Searchers (The Searchers album)
Searchers | ||||
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Rock/Pop | ||||
Language | English | |||
Label | Sire | |||
Producer | Pat Moran | |||
The Searchers chronology | ||||
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Singles from Searchers | ||||
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Alternate UK cover art (1980) | ||||
Searchers (the definite article is omitted in the UK) is the seventh studio album by the English rock band
Overview and recording
During the 1970s the popularity of the Searchers declined on both sides of the Atlantic, but they carried on, playing the clubs, touring Europe, America and Australia. The band was performing old hits as well as contemporary new songs. After leaving RCA Records they had no recording deal at all, but then, in late 1978, signed to Sire to cut new album. As Mike Pender wrote in his autobiography: "It was a breath of fresh air for the band."[2] The Sire employee Paul McNally (no relation to band's guitarist John McNally) recommended the change of a drummer. The Searchers refused to fire Billy Adamson but finally went along with replacing him for upcoming recording session.[3] The album was recorded on residential Rockfield Studios (most notable clients of the time were Hawkwind, Black Sabbath, Dave Edmunds or Queen) in six weeks from April to July 1979. Mike Pender sings lead on all tracks except "Don’t Hang On" which is sung by Frank Allen. It is also the first album where John McNally took over as lead guitarist while Pender switched to rhythm guitar (mainly the Rickenbacker electric 12-string). Session drummer Martin Hughes played the drums instead of Billy Adamson.
Release and reception
The album was widely acclaimed by British rock music press and it was considered to be as contemporary as any album released that year,
Re-release in the UK
Sales of the album in the UK were weak, so the album was re-released in England after a few months in 1980 with new cover art. It featured a remixed version of "It's Too Late" and three new songs: "Love's Melody" (title track of their next US album), "Silver" (which would subsequently appear on their 1981 UK album,
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Hearts in Her Eyes" | John Wicks, Will Birch | 3:19 |
2. | "Switchboard Susan" | Mickey Jupp | 3:53 |
3. | "Feeling Fine" | John David | 3:20 |
4. | "This Kind Of Love Affair" | Mike Pender, John McNally, Frank Allen | 2:57 |
5. | "Lost In Your Eyes" | Tom Petty | 4:25 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
6. | "It's Too Late" | John David | 3:28 |
7. | "No Dancing" | Noel Brown | 2:51 |
8. | "Coming From The Heart" | Bob Dylan | 3:44 |
9. | "Don't Hang On" | Frank Allen, John McNally, Mike Pender | 2:28 |
10. | "Love's Gonna Be Strong" | Ronnie Thomas | 2:58 |
Personnel
The Searchers
- lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- John McNally – lead guitar, vocals
- Frank Allen – bass, vocals
- drums(note: according to Pender's and Allen's autobiographies, Martin Hughes did all of the drumming)
Additional musicians and production
- Martin Hughes – Drums, percussion
- Bob Jackson – Keyboards (on "Lost In Your Eyes" and "Coming From The Heart")
- Pat Moran – Record producer
- Ted Sharp – Mixing Engineer("It's Too Late" remixed by Ed Stasium)
References
- ^ "Billboard database". Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ISBN 9780993121302.
- ISBN 9780993121302.
- ISBN 9780993121302.
- ^ "Billboard database". Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "Swedish Charts". Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "The Searchers Discography by M. Denger". Searchers (October 1979).