

You should hear The Shadows version of Slaughter On 10TH Avenue now that is in my view a lost classic,totally different to Ventures version, far more dramatic.

Roy: For me you have got to the heart of the matter here.

Taking nothing away from the talents of The Ventures, the music of The Shadows has more feeling. It is a very short step from the fingertips on the fretboard to the heart.

I believe that the feeling and tonality of The Shadows' work is their strong suit, even if they had played the phonebook.

I haven't tried playing "Apache" yet but I am starting to get to grips with "Wonderful Land" courtesy of "Jam with Hank Marvin" and it's associated backing tracks CD.

I always though The shadows were Cliff Richards back up band, no?

Yes, si, they were his backup band. Even beyond The Shadows instrumental efforts they would emerge on other vocal recordings later on. Roy could certainly fill us in here. I do recall an outstanding album filled with fantastic guitar work, acoustic as well, coupled with superb vocals by Marvin, Welch and Farrar. I forget the title but there were tunes such as Silvery Rain, "Music Makes My Day" and another that I can't recall the title completely, "Don't Throw A Line" or something to that effect.

At any rate, we could all take lessons in guitar and vocals from these guys. The Shadows had talents that went well beyond their outstanding intrumental work.

Billy J. Kramers band, The Dakotas was also an excellent band, I have a couple of instrumentals by them on a compilation album.

Made some good instro singles Bob the ones you have are probably The Cruel Sea though in the states title was changed to The Cruel Surf. Other track is probably Magic Carpet.

The albums Peter refers to were 70's albums in which they troed to lose The Shadows tag, two albums were released Marvin, Welch and Farrar and Second Opinion, a third album was released Marvin and Farrar, John Farrar later went on to find fame and fortune as Lovia Newton John's producer/writer. These albums were all vocal semi- acoustic and were excellent. Problem was they could call themselves what they wanted but the public could not accept them as anyhing other than The Sahdows. I saw them one night at Batley Variety Club, a place previously I have mentioned and they opened the first night of a week long stint by playing no Shadows tracks at all, just did tracks from their new album and some other vocals, they literally walked off to the sound of their own feet nad some boos, a northern cabarat audience was not the place to try and promote this new venture as far asAudience was concerned it was The shadows and that is what they had paid to hear. Rest of the week they had to include some Shadows numbers.

I have an import Roy, The Cruel Sea, and Magic Carpet, you certainly know your stuff.

Oops, sorry I went beyond the Classic window here Roy. I wasn't sure if they were late 60s or 70s. Some acts are so beloved that the public will not let them move on.

Still 60's related Peter so counts in my view, we should not preclude a recording made in 70's or even this decade as long as they are 60's related.

How about posting The Searchers version of Solitaire they were the first to release that as a single but received NO airplay. Beeter in my somewhat biased view than Carpenters or Any Williams version

Roy: John Farrar came from Melbourne, Oz. He married Pat Carroll, who was/is great friends with Olivia NJ. Olivia and Pat opened up the 'Koala Blue' store on Rodeo Drive all those years ago.

He was an original member of 'The Strangers' - a very popular Melbourne band in the 60s.

A lot of people wouldn't realise the impact that John's had on 'pop' music - Grease, ONJ's hits, etc.

Here's John in his 'Strangers' days - back row, on the right.

Groovey shirts.