The Searchers - 30th Anniversary Collection 1962-1992

The Searchers - 30th Anniversary Collection 1962-1992 (3 CD SET) CD (1992) To Mp3 320 mbit/s Included: CD Covers and this Info Review by Richie Unterberger allmusic.com Although it's missing one or two fairly strong tracks, this three-CD, 84-song set is a pretty definitive collection of the group's best '60s material for those who want to go beyond the greatest hits. Besides including all of their key A- and B-sides, it has an entire disc of their best '60s album tracks. The rarities disc includes foreign-language versions, outtakes, mid-'60s BBC performances, and solo discs by Tony Jackson and Chris Curtis. Highlights here include an alternate take of "Someday We're Gonna Love Again," a BBC version of "Blowin' in the Wind," and the previously unreleased "Once Upon a Time" (recorded by Dusty Springfield). The Searchers are a British rock band who emerged as part of the 1960s merseybeat scene along with The Beatles, The Swinging Blue Jeans, and Gerry & The Pacemakers. The band's hits included a remake of the Drifters' 1961 hit, "Sweets for My Sweet"; remakes of Jackie DeShannon's "Needles and Pins" and "When You Walk In The Room" "Sugar and Spice" "Don't Throw Your Love Away" and a remake of The Clovers' "Love Potion No. 9". They were the second group from Liverpool after the Beatles to have a hit in America when "Needles and Pins" charted during the first week of March 1964. Band history Originally founded as a skiffle group in Liverpool in 1959 by John McNally and Mike Pender, the band took their name from the classic 1956 John Wayne western The Searchers. Prendergast claims that the name was his idea, but McNally ascribes it to 'Big Ron' Woodbridge (born Ronald Woodbridge, 1938, in Liverpool, Lancashire), their first lead singer. The genesis remains unresolved. The band grew out of an earlier skiffle group formed by McNally, with his friends Brian Dolan (guitar) and Tony West (bass). When the other two members lost interest McNally was joined by his guitarist neighbour Mike Prendergast. They soon recruited Tony Jackson (born Anthony Paul Jackson, 16 July 1938, The Dingle, Liverpool, Lancashire - died 18 August 2003, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire) with his home-made bass guitar and amplifier and styled themselves 'Tony and the Searchers' with Joe Kelly on drums. Kelly soon left to be replaced by Norman McGarry (born 1 March 1942, Liverpool, Lancashire), and it is this line-up - McNally, Pender (as he soon became known), Jackson and McGarry - that is usually cited as the original foursome. McGarry did not stay long, however, and in 1960 his place was taken by Chris Crummey (who later changed his name to Curtis). Later that year Big Ron had a successful audition with Mecca and became a ballroom singer. He was replaced by Billy Beck, who changed his name to Johnny Sandon (born William Beck, in 1941, Liverpool died 23 December 1996). The band had regular bookings at Liverpool's Iron Door Club as 'Johnny Sandon and the Searchers'. Sandon left the band in late 1961 to join The Remo Four in February 1962. The group settled into a quartet sharing the vocal lead and billed simply as 'The Searchers'. They continued to play at the Iron Door, The Cavern, and other Liverpool clubs. Like many similar acts they would do as many as three shows at different venues in one night. They negotiated a contract with the Star-Club in the St. Pauli district Hamburg for 128 days, with three one-hour performances a night, starting in July 1962. The band returned to a residency at the Iron Door Club and it was there that they tape-recorded the sessions that led to a recording contract with Pye Records with Tony Hatch as producer. Their first single was issued in US on Mercury, the second on Liberty without success and then a deal was arranged with U.S. based Kapp Records to distribute their records in America. Hatch