Peter,
I don't know exactly, but that's the only piece that was really AIRPLAYED! Maybe the reason is that this particular version seems to be a bit 'harder' than the '63 original and a lot more 'depressive'. Here, many people tend to like more gloomy and doomy, 'suicidal' music - bands like Doors, Pink Floyd or more recent Nirvana are better received than joyful and light-mooded ones.
As for the hits... to tell you the truth, there were no hitlists in Russia until the early 90's. Disregarding this point, i guess the mentioned "Love Potion #9" (first incarnation) was the first 'hit' here, and the others were "Needles and Pins", of course, and "What have they done to the rain", as it seems. Maybe "Bumble Bee" as well but i'm not so sure. And very little people seem to know that they didn't write these songs!
Mike Pender Solo
Thanks Sheena. Our music experiences are so very different. I am expecially interested in why "moody" music is so popular in Russia. I am thrilled that you are making up for lost time now. By the way, I really enjoyed the Paul McCartney concert in Red Square (which I saw on television). He certainly was well received.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
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Peter,
of course he was well-received (the show will be aired tonight hope i won't miss it)! The ones who managed to get through the "iron curtain" in 60s will always be loved here. But i guess, the time wasn't so much lost for the ones who were interested - you could get a bobbin tape copy (bad quality but better than nothing) from a friend if you wanted...
As for "moody" music, i guess there are two possible reason. First one is that traditional Russian music is much about slow tempo, minor key and sad lyrics. The second is that at the time, music was so much about propaganda, bravura marches and 'USSR is the best country in the world etc' that it was quite a natural wish to hear about sad things. The thing is, 'moody' music seems to be more thoughtful.
And in order not to go too far from the main topic of this forum, just wanted to add another 'strange' point. According to my Dad, "Love Potion #9" was here well before "Please Please me" or any other stuff by the Beatles...
of course he was well-received (the show will be aired tonight hope i won't miss it)! The ones who managed to get through the "iron curtain" in 60s will always be loved here. But i guess, the time wasn't so much lost for the ones who were interested - you could get a bobbin tape copy (bad quality but better than nothing) from a friend if you wanted...
As for "moody" music, i guess there are two possible reason. First one is that traditional Russian music is much about slow tempo, minor key and sad lyrics. The second is that at the time, music was so much about propaganda, bravura marches and 'USSR is the best country in the world etc' that it was quite a natural wish to hear about sad things. The thing is, 'moody' music seems to be more thoughtful.
And in order not to go too far from the main topic of this forum, just wanted to add another 'strange' point. According to my Dad, "Love Potion #9" was here well before "Please Please me" or any other stuff by the Beatles...
Nothing will get you dead quicker than being deadly serious about yourself.
-
stevet
Maybe I can throw some light on this because I was there. Possibly I may throw confusion because it was so long ago that my memory may be faulty.
By "being there" I mean I produced "It's Over" in partnership with John Verity for Sierra. I had been associated with the Searchers for some time having written "I Don't Want To Be The One" and "Innocent Victim" The record company had chose "It's Over" for the A side so John and I figured we ought to write the B side. As far as I can recollect Mike had not split with the Searchers at this time it was just a solo project. Mike came to the studio with a boatload of songs he'd picked up and proceeded to play them all. Me and John were playing politics and binned off all his suggestions because we wanted the B-side. I'm ashamed to say we gave him something from the bottom draw but he was fairly easy going about it. He seemed enthusiastic about recording new material though so if things had turned out well with "It's Over" who knows what could have been. I was drawn to this thread by the title "Mike Pender Solo". I spoke to Mike last week and promised to send him a new song. Sending it out today... who knows? ........
By "being there" I mean I produced "It's Over" in partnership with John Verity for Sierra. I had been associated with the Searchers for some time having written "I Don't Want To Be The One" and "Innocent Victim" The record company had chose "It's Over" for the A side so John and I figured we ought to write the B side. As far as I can recollect Mike had not split with the Searchers at this time it was just a solo project. Mike came to the studio with a boatload of songs he'd picked up and proceeded to play them all. Me and John were playing politics and binned off all his suggestions because we wanted the B-side. I'm ashamed to say we gave him something from the bottom draw but he was fairly easy going about it. He seemed enthusiastic about recording new material though so if things had turned out well with "It's Over" who knows what could have been. I was drawn to this thread by the title "Mike Pender Solo". I spoke to Mike last week and promised to send him a new song. Sending it out today... who knows? ........
