Guitar Techniques magazine

[George Geddes]

Apparently, the next issue - due at the end of this month - will include a feature on the musical interplay between Hank and Bruce on Shadows recordings...

George

[Mikey]

Provided it says a bit more than "one played lead and one played rhythm " it should be an interesting read.

[JimN]

Provided it says a bit more than "one played lead and one played rhythm " it should be an interesting read.

What songs would you include as examples?

My suggestions (some of 'em):

Quatermasster's Stores
Cosy
Big Boy
Theme from A Filleted Plaice
The Girls
36-24-36
Tonight
Nivram (of course)
South Of The Border
Spring Is Nearly Here
Big B
Now That You're Gone
Prelude In E major
Waiting For Rosie

Any more?

[cockroach]

Didn't Bruce also play a couple of little simple rock'n'roll lead breaks on the old LP tracks when Hank played piano (Stand Up and say That! and another later track , Kinda Cool)? On those two Bruce solos he sounds a bit like one of the Ventures!

I presume on the other examples which Jim cited, Hank (or maybe Norrie) taught him which notes to play to give the two part harmonies- like Stars fell on Stockton? I also presume that none of these dual lead guitar tracks were double tracked by Hank?

[RayL]

From the sleevenotes by Cliff on the EP The Shadows
"I think the most pleasing tracks are the instrumental harmony pieces from Bruce and Hank. These are going to surprise many of our musician friends who in the past have often been critical of new so-called untrained groups. I have seen Bruce and Hank rehearsing these instrumentals hour after hour in dressing rooms all over the world, and I hope the boys think it has all been worthwhile. I know that I do"

[petercreasey]

Didn't Bruce also play a couple of little simple rock'n'roll lead breaks on the old LP tracks when Hank played piano (Stand Up and say That! and another later track , Kinda Cool)? On those two Bruce solos he sounds a bit like one of the Ventures!

I presume on the other examples which Jim cited, Hank (or maybe Norrie) taught him which notes to play to give the two part harmonies- like Stars fell on Stockton? I also presume that none of these dual lead guitar tracks were double tracked by Hank?

I hope Bruce doesn't read this,it makes it sound as though the rhythm guitarist is a lesser being and not able to work out the notes for himself! We'll be saying that Brian Bennett is no a musician as he " only plays the drums" next!!!!
I hope we are not losing the fact that the Shads were a unit with all members playing their part and not Hank Marvin with a so called " back Line"

[Moderne]

I presume on the other examples which Jim cited, Hank (or maybe Norrie) taught him which notes to play to give the two part harmonies- like Stars fell on Stockton? I also presume that none of these dual lead guitar tracks were double tracked by Hank?

Are there two-part harmonies on Stars Fell On Stockton? I can only hear Bruce's acoustic strumming (particularly good on this!), plus Jet, Hank (unfortunately fluffing the first of his little licks) and Brian (playing 'brush bongo' - according to the original sheet music)...and the whistling, of course!

I've always thought it interesting that Hank and Bruce never really pursued the 'harmony lead line' idea after Nivram and Theme from a Filleted Plaice on the first LP which Cliff commented on in the sleeve notes. Hank and John Farrar continued the technique in the 70s but apart from a few songs where Hank double tracks a harmony - that was it. Of course there are lots of examples of Bruce's intricate broken chord accompaniment, Tonight possibly being the best example. Could I add Somewhere to Jim's list?

[cockroach]

Peter

I did not mean to infer anything derogatory about Bruce's abilities.

He was and is an excellent rhythm guitarist, but I would think he would be the first to concede himself that he is not naturally a lead player- and he has other talents such as lead and harmony vocals,songwriting and producing and publishing etc.

Incidentally, IMHO, Brian Bennett is in any case the most talented musician in the Shadows- particularly his composition/orchestration skills, as well as his musical ability on drums, keyboards etc.

[Gary Allen]

With the emphasis usually being on Hank,I think it's just as hard to copy Bruce from any era.

[MartcasterJunior]

How about The War Lord? Certainly during the 'verse', Bruce is almost following the melody.