Junk Box Jury

“Everybody Come And Clap Your Hands” taken from the album “Sounds Like Searchers” on (Pye NPL 18111) February 1965

The Searchers | Sounds Like Searchers | (Pye) | There is nothing so predictable as the change in the Searchers’ choice of songs. I am happy to have been associated with Chris, Mike, John and Frank since their inception, and I can truthfully say that I am just as amazed as everyone at the manner in which they keep turning up with the unusual, both in style and in songs. For instance . . .

“EVERYBODY COME AND CLAP YOUR HANDS”, Here we have a really swingin’ track which has Frank’s voice leading with the rest of the boys answering, and we also have some of Mike Pender’s all too rare guitar work, making quite a happy overall sound. Then we have . . .

“IF I COULD FIND SOMEONE”, which is a complete contrast. The Searchers used one of their famous twelve string guitar sounds on this, (Chris’s composition), which is vocally led by Chris and Mike, (Frank does join in occasionally, just in case it slips past you). There is a fade out on this track which leads you into . . .

“MAGIC POTION”, a composition by the very famous writer, Burt Bacharach. This track swings with Chris leading the vocal. There is some nice crisp drum work on this faster than usual tempo number. To break things up just a little, the next track, which is . . .

“I DON’T WANT TO GO ON WITHOUT YOU”, has a string section, you know, violins, cellos, etc., and I must admit that I rather like the sound when combined with The Searchers’ normal instrumentation and voices. In a slow tempo, this song has a rather good lyric, with Mike handling the major share of the vocal. Having given you a change of pace, we go right back to an up-tempo offering entitled . . .

“BUMBLE BEE”, which happens to be one of my favourites. The Boys picked up the original LaVern Baker recording of this while in Canada recently, and they all went for it immediately. The vocal is taken by Mike with Chris and Frank assisting. Incidentally, I do like the vocal sound they get on the middle sixteen bars. By the way, the guitar figures you hear on this track are played by John McNally—he is not just a pretty face, you know! From this track, we go on to a composition by one of the “Greats”, Fats Domino, whose . . .

“SOMETHING YOU GOT BABY”, is tackled most competently by The Searchers. Vocal here is led by Mike, and it is Mike’s guitar you hear playing solo.

The Searchers | Sounds Like Searchers | (Pye)

The Searchers open side two with . . .

“LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL”, which, once again, is a swingin’ track. Here we have the “gold record” duo of Chris and Mike doing the vocal in their usual great form. Incidentally, the organ is played by their very close friend, A. & R. man, Tony Hatch—under The Searchers’ direction, of course! Another guitar solo from Mike which is very welcome, as is the next track . . .

“A TEAR FELL”, which is a completely contrasting performance from the original recording by Ray Charles. This has almost a country and western feel, which gives us a Mike Pender vocal, complete with another new sound, a piano! All in all, a very pleasant track that could well be a lot of people’s favourite. Talking of favourites, the next track was written by one of The Searchers’ favourite people, Jackie De Shannon . . .

“TILL YOU SAY YOU’LL BE MINE”, Jackie recorded “Needles and Pins” and wrote “When You Walk In The Room”, which, of course, were both smash hits for The Searchers. The vocal is handled by Chris and Mike, lend an ear to the bass work of Frank Allen which has been double tracked; i.e. he is virtually playing a duet with himself—most interesting. By the way, the sound you hear in the background is not a rattlesnake, it is Chris playing the marraccas—something he does almost as well as writing songs! In fact, the next title . . .

“YOU WANNA MAKE HER HAPPY”, was written by Chris during a recent Swedish tour. I don’t know whether the title conveys his Swedish feelings, but it certainly makes me happy. By now, you will recognize the sound of Chris and Mike, although just to confuse you, you will find Frank in there someplace. So far, we have heard nothing about the vocal prowess of John McNally, but we are about to change that by introducing John on . . .

“EVERYTHING YOU DO”, This is one of those nice happy tempo numbers that can make you feel in that vein for dancing. John’s vocal is really unmistakable and those of you who recall “High Heel Sneakers” will know what I mean, If you have the feeling that this vocal was planned for John it is no surprise, as Chris wrote the number especially for him. The guitar work is John’s which virtually makes this a John McNally special, which brings us to our closing title, appropriately . . .

“GOODNIGHT BABY”, This has Chris, Mike, John and Frank wishing you “Goodnight”, and if you happen to be listening at night time, then we have hit home. If not, please substitute morning, evening or afternoon, but in any case, I hope you have enjoyed listening to this Long Player as much as I have. (Tito Burns)

“We have done our very best with the songs on this album and we hope that you will get as much enjoyment from listening to them as we did from recording them.” (The Searchers)

The Searchers | Sounds Like Searchers | (Pye)

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cost of record: £1
from: market stall