Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've tried to make a list of songs which imho could have been done by the Searchers' leadsingers. The question is, 'who could sing what'? How do you think?
1. Swallow my pride (Ramones)
2. Green green grass of home (trad.)
3. Boat on the river (Styx)
4. Sixteen tons
5. 500 miles (the Proclaimers)
6. Bridge over troubled water (Simon/Garfunkel)
Any suggestions? (hungry for )
Curious,
Sheena.

Strangely Sheena, Sixteen tons was a single by Johnny Sandon who was The Searchers first lead vocalist.

Oh really?! I didn't know that. And when i first heard his voice, i thought, like, "awh, he'd be perfect for Sixteen Tons!". No really. Intuition or what?
Anyway, in this post i suggested another leadsinger for this song...

Am not familiar with all selections, Sheena. But Green Green Grass.. is definitely a Spencer song. Needs a powerhouse voice. "Troubled Water" could be a Chris song, if he adapted it to his own voice, style and limitations. Could be done by Spencer, too, but i'd rather not.. 500 miles is a smashing song, so who could make a decent Reid twins version? My suggestion: A combination of Tony and Chris (with Mike?) in their early days. Sixteen tons would be an obvious McNally choise!

POST NO. 100!

Einar: Pleased to see that you have reached 100. The next post should see you in the "senior" category along with Sheena.

WOW!!

huh... Welcome to the 'oldies' show, Einar...
Okay, you got '16 tons'... as for "Green green grass..." and "Bridge", i like your version, and it's maybe a better choice than mine... not too much different, actually, the same leadsingers but vice versa... "500 miles" - yeah maybe but i suggested another leadsinger...
"Take me back to my boat on the river, i need to go down, i need to come down \ Take me back to my boat on the river, and i won't cry out anymore" - you never heard it? I dunno, here it was everywhere on the radio... sometimes twice a day...

16 Tons ???? Tennessee Earnie Ford dear.............( Not Ford Lincoln Mercury)

Did you used to play for Newcastle United????

Well Sheena,

Any Ramones song would have to be done by Chris Curtis. He was the belter. His vocals were definitely the most rocking of any lead vocalist ever in the group.

For Green Green Grass Of Home, I'd say McNally. It's perfect for him.

Styx. Forget it. Nobody should sing it.

Sixteen Tons is a bit of a novely AFAIC so let's give it to Frank.

500 Miles, Spencer.

Bridge. Pender. He's got the range and is high notes are stronger than Spencer's. A tighter voice overall while Spencer has that wide vibrato that I've never really been that fond of.

Cheers,

db

David, i really do like your suggestions, especially given none of them is the same as mine... I'm still tryin' to imagine "Swallow my pride" done by Chris... cannot, really, so it's a right suggestion... Same goes to "Sixteen tons"... oh-wee... As for "Bridge...", i'm not so sure Pender could do it... after all (IMHO only!!!) even Elvis couldn't have 'beaten' Art Garfunkel on that number, so... "Green green grass"... yep, that was another 'variant' for the song i was thinking of...
PS: BTW, what's wrong - no, not with Styx in general, but with that particular song?

Hi Sheena,

Nothing against the song, I just don't like Styx. Sorry.

Re. Bridge, if Pender couldn't do it, nobody in the group could (sorry Spencer). Listen to the job Pender did on Solitaire. Quite spectacular ... but no, it would beat Art. That's all the more reason why nobody should bother covering the song IMO. McNally has been singing some very rootsy songs lately so "Green Green Grass Of Home" really suits him if it were performed in a quiet, low key, acoustic style.

I can see Frank doing Sixteen Tons. He likes to be the life of the party on stage so he could have a lot of fun with that one. Be a good audience singalong.

Where are your choices?

db

Well, David, i can't say i like Styx either, i just like this 'country' tune... Humm... i won't be arguing about Pender's vocal abilities - tastes (and minds) differ, right?
My suggestions were actually the following - oh... that's just a subjective opinion...
Swallow my pride - Jackson (a 'rebel' and a 'rebellious' song... or i might be wrong)
Green green grass - Curtis (could be a knock-out, IMHO)
Boat on the river - Pender (a movin' country tune... why not?)
500 miles - Allen (could be a lot of fun)
16 tons - McNally (the song needs a more or less 'mature' voice, n'est-ce pas?)
Bridge - James (i just think he could do it, really).
Or something...
PS: i truly cannot see "Green green grass..." performed in other way than quiet and acoustic... but heck, who knows?..

Styx.....stynx.