Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Yes, i really do wonder. Why did this 'virus' catch me? Mean, what's 'right' with the Searchers? None of them was a real virtuoso in his domain - well, to be true, none except one. Harmonies? Yeah, nice, but not supernatural. Any good punk band of today can reproduce it - i wouldn't say 'easily' but they can. Songs? They didn't even write them - or at least most of them. So what's 'right'? Feeling? Truthfullness? Desperate belief in what they do? My daughter was 'caught' by the same virus, too, but she cannot explain it (although she's a very smart girl). Have you got any ideas?

Sheena, I forget who said it but "The whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts". They were four guys who could each sing lead vocal when required. This meant they could tackle any song they chose to do. I never try to analyse why I got struck by the 'virus' 40 odd years ago, I just go along with it.

For me, it is the strong melodies and well-crafted harmonies that have always been and continue to be the hallmark of The Searchers.

It's the harmonies, in tandem with the exquisite guitar work. The Hollies sang great harmony, but the instrumentation [with apologies to Tony Hicks] isn't in the same league. Plus, I've heard very few covers by the Searchers that weren't as good, if not better than the originals, and very few covers of Serchers recorded tunes by other bands that are as good as the Searchers' versions.

You are absolutely right John. They have chosen their covers well.

When you hear the originals of some of the songs they recorded you realise how good they were at totally rearranging the song,some artists will cover songs but stick reasonably close to the original arrangment , one classic example is Barbra Lewis's Some Day We're gonna love Again, to my view a totall different song when compared to the Searchers version.

Some bands just strike you -- there's no need to wonder why or try to explain. For me the Searchers were my favorite British band after the Beatles, hands down, for all the reasons others have stated. When they go into the bridge of "Needles & Pins," the harmonies just lay you out. No other band's vocals had that effect on me until I heard CSN's first album.

Nicely put Dave. I feel very much the same way about The Searchers. I would add that Someday We're Gonna Love Again is another excellent example of rich harmonies that sweep one away.

...or maybe, as my Man says, "it's just the boys who love what they do and it feels". The whole world is at their feet, and life seems to be such a long way to go... No thoughts like "what would happen in a month? in a year? in 10 years". Just "to live this particular moment". Harmonies? Yes, that's true. But... let's look at it, the Hollies also had nice harmonies, but somehow they don't "move" me. Goodness knows why.
Yes, there's no need to explain - maybe. Still i wonder - why?..

Well, I'll say this much (If you don't mind?)

I was born in '68 and in canada, but I'll say, that they had "it".

Many bands fight and fight to find "IT" But the Searchers had it and I got turned on as soon as I heard sweets for my sweet.

Then the rest followed, great music and we do 3 of their tunes in our show.

People here, had almost forgot them.

So let's spead the word, The Searchers got "It".

Great music knows no age and is timeless!

RJ

...i love the "it" theory... like, "either you do have 'it', or you don't"? or am i wrong?

The Searchers were innovative in the recording studio. That "it" that you are talking about has to be translated from live to a recording environment. The Hollies for example were incredible live and so so in the studio. The Searchers were at home in both environments.

The Beatles and the Stones were also very very good in both environments. It's just too bad that the Searchers never quite had the impact that they did

Yes Brian

This is what I was getting at, They must've been something to see live?

Sheena, the "it" I refer to is hard to explain, unless you've written, recorded or played a song, that hits people.

It's magic, Its the only to explain "it"???

I wish I knew a better way to say it?

Cheers
RJ

RJ

I dont remember the year but I saw them in the Gaumont Theatre in Southampton along with Gene Vincent and if memory serve me correct Freddie and the Dreamers.

Old age has a way of dimming memories.

Any way for me at least the Searchers stole the show. They along with the Hollies helped to inspire my band to try to do three piece harmonies with the same type of precision and passion that they portrayed in their songs.

The Searchers were absolutely flawless singers and they were also very accomplished musicians --- Particularly for their time. They certainly came off as big stars.