Sunday morning Merseybeat: three obscure tracks from The Searchers
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Artist:
Spike posted a bit of The Searchers last week and it made me realize how little-represented on MOG this group is. The Searchers were one of the "other" groups from Liverpool that became popular in '64-'65. Hits: Needles and Pins, Sweets for My Sweet, Love Potion #9. Their songs were distinguished by the extensive use of the electric 12-string guitar, which inspired The Byrds, who inspired George Harrison. But the Searchers were first. Vocal harmonies, sometimes intricately arranged, were also a vital component of their sound.
Spike asked for some of their non-hits, so I did a brief search of my iTunes and came up with three representative numbers. The first is Each Time. This song was written by Jackie DeShannon and, although Allmusic.com lists no other covers of the song, I own at least one - by Marti Jones on her (best) album Used Guitars.
You'll also find two more tracks in Comments, I Pretend I'm With You, written by their first drummer Chris Curtis (nee Chris Crummy), the 60s heartthrob at left in the above photo. Also there is Take It Or Leave It, which to my surprise turned out to be a Jagger-Richards composition. never recorded by The Rolling Stones or any other artist. All three are representative of the sound of the Searchers. Should much interest be displayed, I'll be happy to post a few of their hits as well at a later point.
Locating MOG account...
Comments (17)
Here's I Pretend I'm With You
And Take It Or Leave It
Great stuff, dermhy.
Much like the Beatles, this bands songs (and sound) are embedded on my musical memory banks.
Hey, you're right.
love Petty's cover of Needles and Pins
love to hear the original :-)
Great post, dermahrk. These are all new to me, and wonderful. Upon hearing the beginning of "Each Time," I'm, like, whoa, I've heard a much later cover of it by a woman that's on a ">post<":http://mog.com/Spike/blog_post/117173 of mine, and I'd totally forgotten you had commented on it that the Searchers had covered the song earlier.
Then you spring "Take It Or Leave It," and I'm, like, whoa. The Rolling Stones did record it, and it was on their 1966 UK Decca LP Aftermath.
The sound here is not the greatest because I have it on a reel-to-reel tape. It must have been reissued on CD at some point, I bet.
Well, it's certainly odd that it didn't show up as such on AllMusic. com. And since Aftermath is one of the few Stones LPs I don't own, my ignorance is at least explainable if not excusable. I did borrow Aftermath from a friend briefly back in the 60s, and now that I hear it I remember it. I have to say I think the Searchers do a better version, though.
And you inspired me to go back to that post and listen (and enjoy) again. So that's 2 covers missed by AllMusic. I'm beginning to lose faith in their "Song" data.
"....Then you spring "Take It Or Leave It," and I'm, like, whoa."
..and so she goes. "not likely", and I'm like all "Say what?" and she's like "as if", you know? So I like go "yeah?" and she goes."right!" Right? like she's gonna get all up on me..so I'm like whoa.
Have you ever been called erudite?
Didn't think so....
OMG!
inrumford, Jackie DeShannon recorded her song "Needles and Pins" first, and it's out there. I can't rouse myself to digitalize it for you here now, alas. dermahrk, you must have the US Aftermath, I hope. It and Between the Buttons are my personal favorites of the Stones, for what that's worth. Whenever I find out I know something that allmusic doesn't, it perks me up.
Thanks for this post! Love The Searchers, who aren't given enough credit for predating the folk-rock boom with 'Needles & Pins" and "When You Walk In The Room."
I first heard "Each Time" by Marti Jones, but I see now in my iTunes library that I have other versions of the song by The Bon Bons (a '60s girl group) and Leslee Swanson (a more recent retro-remake).
The Stones' "Take It Or Leave It" first turned up in the U.S. on the hodgepodge LP "Flowers," by the way...
emscee, I know that this is dermahrk's post and everything, but I have to jump in and ask you if you got Leslee Swanson's version via the the Rhino compilation The Girls Can't Help It or some other release. That someone (i.e., you) I know also knew about it makes me feel less disconnected from humanity.
Flowers? Doh! Sometimes I'm so ferblunjit.
hey spike,
i had to go check, but yeah, that version came off "The Girls Can't Help It." The Bon Bons' version is from a CD compilation called "Girl Crazy."
Thanks for posting links to these fab songs by one of my favourite groups, who I still go to see play live at least once every year to this day and have done for many years... since I was a teenager!
The Searchers' song Needles and Pins has always been my favourite song ever, from the first time I heard it in 1964. I still feel a tingle on hearing those opening few bars when it's played on the radio!
I always loved Mike Pender's voice which featured in all of those early Searchers' songs -- his harmonies were lovely to listen to, especially with Chris Curtis the drummer. For those not familiar with Mike (who still plays today but not with John McNally et al) just have a listen to his voice on What Have They Done To The Rain, Don't Throw Your Love Away and Goodbye My Love, to name three!
-- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3eZymp8DU
-- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kd6KXrsjTvE
-- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DfIO9_vfenU
Thanks again for the links... the more the merrier!
Here's a clean version of "Take It Or Leave It" from Flowers.
Thanks for sharing these non-hits. I love album deep tracks!
Love LOVE The Searchers! We had Jackie DeShannon on as a radio guest and she discussed "Each Time" and the covers she loves the best (Tracy Ullman for "Breakaway" got the seal of approval). Marti Jones was pretty much on the money with "Each Time".
The Searchers are simple the best with those harmonies and gee-tars.
:=)
Glisteny stuff, perfect for the season. A group that never gets the recognition nowadays - and one that always delivered the goods.