Namesakes #150: The Searchers

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 - Wow Wow Baby

THE SEARCHERS #3

Southern doo wop from 1960 featuring Oscar Toney (above) and his two brothers, Willie James and Roosevelt.

The Searchers - Yvonne

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...

Which Searchers were worthy of my Search? 

Hot 100 #34

34 is a band, straight out of Kansas City, Missouri, one of those metal bands whose singer is in desperate need of a packet of Fisherman's Friends. Hear them roar here.

The number 34 proved to be another tricky one on the countdown, but as always you did your best to furnish me with suggestions.

Lynchie kicked off this week with a good ol' boy...

Ray Wylie Hubbard - Up Against The Wall, Redneck Mother

And it's up against the wall, redneck mother
Mother who has raised her son so well
He's 34 and drinkin' in a honky tonk
Just kickin' hippies' asses and raisin' hell...

Those bloody hippies, eh?

YouTube tells me that was "made famous by J.J. Walker". I suppose that depends on your definition of the word "famous".

Next to arrive last week was Douglas, still perturbed that I hadn't chosen either Bruce or Billy last week (I know, it kills me too) who decides to go a little off the beaten track this week as a result. I'll let him explain...

Monsters of Folk were a sort of one-off supergroup of Americana folk-rock greats, made up of Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes, Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and M. Ward. They take turns songwriting and taking lead vocals, and though I love the album, it is as a result a little uneven...like they haven't fully learned each other's strengths and are in a bit of a tug of war for the reins. But there are some fantastic moments in there, including this song:

Monsters of Folk - Man Named Truth

Pain was hunting me down but I gave him the slip
then I fell in love with identical twins
They lived 34 summers between the two of them
I gave one my ego, I gave one my id
Yeah, I gotta get back to my pretty little twins
Don't ever buy nothin' from a man named truth
Don't ever buy nothin' from a man named truth
I'll tell you right now that it ain't no use
Don't ever buy nothin' from a man named truth.

Pretty deep that. Shame I'm so shallow. Luckily, Douglas had that covered too with his second suggestion...

Weird Al Yankovic - Skipper Dan

...doin' 34 shows every day
And every time it's the same
Look at those hippos, they're wigglin' their ears
Just like they've done for the last 50 years.

Next through the doors was Martin, who offered a couple more lyrical suggestions that he wisely assessed would be in my own library...

The Fall - I'm Going To Spain

I've sold my car, thrown in my job,

I'm 34 years old...

...you better hurry up and get there before Brexit.

Reverend & The Makers - What The Milkman Saw

What's going on at number 34?

Kev says there's bodies buried underneath the floor...

Rigid Digit was left scratching his head again this week, resorting to that perennial standby...

Kate Bush - 50 Words For Snow

34 - Sorbetdeluge

Now, before we get onto this week's winner, here's the customary trawl through my hard-drive…

Elton John - The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909 - 34)

Molina & Johnson - 34 Blues

Al Stewart - The Last Day of June 1934

In a week of slim pickings though, it was C who provided our salvation, with a classic Lieber/Stoller composition. C originally suggested the version by The Searchers, but then wisely directed us to the original by The Clovers. I'm rather partial to the version by The Coasters too.

I took my troubles down to Madame Ruth
You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
She's got a pad down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Selling little bottles of Love Potion Number Nine

33 next week. Should be a little easier, given revolutions per minute. What have you got for me?

Saturday Snapshots #75 - The Answers

"It's All Coming Back To Me Now," you'll be able to say to your grandchildren, many years from now... "the day that Saturday Snapshots finally jumped the shark. The day Rol had a picture of Celine Dion at the top of the page..."

Give me a break: you try finding two different pictures of pop stars holding cameras every week. It's not as easy as it looks, you know. (Although I do have a few more in the bag.) Perhaps the day I run out will be the day I finally call it quits. Until then... My Heart Will Go On.

A very closely fought game yesterday, between Lynchie, Chris, Alyson and C in particular. I think Lynchie just got the title. Well done to Charity Chic, Rigid Digit, George and Martin (Come Together... as one... like George Martin) for mopping up the hard ones.


10. Beautiful Persian queen makes Pilgrim's Progress via choo choo.

Vashti was a beautiful Persian queen.

John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim's Progress.

Vashti Bunyan - Train Song

9. Seabirds, get your guns - we must go now!

Guillemots are seabirds.

Annie, Get Your Gun.

Guillemots - Annie, Let's Not Wait

That's a top song, that is.

8. Only knobs allowed in this club... listening to Pleasant Valley Sunday.

Members Only?

The Members - Sound of the Suburbs

"Same old boring Sunday morning"? Oy!

7. Lexicon of French internet + giant killer.

A lexicon is full of words.

French websites end .fr.

David killed a giant.

FR David - Words

(That sounded a lot better in my head than it does in reality. How memory plays tricks on us...)

6. The French New Wave... kind of.

Nouvelle Vague - In A Manner Of Speaking

5. Improv theatre game for jazz geeks... if you've been playing this game a while, you should get this.

An improvised theatre game is known as a Harold.

Jazz is often on the Blue Note label.

"A Melvin" is another name for a geek or nerd.

I put this week's quiz together a few weeks back. It took me ages to work out the clues for this when it came to write out the answers.

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - If You Don't Know Me By Now

4. Start your new job with a sharp piercing stab.

Yes, that is Mick. With a comedy "Grizzly Adams" beard. A hipster long before there were hipsters.

Jagger - a sharp, piercing stab.

Mick Jagger - Let's Work

Video of the week ahoy! What were they thinking?

3. Players depart.

Cast - Walk Away

The reverse of #7. A lot better than I remember it being.

2. John Wayne's looking for hearts in the dustbin.

John Wayne was in The Searchers.

The Searchers - Don't Throw Your Love Away

1. What the Beach Boys read... with Julie Christie & Alan Bates.

The Beach Boys read Surfing Magazines.

Julie Christie & Alan Bates were in the movie adaptation of LP Hartley's novel The Go Between.

Because You Loved Me... Saturday Snapshots will be back next week.