played piano on some recordings and wrote "Sugar and Spice"-the band's second number one record-under the pseudonym Fred Nightingale; a secret he kept from the band at the time. After scoring with their hit "Needles and Pins", bassist Tony Jackson was fired from the band and was replaced by Hamburg pal Frank Allen (born Francis Renaud McNeice, 14 December 1943, Hayes, Middlesex) from Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers. Chris Curtis left the band in 1966 and was replaced by the Keith Moon-influenced John Blunt, who in turn was replaced by Billy Adamson in 1970. In 1967, Curtis formed a new band called Roundabout with keyboard player Jon Lord and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. Although Curtis's involvement in the project was short-lived, Roundabout would eventually evolve into Deep Purple the following year. As musical styles evolved, the Searchers could not keep up and as a result, the hits ran out. While they continued to record for Liberty Records and RCA Records, they ended up on the British "Chicken in a Basket" circuit, although they did score a minor US hit in 1971 with "Desdemona". The group continued to tour through the 1970s and were rewarded in 1979 when Sire Records signed the band to a multi-record deal. Two albums were released: The Searchers and Play for Today (retitled Love's Melodies outside the UK). Both records garnered critical acclaim but did not break into the charts. They did, however, revive the group's career. According to John McNally, the band were ready to head into the studio to record a third album for Sire when they were informed that due to label reorganization, their contract had been dropped. It was, in fact, because so few people bought the second album, although it was beloved by fans. In 1981, the band signed to PRT Records (formerly Pye, their original label) and began recording an album. But only one single, "I Don't Want To Be The One" backed with "Hollywood", ended up being released. The rest of the tracks would be included as part of 2004's 40th Anniversary collection. Soon after the PRT release, Mike Pender left the group amidst great acrimony and now tours as Mike Pender's Searchers. McNally and Allan recruited former First Class vocalist Spencer James to fill Pender's shoes. In 1988, Coconut Records signed The Searchers and the album Hungry Hearts was the result. It featured updated remakes of "Needles and Pins" and "Sweets For My Sweet" plus live favorite "Somebody Told Me You Were Crying". While the album was not a major hit, it did keep the group in the public eye. The band continues to tour with Eddie Rothe replacing Adamson on drums and is considered to be one of the most popular 1960s bands on the UK concert circuit. The Searchers incorporate full band electric performances with an acoustic set as well. Creating ample amounts of confusion, former Searchers lead singer Mike Pender also tours, but with his new full band electric outfit Mike Pender's Searchers, as they perform hits of the Searchers and some new material of their own. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Searchers_(band) The Searchers timeline 1957-1959 John McNally: Guitar, Vocals Ron Woodbridge: Vocals Brian Dolan: Guitar Tony West: Bass Joe Kennedy: Drums 1960-Feb 1962 John McNally: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals Mike Pender: Lead Guitar, Vocals Chris Curtis: Drums, Vocals Tony Jackson: Bass, Vocals Johnny Sandon: Lead Vocals Feb 1962-July 1964 John McNally: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals Mike Pender: Lead Guitar, Vocals Chris Curtis: Drums, Lead Vocals Tony Jackson: Bass, Lead Vocals August 1964-April 1966 John McNally: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals Mike Pender: Lead Guitar, Vocals Chris Curtis: Drums, Lead Vocals Frank Allen: Bass, Lead Vocals May 1966-December 1969 John McNally: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals