Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I was somewhat surprised to read this comment by Burton Cummings in the Toronto Sun that I found both arrogant and in error.

"What we're talking about is doing an album of old covers. Maybe some Chuck Berry stuff that (Randy) loves. I've been waiting to re-record Love Potion No. 9 for years. I loved it by The Clovers, then The Searchers butchered it, and it's about time I did it the right way, you know?"

You can read the brief article here.

Burton will have to go some to improve over this great cover by The Searchers, sung by the late great, Tony Jackson. To my way of thinking this comment takes away from the "Stand Tall" image I consider he is trying to create.

Perhaps it is time for The Searchers to do a Guess Who medley. What songs should they consider?

"American woman! Stay away from me!"
(don't get me wrong - just quoting)
I wonder what he'll come up with, BTW.

Good one Sheena. This could turn out to be good fodder for the Searchers stage show. I'd love to see "These Eyes" undun with some great harmony.

It could only be American Woman in the UK. None of their others are known at all

I'm pretty certain if asked John's reaction would be medley by who?????

It could only be American Woman in the UK. None of their others are known at all

Same in Russia, to be honest...

It must be remembered that the Guess Whos' first hit recording, a cover, was "Shakin' All Over" and recorded with the sound of the British Invasion in mind. Also, it has been said their name was chosen from guess "Who." The comments from Burton are disappointing and shallow especially since they owed their "big break" in part to the reputation and sound of groups such as The Searchers.

To play devil's advocate, compared to the Clovers version, the Searchers' cover IS in all fairness a little, um..."white." Which is true of a lot of Brit covers of American R&B tracks to varied degrees. The Hollies for instance never sounded terribly convincing covering Tamla/Motown or R&B; the Zombies were probably a little better at it, mostly thanks to Colin's singing & Rod's jazz stylings...the Stones & Animals had a lot of grit, & were much better at it.

The Searchers definitely found their stride in this arena covering slower obscure R&B B-sides & giving them sort of a lush neo-Phil Spector arrangement (a'la "Does She Really Care For Me").

That said, I like it 'cause it's the Searchers & take it on it's own merits, & think it's the height of discourtesy to diss another performer in print (unless of course the group in question were SO obviously contrived that they begged for it...).

Well...Burton Cummings has never been known for his lack of ego or ability to make his fellow bandmates cringe at his public announcements, so this outburst shouldn't come as any great shock...

Buddy

Your points are well taken Buddy. It is always great to hear different points of view, especially when it comes to music.

I too was not completely surprised, but would have thought he would have had more credibility had he taken the time to record and climb the charts before dismissing The Searchers out of hand.

Perhaps they could rip a few off Burton Cummings' self-titled album. And butcher them!!!

That's all they deserve, IMO.....

Nah, I say just let it pass...Burton Cummings may be a weenie in person, but that doesn't negate the fact that he's a great singer, & the Guess Who put out some fantastic records. The same can be said for a number of artists who could be vile in their personal lives, like Van Morrison, Frank Sinatra, Picasso, etc. Ultimately they tend to be profoundly unhappy people despite their success, so there's nothing you or anyone else can do to 'em that "karma" hasn't already taken care of.

Sometimes you just have to separate the art from the artist so you can enjoy the product of their talent & try to ignore the man behind the curtain.

Buddy

As a friend of mine used to say, "There are two ways to tell the world you're cool: a) do something cool; b) claim somebody else, preferably a well-known one, is uncool". Hope the latter is not Cummings' case, but still...

Not to kick a man when he already being kicked around, but on the Guess Who song "Laughing", there's a section in which Burton Cummings starts laughing the melody, or scatting, but using the words "ha ha ha aha". My friends and I have always had a good laugh over that bit.

I think his Searchers comment was rude, and FWIW, I've prefered the Searchers version of LP#9 big time over the '50's version. 'Twas my only Searchers record.

It seems the Searchers are a bit higher in the rock and roll tree than the Guess Who, even McGuinn cites them as an influence.

Is this a private tempest, or is there room in the teapot for me as well? The Searchers are cool, and Burton is too...however:

I gotta weigh in on Buddy's side of this argument. There's a special, bizarre image conjured up by an African-American singing about being so out-of-it that he "kissed a cop". No offense, but Jackson's delivery on this tune sounds like that of a routine, everyday "cop kisser"...

Speaking of cops... i wonder: was the song in question ever performed by a woman? (no offence/pun intended, just wondering)