Steve: Thanks so much for taking the time to post this first hand information. To say that I am impressed with your compositions is an understatement and we look forward to many more.
It is interesting how prophetic "It's Over" would turn out to be. I had assumed that "It's Over" was a bit of a political statement about Mike Pender's departure from The Searchers and recorded after he left. It is clear, however, that he recorded this number before his departure.
Let's hope that your new composition is recorded and gets Mike back in the charts. By the way, thanks for the insight into musical politics. I hope you will comments on other aspects of the Searchers' recordings.
It is interesting how prophetic "It's Over" would turn out to be. I had assumed that "It's Over" was a bit of a political statement about Mike Pender's departure from The Searchers and recorded after he left. It is clear, however, that he recorded this number before his departure.
Let's hope that your new composition is recorded and gets Mike back in the charts. By the way, thanks for the insight into musical politics. I hope you will comments on other aspects of the Searchers' recordings.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
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Glad to see you are still with us Steve, further to our discussion, a while back. Also glad Sheena is still contributing. Tim goes without saying and all valid points made. Had "It's Over" been a hit then Mike may have gone out as Mike Pender (ex searchers). Tim is correct in his assertion but Mike always stated that he acknowledged he needed the name of Searchers.
Mike of course had basically resigned and was serving notice so to speak. I suspect he had made contact or had been contacted with regard to a solo project prior to his annoucement of leaving. Provisionally he had a lanbum lined up even a title "Back on My Feet Again" but I am sure this was dependent on sales of the single.
I suspect some of the songs Steve mentions were "Broken Hearts, Blue Mondays, Red Ferrari.
Tim is probably near the truth, but not fully, although I do not wish to elaborate on a public forum.
Steve hope the song you sent is taken up by Mike as I like to feel I played a small part in that too.
Mike of course had basically resigned and was serving notice so to speak. I suspect he had made contact or had been contacted with regard to a solo project prior to his annoucement of leaving. Provisionally he had a lanbum lined up even a title "Back on My Feet Again" but I am sure this was dependent on sales of the single.
I suspect some of the songs Steve mentions were "Broken Hearts, Blue Mondays, Red Ferrari.
Tim is probably near the truth, but not fully, although I do not wish to elaborate on a public forum.
Steve hope the song you sent is taken up by Mike as I like to feel I played a small part in that too.
TODAY'S THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
Don't get me wrong, i've decided to bring this one forward not because it contains my first posting on the forum (2+ years ago now!), i'm just interested in what happened to the song sent by Steve - did Mike like it? Did he add it to the show? Or maybe it was even recorded? Is there any news?
Curious little Sheena.
Curious little Sheena.
Nothing will get you dead quicker than being deadly serious about yourself.
Sheena to the best of my knowledge Mike did not record the song, whatever it was,apart from re-recordings of old Searcher's hits the only new songs he recorded were credited to Pender - Cowell, 4 in total. He recorded one track for an album called Class of 64 but off top of my head don't think it was a ST song. The only other new recordings have been of standards like My Girl, Truw Love Ways, It might as Well rain until September all of which have appeared on CD'S sold at the Reeling and Rocking shows.
Possibly he may have recorded stuff I am unaware of but I don't think so, though I am sure there will be a re-vamped Reeling and Rocking CD (3rd) on offer soon, but again only sold at venues where show plays.
Possibly he may have recorded stuff I am unaware of but I don't think so, though I am sure there will be a re-vamped Reeling and Rocking CD (3rd) on offer soon, but again only sold at venues where show plays.
TODAY'S THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
...i still wonder why they (both the Searchers and Mike Pender) sell their new records at their shows? yes i understand it might be the money question, but selling live records at shows is a bit strange to me, because those who can get to the show will naturally hear them live, and those who cannot get to the show - in this case - wouldn't have a chance to hear the band live. Uh. Okay, too sad indeed.
Nothing will get you dead quicker than being deadly serious about yourself.
Souvenirs and pocket change I would think. I've got three of the Searches "Live" albums of recent years and while they are uneven in quality, I do listen to them once in a while.
For completists like myself, they are documents. For casual fans, they are not the thing to own unless you were at the show and want to relive those memories at home.
For completists like myself, they are documents. For casual fans, they are not the thing to own unless you were at the show and want to relive those memories at home.