Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

While listening to some Searchers songs yesterday, I began wondering: who were/are The Searchers' favorite artists? I know that Mike Pender was a huge Buddy Holly fan, and it would seem that he is a Roy Orbison fan as well. Also, I would think that Jackie DeShannon would place high on the group's list--certainly Frank Allen has expressed his admiration of her work. Does anyone know what other artists the various members of The Searchers have been fond of, and how these artists may have influenced them?

S.J. The Searchers have expressed their admiration of the Everly Brothers over the years. When you listen closely to the Searchers' harmonies the style of the Everlys certainly shines through.

I never thought about that before, but you're right! What's amazing about this is that I just read that the Everly Brothers also recorded "Have You Ever Loved Somebody"--hmm, any way to tie this to our Hollies thread?

Did The Searchers do any Everly songs besides "Since You Broke My Heart"? There may be some other Everly covers that I know of, but they've slipped my mind for the moment.

Yes. the Everly Brother's album was titled "Two Yanks In London" and The Hollies were heavily involved in the production of the album.

SJ: It must also be remembered that HAVE YOU EVER LOVED SOMEBODY (Clarke / Hicks / Nash) was written by the Hollies. This ties us in to the Hollies' thread as well.

Let's not forget Chuck Berry ("Sweet Little Sixteen") or the Drifters ("Sweets for My Sweets", "I Count the Tears")

Right your are John. To add to this topic, John McNally had this to say about his musical influences.Quote:My early guitar influences were Hank Williams, Buddy Holly, Scotty Moore, Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins and Cliff Gallop (Gene Vincent's guitarist) He made further comments that were included in the article Liverpool's Fastest Rhythm Guitar

The Hollies not only produced Two Yanks in England but wrote 2/3 of the songs on the album as I recall.

I think I am correct in saying that "Always It's You" which features on the "Live at Star Club"is the only other Everly's song recorded by The Searchers

It's not an artist, precisely, but the Searchers seem to have payed much more attention to Doo Wop (Clovers, Drifters, Coasters) and black GROUPS (Orlons) and non- early black pionerers (Marvin Gaye)than their contemporaries. Even Tony Jackson (after the split) covered Mary Wells ("You Beat Me to
the Punch"). I remember the Hollies covering Doris Troy ("Just One Look), but that's about it.

Great contributions, guys. Yes, Peter, that The Hollies wrote (and recorded) "Have You Ever Loved Somebody" is exactly what I was referring to. It intrigued me that we were just talking about the connection between The Searchers and The Hollies and then The Everly Brothers ended up entering that connection as well.

Here's a thought: Some rock historians feel that Del Shannon had a great influence on The Searchers' sound. For example, Ken Barnes once wrote that in the guitar riffs of Shannon's "Little Town Flirt" one could "detect the entire subsequent career of The Searchers....." I am not sure I agree with this assessment, however, and I was wondering if any of The Searchers ever mentioned Del Shannon as an influence.

A featured number in the Searchers act since Spencer James joined has been Runaway. Del Shannon of course recorded Needles and Pins

Shannon also did "When You Walk In The Room," with an arrangement that was more akin to that of The Searchers than Jackie DeShannon. So maybe Del Shannon was a Searchers fan.

I didn't know The Searchers had been doing any Del Shannon songs. Thanks for the info.

Thanks S.J I was not aware that Del had recorded Walk in the Room. For info the latest version of this song has been done by "Smokie" here in England, for those unfamiliar with Smokie , they had a lot of success here in England and Europe in the seventies and recently had a revival because they became the first western rock group to play a gig in Bejing, China. They also had a hit with "Needles" back in the seventies and the one original member Terry Uttely still left in the group is a Searchers fan, like me he's from Bradford, West Yorkshire.

You're welcome, Roy, and thanks for the info on Smokie. I had heard of them, I just didn't know much about them. How do their versions of "Needles" and "Room" compare to those of The Searchers?

My contributions to the forum will be nonexistant for a few days, for I will be away receiving medical treatment. I'll join in once more when I return.

Been away SJ, so just read your posting, hope you are ok.

Smokie's version of Needles was not bad, in fact a lot of semi proffessional groups, much to my chagrin, started to copy their arrangement of the song back in the seventies. Their 2000 version of Room is not a patch on the Searchers version, but in fairness even the searchers have never in view, captured live the greatsound that Tony Hatch got on this recorded version.

Should you want to hear their versions contact me direct.