Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Recently, I've lent some ear to the 5 PYE LP's. I've been pleasantly surprised by the way they have stood the time, and also discovered small details that I hadn't acknowleged, or had forgotten. The recent gem is this song from "Take me for what I'm worth". Seemingly a very anonymous song, in between more obvious pleasing songs like Each Time and Don't you know why. It's written by Curtis (c. M.Denger). It's not a peace of music you will find obviously satisfying.
But now, It's really in my head! It starts off with some hammering guitar rhytm, followed by marching drum patterns and a whoofing bass sound. The melody in itself is dull in a way, the words are sung in a monotously chanting style. It's very similair to what e.g. The Yardbirds developed their style into during their Jeff Beck period. In the middle of the very short song (1:30+)is a wonderful little guitar solo. It is introduced by Chris on the drums, changing the tempo for this interlude. It lasts less than 10 seconds, but is surprisingly innovative and jazzy!
Is this Mike or John? It's no use, but I wonder how their 5th Pye LP had sounded like, had Chris stayed in tune.
The least likeable song from "Take me..." has now become my favourite!

Einar
(who has also found more guitar solos to listen more closely to, from "It's the Serarchers" and "Sounds like Searchers").

Ehe, should have been "piece".

Peacefully,
Einar

Great note Einar... BTW, a friend of mine used to describe this album as simple as that: "that's everything you should know about Punk". (sic!) Anyway i always thought this particular song is among the five best numbers of the album (three of them are self-penned), not least because it's rather unusual for them. And yes, this guitar break is something that makes it really 'spicy', a bit of chaos in a very logical song. And the refrain is as close to a hook as such a seemingly silly refrain could be!
(BTW, how about the solo for "I'm Ready"?)
PS: i'll vote for Mike...

Hello again once more:
What I was wondering about at the end, was how their SIXTH Pye LP would have sounded like. I miscounted, and didn't mean to say Chris did not keep focus on "Take me..". (Although I honestly think his contributions here were not his best. I'm Ready... an unnecessary filler!).

Einar

Hi Sheena, thanks for joining in! Didn't read your mail until after I made my third! As for "I'm ready": Absolutely great guitar. But the picking of this song for this "new directions"-LP is not so good, i.m.o.
Your description of "I'm your loving man" as "rather unusual for them" is to the point and almost an understatement: Perhaps the most unlikely Searchers recording till then.
Do you include "Too many miles" in your TMFWIW top 5? I said earlier I think It's their (by far) nicest and most classy self-penned song. But did not receive much acclaim from the list for saying so!
I wonder if the rest of you have given "I'm your loving man" a re-listen by now, and hope to see your reactions!

Einar

Einar,
as far as C.C.'s contributions go, i'd rather agree (sometimes i have a feeling Chris is kicking an empty bucket - sorry - that's an interesting sound, for a "garage" record that'd be great but i don't think it really fits HERE).
As for "Too many miles" - not really, i think. I did like it at the first listen but then it got a bit tired somehow. Flute is great (although i didn't manage to find out who's playing - Frank Allen said "no idea"), the tune is okay (but a bit repetitive, imho), lyrics... well, nice. Vocals are a bit tiresome, imho. That's not that the song is bad or something; that's just it doesn't really work on me and nothing more. 'I'm your loving man' and 'It's time' just work better.
PS: as for their 'best original', still i'd stick at 'I'll be loving you', because of lyrics. Wonder why it was forgotten and didn't see 'the light of day' as a part of some album. The album in question, for instance...