Love Remains - A Review

[admin]

I have very recently had the pleasure of listening to "Love Remains" and I was so impressed with the quality of Spencer James' work that I have posted a short reivew on Needles and Pins. You can read it here.

[royclough]

Rather belatedly I congratulate Peter on a Excellent review of the latest SJ release.
I suppose being cynical, that new releases by SJ are the nearest we will get to anything new, with a Searchers conncection.

I fully agree with SJ's sleeve notes, that some of the best songs around today emanate from what is classed as New Country.

One of the big numbers that The Searchers do in their act, "In This Life" was originally done by Colin Raye, albeit John I assume, has totally rearranged the song brilliantly in my view to suit The Searchers.

"Love Me", a song on the CD Peter enthuses about is again a Colin Raye song, although SJ sticks close to the original arrangement.
"I Saw The Light" owes much to the version released by Hal Ketchum, another fine New Country artist.

There is one track, "Lipstick Promises2 which if SJ had Kept to the original version, in terms of the backing track, would be a ideal vehicle for The Searchers. SJ's version is synthesiser led whereas the original version by George Ducas is prominently Guitar led, this is not a critiscim of SJ's version, merely a observation that the more prominent guitar sound would suit "The Searchers" sound.

I fully accept that Spencer is not trying to convey a Searchers sound.There is another great track by George Ducas that Spencer should consider or "The Searchers" as again a great guitar sound, track is called "Only In My Dreams".

[admin]

Thanks for the kind words Roy. I was really taken by this release and hope many others will get the opportunity to hear it. I certainly agree that the Searchers would do well to adapt a number of these songs to their own style. What is difficult for me to understand is why the Searchers don't rely on Spencer's recording talents more record a CD of their own. I may be way off base here, but it would seem as if the Searchers and Spencer are two separate entities that are not destined to meet in the studio. Your comments really have me wondering if a lack of common goal with regard to The Searchers music hasn't been a factor in some of the difficulties the group has had over the years.

[marie]

Re the two never meeting, on both the live cds i have bought at thier shows both state they were remixed at SJO Music studios Northampton, so in a way the two do "meet", I also noticed (especially on the second) added sounds not apparent at the shows, on Walk in the room there is a deffinate syntersized background effect, which might not be to all Searchers fans preference, but to myself who grew up with the sounds of the eighties groups (OMD, Pet shop boys etc) it sounds great,again showing how the group adapt, but never forgetting thier roots, and long may they continue!

[admin]

Marie: By all means "long may they continue." Moreover, long may fans continue to discuss this great music no matter what the decade.

[mygeneration]

Spencer told me a while ago that he is to start working on a follow-up CD to Love Remains early this year (about now?) and that it will, like Tides Of Time, feature self-penned songs. Last time I asked him though, he told me he had just moved and that he has to rebuild the studio first!

Regarding a Searchers studio album, the problem seems to be financing the project. Its easy for Spencer to work at his convenience on any solo product from his home studio. Its a different matter getting the four of them together in one place, and they wouldn't want to come off the road for financial reasons.

So no more studio albums unless a nice record company offers a huge advance. Are there any nice record companies?

Gary

[admin]

Gary: Your points are most interesting and well taken. There is a bottom line to everything and you would seem to have hit the nail on the head with these comments.

I suppose that The Searchers have already made their mark with regard to recordings and as such Frank and John may be less taken by going the distance to get a hit record than Spencer at this point.

I have read elsewhere that Frank is interested in another hit record, however, the chance of a record company coming forward based on hits years ago would seem unlikely. A great demo or two from Spencer's studio, however, at least gives them some chance of getting the attention of a record company. I really hope they give recording another try.

[admin]

Gary: Is there any word on the release date for Spencer's third CD? As a follow-up, I have never heard any of his music on the air in Canada. Have his CD's received much airplay in the UK?