The Searchers = the best?

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Mon May 16, 2005 1:57 am

Do you like to criticize?
Anyway, that'd be interesting what'd you say. Is there any songs as performed by the Searchers which you concider poor, or there are other better versions. For example:
"Almost saturday night" - way too 'smooth', has no bite to it. Poor performance compared to the original. Both vocal and instrumental.
"Tricky Dicky" - in my view, was much better performed by the Mindbenders.
"Needles and pins" - i prefer the version by the Ramones.
What's your opinion?

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Mon May 16, 2005 11:42 am

I'll take the original 'Needles and Pins' any day, Sheena.

jjr · Post by **jjr** » Mon May 16, 2005 5:21 pm

Depends on your preference. I like harmonies and GREAT guitar fills. So no one tops the Searchers' version of "Needles and Pins" for me (disregarding the revolutionary guitar sound it introduced), and that includes the Ramones, Jackie De Shannon (the original), and a truly nauseating version by Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks.

Ditto for "Almost Saturday Night", although he wrote it, his version was not JC Fogerty at his best, and their "September Gurls" put the Bangles in the bleachers, where they belonged.

As for "Tricky Dicky", can't compare 'em. Never heard the Mindbenders' version, but I did like the boys' version a great deal.

I can't actually say I ever heard a Seachers' version of a song that wasn't at least as good as the original, except, perhaps, "Sweets for My Sweet", and "I Count the Tears" (I have a soft spot for the Drifters).

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:46 am

...although "not at his best", i think JF himself beats down later version by the Searchers. The song in its original version had a rhythm which was "smoothed", and a solo which was not present in the cover. The harmonies of the cover are predictable - just a kind of a "unison" stuff, as it sounds to me, a bit strange to hear it from a band which is known for its harmonies. The guitar break switches to the main tune kinda awkwardly, and there's no triangle sound... Okay, i don't mean the Searchers' version is bad or anything, it's just that it isn't as good as i expected it to be...