| Review of Tracks 1 - 10 |
Track One - It's All Been A Dream
This was the "B" Side of Sweets for my Sweet, back in the Halcyon days when a single was exactly that - 7" piece of vinyl with one track on one side called the "A" Side and one track on the other side, called - strangely enough - the "B" Side. Nowadays you get the CD version, the cassette version, the limited edition version, the 12"version the club mix, the remix and any other ploy that the marketing people can come up with to get gullible fans to part with their money.
Life was much simpler then, or am I just getting old? Don't Answer!
This track, in my view, would still have been a hit even if it had been the "A"Side. Simple melody, jangling Guitars. The song is credited to
C Crummy on the actual single. This, I am led to believe, being the real name of Chris Curtis. Some compilation albums actually credit the song to C Curry.
Track 2 - I Pretend I'm with You
Again a C Curtis penned number and in my view, this should have been the follow up single to Don't Throw your Love Away
rather than the "B" side of same. I personally consider it -bearing in mind the year of release- to have been a stronger number than Someday We're Gonna Love Again which was the actual follow up release.
As far as I know, this is the only "Searchers" penned number to have been recorded by another artist(s). It appeared on an Album by The Rapiers, an excellent sixties sound band, in the early 90's, Frank
Allen did the sleeve notes for this album.
Track 3 - I'll Be Missing You
The first "B" Side to feature Frank Allen and whilst I can't say that my best friend of 35 years is a Searchers Avid, like myself, this is his favourite number by them.
In fact the only Searchers Single I recall him buying is When You Walk in The Room which was the "A" Side of course.
The song is credited to all of the band members at the time and states Allen, Curtis, McNally, Pender. However on later compilations the running order changes to Curtis, McNally, Pender, Allen. What cannot be correct however is the credit given to Frank Allen, mainly because, the band were performing
this song in Liverpool in 1963.
Track 4 - Till I met You
The song introduced by Frank nowadays as the one John wrote for his wife, Mary.
The songwriting credits on the single and the numerous compilations, etc, show it as Curtis, Pender, Allen, McNally. One assumes therefore that this was done for financial reasons or that the lyric's were John's with input from the others.
What is clear however, in my not so humble opinion is that the song should have been the follow up to Goodbye my Love rather than wasted on the "B"Side.
I firmly believe it would have been a massive hit in it's own right and could have become a classic.
Bearing in mind the year both songs were written, I genuinely feel this song is every bit as good as Yesterday. If Lennon -McCartney had written this, it would have been hailed as a classic, I reckon.
Track 5 - Don't Hide It Away
A McNally, Pender, Allen song and one of my personal favourites. This song was on the "B" Side of Take It Or Leave It. but is, in my view, far better. A great lilting melody and features what I suspect is Tony Hatch on piano.
Track 6 - If I Could Find Someone
Again a Chris Curtis song featured on the band's fourth album and I sometimes think that Chris Curtis's contribution to the band's ' Golden Years' so to speak is overlooked.
The Band's fourth album 'Sounds Like Searchers' was far more polished than the first three and some of the rawness that had perhaps contributed to the Band's early success was missing.
I believe Frank and Mike were using 'Burns Guitars'
which were in vogue at the time. John still used a Fender.
Track 7 - I'll Cry Tomorrow
One of the writing anomalies for this track - credited to Pender, McNally on the single - was the "B" Side of Western Union" but on some later compilation releases credited to Pender/McNally/ Stevens.
Some great raunchy guitar on this track, possibly played by John, although Mike was always stated during the PYE years as being Lead Guitar. A POUNDING bass courtesy of Frank on this track.
Incidentally the album 'Sounds Like' is the only Searchers album ever, to not feature a track released by the band as a Single either "A" or "B" side.
Track 8 - Lovers
A McNally Pender collaboration on this track - great sound. Whilst it is easy to be a critic, I would have liked to have seen this featured on the excellent Triple CD release.
Two "B" Sides were dropped, due to space constraints probably, but the track Too Many Miles could have gone into the album section of the release. The reason being is that this track was the only PYE album track to feature on a "B" side.
Track 9 - Don't You Know Why
A song on the last official PYE album - a McNally solo effort.
Track 10 - Second Hand Dealer
The last single on PYE unless you want to get technical and include all the countless reissues, etc
Again, songwriting credits on the single go to McNally/Pender but later versions of the song on compilations state Allen/Pender or vice versa. Check those royalties John?
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Submitted May 14, 2001