Mike Pender: Lead Guitar, Vocals Frank Allen: Bass, Lead Vocals John Blunt: Drums January 1970-December 1985 John McNally: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals Mike Pender: Lead Guitar, Vocals Frank Allen: Bass, Lead Vocals Billy Adamson: Drums January 1986-November 1998 John McNally: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals Frank Allen: Bass, Lead Vocals Billy Adamson: Drums Spencer James: Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals November 1998-present John McNally: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals Frank Allen: Bass, Lead Vocals Spencer James: Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals Eddie Roth: Drums Disc One: The Singles: 01. Sweets For My Sweet - 1963 02. It's All Been A Dream - 1963 03. Sugar And Spice - 1963 04. Needles And Pins - 1964 05. Saturday Night Out - 1964 06. Don't Thorw Your Love Away - 1964 07. I Pretend I'm With You - 1964 08. Someday Were Gonna Love Again - 1964 09. No One Else Could Love Me - 1964 10. When You Walk In The Room - 1964 11. I'll Be Missing You - 1964 12. What Have They Done To The Rain - 1964 13. This Feeling Inside - 1964 14. Goodbye My Love - 1965 15. Till I Met You - 1965 16. He's Got No Love - 1965 17. So Far Away - 1965 18. When I Get Home - 1965 19. I'm Never Coming Back - 1965 20. Take Me For What I'm Worth - 1965 21. Too Many Miles - 1965 22. Take It Or Leave It - 1966 23. Don't Hide Away - 1966 24. Have You Ever Loved Somebody - 1966 25. It's Just The Way (That Love Will Come And Go) - 1966 26. Popcorn Double Feature - 1967 27. Westen Union - 1967 28. I'll Cry Tomorrow - 1966 29. Second Hand Dealer - 1967 30. Crazy Dreams - 1967 Disc Two: The Albums & EP's 01. Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya - 1963 02. Love Potion No. 9 - 1963 03. System - 1964 04. Bumble Bee - 1965 05. Where Have All The Flowers Gone? - 1963 06. Alright - 1963 07. Farmer John - 1963 08. Since You Broke My Heart - 1963 09. Tricky Dicky - 1963 10. Listen To Me - 1963 11. Hungry For Love - 1963 12. Ain't That Just Like Me - 1963 13. Don't Cha Know (Don't You Know - 1963) 14. All My Sorrows - 1963 15. It's In Her Kiss - 1964 16. Sea Of Heartbreak - 1964 17. I Count The Tears - 1964 18. This Empty Space - 1964 19. Can't Help Forgiving You - 1964 20. Sho' Know A Lot About Love - 1963 21. Magic Potion - 1965 22. Till You Say You'll Be Mine - 1965 23. I Don't Want To Go On Without You - 1965 24. A Tear Fell - 1965 25. If I Could Find Someone - 1965 26. It's Time - 1965 27. I'll Be Doggone - 1965 28. Each Time - 1965 29. You Can't Lie To A Liar - 1965 30. Four Strong Winds - 1965 Disc Three: The Rarities 01. Tausend Nadelstiche (Needles & Pins) - 1991 02. Sub Ist Sie (Sugar And Spice) - 1991 03. Bye Bye Johnny - 1992 04. I Don't Want To Go On Without You - 1965 05. I (Who Have Nothing) - 1992 06. Shame, Shame, Shame - 1992 07. Someday We're Gonna Love Again [Alternate Take] - 1992 08. Verzeih' My Love (Goodbye My Love) - 1991 09. I'll Be Doggone [Alternate Take] - 1992 10. Once Upon A Time - 1992 11. Sweet Little Sixteen [Live] - 1996 12. Blowin' In the Wind [Live] - 2004 13. See See Rider/Jenny Take A Ride [Live] - 2004 14. Goodbye, So Long [Live] - 2004 15. I'll Be Loving You [Live] - 2004 16. I Don't Believe [Live] - 2004 17. Stage Door - Tony Jackson (The Tony Jackson Group) - 1965 18. Watch Your Step - Tony Jackson (Tony Jackson & The Vibrations) - 1964 19. Aggravation - Chris Curtis - 1966 20. Innocent Victim - 1992 21. A Good Way To Fall - 1992 22. New Heart - 1992 23. I Don't Want To Be The One - 1992 24. Hollywood - 1982

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 Iron_Horse (2009-05-18)

All comments are wellcome!

[id] (2009-07-18)

Thanx alot! Great collection! Thnx for great info and for including covers! :)

cntrygal (2009-07-21)

thanks, great information.

Arillagorilla (2009-08-23)

Thanx;)

bngherty (2012-05-08)