Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

from British Beat Before the Beatles here is one track and other is from my collection.

The Shadows of course apart from US became famous for their instrumentals Apache is regarded by many as a classic. Originally they started out as The Drifters but had to change their name due of course to the American Drifters. They released a couple of singles as The Drifters one a vocal one a instrumental.

Their first single as The Shadows was called Saturday Dance coupled with,in my opinion at least, a far better track Lonesome Fella

The single bombed as they say and they resorted to a instrumental for their next release the one that really made them and defined the career path certainly in the sixties they would take i.e instrumentals.

Had Saturday Dance been a hit though would we ever have seen them emerge into the great instrumental band they became

Here for those of you who wish to listen is that first single by The Shadows Saturday dance and Lonesome Fella

You can click on the following link to retrieve your file. The link will expire in 7 days
and will be available for a limited number of downloads.

http://s48.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3V71JPXTAF4XQ2K5DZQ46QOLQF

http://s55.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3IVLEKU4YABPP0QTPNX5SPGPW0

Nice tracks - i also liked "Lonesome Fella" more than "Saturday dance", to be true...

Saturday Dance has moments of brilliance Roy. Very reminiscent of the Everly Brothers harmony and even a hint of the Beach Boys as well.

I think that a few changes to this number could have resulted in a respectable placing for The Shadows. The guitar work that would make them famous is easily a standout on this song though.

Saturday Dance reminded me a little of Buddy Holly. Lonesome Fella while a better tune IMO, did not quite hit the mark. Perhaps because of the excessive reverb on the tamborine/hi-hat that punctuated the song. That was a bit over the top.

The harmonies were sparkling in places. The lead singer was a bit pitchy in a couple of places, but overall very presentable.

I am curious is that Hank Marvin doing the lead vocals Roy?

BTW I don't recall either of these songs.

Lead on Lonesome Brian is Jet Harris, Hank and Bruce Welch sort of take joint lead on Saturday Night.

You have to bear in mind whilst I acknowledge your expertise in these areas of technical comment, this was 1959.

Glad though you got to hear it 47 years late(frightnening isn't it)

Lonesome Fella is an interesting song that stylistically reminds me of Ricky Nelson and The Fleetwoods. Thanks for the information about the Jet Harris vocal Roy.

In commenting on your theme, in the title, had these been successful it may have taken the group in a completely different direction. I wonder what the lyrics would have been to Apache? The Shadows might have been known as The Teardrops, Teenagers or worse.

It would be interesting to hear the Shadows account on why they decided to move to instrumental for the first time. Have you read such an account Roy?

Technically Peter it was not the first time they had done an instrumental they had released their first single as The Drifters had been a vocal both sides, but their second and last single as The Drifters had been an instrumental again both sides Drfitin' and Jet Black.Story goes that on a spring tour of UK in early 1960 as the backing band to Cliff Richard, Jerry Lordan who was on the bill played Hank Marvin a tune on a ukulele that he had wrote and given to Bert Weedon who had recorded it but not issued it. Of course that tune was Apache and the Shadows persuaded Norrie Paramor to let them record it and rest was history. Around this time though they acquired their first manager Peter Gormley who apparently told them they were no matinee idols and they ought to get a career organised. Because Apache was such a massive hit number one in UK for 6 weeks it was inevitable that the next release would be a instrumental that went top 5. In fact they released 17 consecutive instrumentals before releasing another vocal as the A side , only 2 of those 17 featured a vocal on the B Side.

The Shadows in theory disbanded in late 68 but in early 70's Marvin and Welch teamed up with John Farrar from Austrialia to become Marvin Welch and Farrar and released two albums as M,W&F and one album as Marvin & Farrar.

The style was a totally different approach to what they had been as The Shadows but the public just did not accept it, I saw them walk off to sound of their own feet one night at a Club because though in my mind they were great to all intents and purpose the paying public had in their eyes paid to see The Shadows irrespective of what they called themselves, the first night they played no Shadows numbers but must have had, as we say over here the hard word from the club owners, as the rest of the week they did reluctantly play Shadows numbers as well to pacify the Audience. In 74 they abandoned the concept and became The Shadows again though Farrar soon left to produce Olivia Newton John in US and make a fortune.

I, whilst I acknowledge being indulgent, will post a couple of MWF tracks for those who wish to listen, I would appreciate comments.

I, whilst I acknowledge being indulgent, will post a couple of MWF tracks for those who wish to listen, I would appreciate comments.

Yes, there are some who wish to listen...
Thanks for that great info, Roy!

Great information Roy. My education continues with each of your posts.

I do recall hearing Marvin Welch and Farrar and being swept away by their fine guitar work, tight harmonies and provocative lyrics. One example, "Silvery Rain" comes to mind. I suspect that it was essentially all original material.

I would love to hear more and also would like to hear the Drifters first two songs as well should you have the time.

You have the following file available for download:

The two singles released as The Drifters

drifters.zip

(8.15 MB)

two MWF tracks the autobiographical My Home Town and a favourite of mine A Thousand Conversations

You can click on the following link to retrieve
Marvin Welch and Farrar - Track 14.mp3 (3058 KB)

http://s31.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=04Y5TO4AQMYPL0Y3Y8LLGYCZM

Roy when those songs were released in 1959 I was quite young. That coupled with the fact that they did not do well, is probably why I had never heard either of them.

Thanks again for your great insight to the early music of the Shadows.

BTW you give me far too much credit for technical expertise. My recording experiences began in early 1966, so I missed some of the trials and tribulations of recording with 2 track and early four track recorders.

But at least you recorded Brian nearest I got to recording was with some friends on a old reel to reel Grundig tape recorder.

Roy: What's a reel to reel? Just kidding. You should have seen me trying to explain who Jan and Dean were to a group of teens the other day. Time flies!

Will our ability to discuss music history improve now that we can quickly find an mp3 to illustration our points instead of showing younger generations a album cover?

My daughter's favorite all-time oldie is J&D's "Little Old Lady From Pasadena". She listens to it in the car everytime we go on a trip! She's 8.