This week's post is really just a warm up act for George, who returns next week. Because when searching for bands called The Searchers, I discovered there were far more called The Soul Searchers... and as George had previously done a Namesakes about The Soul Seekers, I figured this might be right up his alley. Before we get to that though: here's John Wayne and chums...
THE SEARCHERS #1
Formed in 1955 from the remains of a skiffle group called The Army Generations, John McNally's band The Searchers gave their final performance at this year's Glastonbury Festival. McNally was the only constant member, and the band went through many, many line-up changes over the years. These Searchers were huge between 1963 and '66, producing a string of classic hits... but never bothering the charts again after that. Don't rule out another reunion though... this isn't the first time the Searchers have announced their retirement!
The Searchers - Don't Throw Your Love Away
THE SEARCHERS #2
1958 rock n roll record from LA, featuring Harlem Shuffler Earl Nelson (from Bob & Earl) and Robert James Byrd Sr., the man who wrote Rockin' Robin.
THE SEARCHERS #3
Southern doo wop from 1960 featuring Oscar Toney (above) and his two brothers, Willie James and Roosevelt.
THE SEARCHERS #4
Short-lived backing band for country star Shorty Long*, circa 1962...
*That's not the soul-singing Shorty Long or the rapper Shorty Long. Jeez, this feature gets confusing.
Shorty Long & The Searchers - Mary Oh Mary
THE SEARCHERS #5
There were quite a few gospel bands called The Searchers, but sadly I couldn't find much evidence of their music. Fortunately, I did find "Rosie" and her Searchers, dipping God's love in 1971... that's quite a haircut "Rosie" has got going on in the video... and she appears to be modelling Richard Kiel's teeth too.
"Rosie" Rozell & The Searchers - When God Dips His Love
THE SEARCHERS #6... er #1 again
The reason I chose to do The Searchers this week, is because I came across the song below on a compilation of late 70s / early 80s power pop tunes and I was quite taken with it. Except when I tried to find the band in question on discogs, I hit a bit of a brick wall.
Until I saw the video realised that it was actually the original Searchers, still going strong in 1980...
I realise this isn't really in the spirit of the comments section for this feature but I quite like all of them, even Rosie and her chums. That said I would have #1 in first place and #4 in last.
ReplyDeleteCouple of dull facts for you:
#2 - Robert James Byrd Sr is better known as Bobby Day, the man who sang 'Rockin' Robin' and wrote 'Little Bitty Pretty One' and 'Over And Over'. He was also in the Hollywood Flames with Earl so these Searchers might be them in disguise.
#3 and #4 - there is a link between the two of them. The great Oscar Toney released a couple of singles on the King label (the label that released #4) in the mid-1960s.
The "dancers" for #6 put me off my breakfast, but it's still the best tune of the 6. #4 and #5 were very disappointing.
ReplyDelete