The Searchers Found It in 1979
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Artist:
The Searchers: "It's Too Late"
Sorry to get all non-obscure with you, but I can't help it. The only other MOG post about this early British Invasion group from Liverpool was by oceanrain in 8/4/07, and except for a brief mention in a comment by dermahrk, attention focused only on their wonderful 1960s hits. As Searchers aficionados probably all know, they went through the 1970s without creating much attention, but then miraculously recorded two amazing albums, The Searchers (1979) and Love's Melodies (1981). Here are a couple of highlights from the former, always fun to listen to again. Notice how in the chorus to "Lost in Your Eyes" the singer sings the last word of each line Lennon-style. The third song here, "Coming from the Heart," was written but never recorded by Bob Dylan as far as I can tell. One reason I'm including it here is to see if anyone can guess which recording by another act probably inspired the double-time beat at the end.
"Lost in Your Eyes"
"Coming from the Heart"
Here's a video of them playing in great form at a club, probably in 1981. Youtube has a bunch more from the same set.
Locating MOG account...
Comments (18)
Great post but I can't guess the answer to your question, though I suspect I may slap my forehead with the heel of my palm when you tell me. Tell me in a MOGmail if you don't want to spoil the party.
Glad you liked it. Instead of slapping my forehead, I most often shrivel.
Man, you're so right. Cool.
i like it. i never knew about The Searchers and now i want more. i won't even try to guess the answer to your question, i'm just a speck of something that isn't dust in the MOGiverse. (:
poebegone, you're one of the more interesting specks in our galaxy. Only certain geezers will know the answer to my question.
Illay, don't feel bad, this geezer had to ask the answer.
I also cannot guess what the Western pop progenitor of the speeded-up final section could be. I'm sure this is a coincidence, but it's common practice for a lot of African bands - especially Congolese and East African - to do something similar. About two-thirds of the way through a mid-tempo number, or even sometimes a ballad, they'll stop, then dig in again at a pace ideal for ecstatic dancing. I guess this ensures audience enthusiasm as the song ends....
Such tactics have been known to wake me up.
alrighty, this geezer will keep tuned until the mystery is revealed.
I'm not sure, but the melody at the beginning of the tune reminds me of some female vocalists tune I can't name. Lovin' the pure rock and roll sound of the Searchers.
Cody, glad you like it.
OK, it's time for a clue: It's a track on a 1965 LP of another even more well-known male British Invasion band. We're talking beat, not melody.
Geez, I own a pretty complete Searchers collection ( the 3-disc Pye box set and both of their later LPs on one CD). I even own a copy of that club video, yet I've fallen down on my MOG duties and never posted about them. Thanks for filling in that gap.
BTW, I have to commend you on wherever you get all those bizarre avatars.
I can't come up with that British band. Hope I don't have the LP. It wouldn't be Them? Just a guess...
dermahrk, now I want to get Pye set. Without your having to listen to any of it again, do any of the non-hits on it come to mind that really leap out?
Those avatars are from postcards, newspapers, magazines, junk mail and books that have entered the door like plankton drifting through a whale's baleen. I like making collages using found imagery. Having to move to a new house a few years ago, and turning sixty, have slowed the music and image invasion considerably.
OK, if even you couldn't guess the answer to the question, that means that my question was unfairly difficult. It is "Surprise, Surprise" by the Rolling Stones.
dermahrk, here's another little Searchers question you may know something about. They covered Jackie DeSannon's song "When You Walk in the Room," featured in the video above, which has that memorable guitar riff. Have you noticed any writer mentioning that the Beatles lifted it, as well as her drum intro, for the intro of their song "What You're Doing"?
You are NOT going to believe that, of 14,000+ songs on the iPod, the Searchers "When You Walk In The Room" just came on shuffle play.
Can't say I've ever read of Beatles plagarism on this one. Seems there are a bunch of similar guitar riffs on 60s song, including "Daytripper". That drum part is pretty similar, though.
There are many stellar non-hit tracks. I'll do a bit of digging. No need to hear everything again. I know the good ones by heart. That Pye box is (was) very reasonably-priced as I remember, so check it out.
good listen
dermahrk, about your iPod, my proximity to Silicon Valley allowed me to arrange that. You deserved it, thanks to your old Mogger of the Week comments.
extraordinarypoems, good to hear.
Here's the Rolling Stones' "Surprise, Surprise" from their 1965 album The Rolling Stones Now!, which a MOG upgrade erased long ago.