From Omnivore's press release:
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — During the British Invasion, there was another Liverpool band topping the charts worldwide. The Searchers had 11 Top 40 hits between 1963 and 1966 in the U.K., including three #1s with “Needles and Pins,” “Sweets for My Sweet,” and “Don’t Throw Our Love Away.” There were eight hits in the U.S. including a #3 cover of “Love Potion No. 9.” By the end of the decade, the group’s chart presence may have slowed down, but the Searchers didn’t. They continued to hone their sound on the live circuit, adding a modern musical crunch to their incredible harmonies. After seeing the band perform, Sire Records head Seymour Stein offered them a home on his new wave flagship label (home of the Ramones, Talking Heads, Dead Boys, and soon, Pretenders).
The Searchers returned in 1979 with a self-titled release, featuring originals and covers of tracks from Tom Petty, The Records, Bob Dylan, and the Mickey Jupp-penned “Switchboard Susan”—a concurrent hit for Nick Lowe. Produced by Pat Moran (Be Bop Deluxe, Dr. Feelgood, and Rush —yes, that Rush), it was a sonic powerhouse. That album was followed the next year by Love’s Melodies (titled Play for Today in the U.K.), with Ed Stasium (Ramones, Talking Heads, Smithereens) joining Moran as co-producer. More originals, and more covers (Big Star, John Fogerty, and others), and another great album.
These are two of my favorite records ever, both for the originals (the first cover song The Floor Models learned was "It's Too Late," the single from the 1979 album)...
...and the covers (the version of "Almost Saturday Night" is IMHO the best one ever by anybody).
Have I mentioned that this is the best news I've heard all year?
6 comments:
Was "It's Too Late" an original? I thought I remembered that being a Petty cover -- original, I guess, in the sense it was gifted to them.
But I ain't looked it up. I could be wrong.
Anyhow, great, great song. I'm excited for this reissue.
I forget who wrote it, but I believe it was a Brit.
"It's Too Late" was written by a chap called John David.
According to Discogs:
"John is a multi-hit producer, songwriter and musician, with a career that spans four decades, and several continents. The most successful Welsh songwriter since Ivor Novello, John has written produced and engineered for the likes of Robert Palmer, Cliff Richard, Status Quo, Shakin' Stevens, Alvin Stardust, Samantha Fox, Little Richard, Dave Edmunds, and many more, as well as up and coming artists for major and indie labels. As a musician John has also performed with many of the above as well as Springsteen, Clapton, Sting, Bryan Adams, George Harrison and others.
His credits can be found on releases recorded at Rockfield Studios, Wales and Berry Hill Recording Studio in Gloucestershire. Many credits at Rockfield will also include the producer Pat Moran."
https://www.discogs.com/artist/124859-John-David
https://www.discogs.com/Searchers-The-Searchers/release/2854772
http://www.45cat.com/record/sre49175us
"Lost In Her Eyes" was the Petty cover.
I don't share your enthusiasm. I'll stick with Dave Edmunds version of "Almost Saturday Night".
timely reflection as imo by far the best from both of these great records was the Tom Petty penned "Lost in Your Eyes"
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