New Shadows Release due September

[leosden]

Just received info and notes on a 'new' release from Parlophone on the 9th September - a reissue of the box set The Early Years but this time CD 6
comprises of 30 mono recordings 'not previously available on CD'. Booklet comes with edited original sleeve notes but updated. As you'll see it comes on the Parlophone label following the big changes at EMI. Two many titles to list here but if you go to the web site: www.leosden.co.uk/shop you will find the complete listing in The Shadows section. At last something more interesting than just another 'best of' release. Let's hope more to come.
John

[Arpeggio]

Well...as the news is now out officially.... I am closely involved with this fantastic release. Basics.....186 tracks. 32 previously unavailable on CD in mono from the EMI master tapes (for the 'ultra informed' - 5 have appeared on very obscure and long - deleted CDs from Commonwealth countries - poorly dubbed from vinyl). The very rare stereo version of "FBI" (first time on an EMI - ok Parlophone for this release - CD), the ultra rare stereo AV of "Some Are Lonely" (first time ever on an EMI CD), "Blue Shadows" and "French Dressing" - first time stereo for both - after 50 years. On Norrie Paramor's insistence - they were never previously mixed to stereo because of technical / mechanical recording problems at Blackpool on August 4th, 1963. Come 2013, EMI's engineers have done their very best -this will be as good as it gets. "Lady Penelope" - first time stereo release (it sounds wonderful). Thus - 154 tracks with 147 in stereo (5 first time stereo on 'EMI' CD). 39 mono tracks with 32 making their CD debut from master tape. John Tobler's original notes / essay revised / updated + a brief 2013 update from yours truly. And all at a bargain price. What's not to like?? Everything remastered. Sound quality will be top notch. It's going to be great!!

Bests....Rob

PS: Yes - I can add up!! The 32 additional mono tracks also appear in stereo (so 154 + 32 = 186). The first 7 mono tracks have no stereo counterparts.

[ash]

That's great news. I'll be buying that. Do you think Parlophone also have the will or the way to redo the early Cliff/Shads cds (mono/stereo etc,mono/stereo singles/eps etc.) ? Some of them sound "a bit funny". I seem to recall it was because of a new toy at the studio.
Any additional unreleased tracks found during the work for this Rob or is that never going to happen ?

[hoffers]

Surprise, Surprise, Lady Penelope and others mixed to stereo - all ideas I submitted years ago for my own label Legacy Sounds UK but was refused the licensing by EMI, again and again. It stinks!!! Let me guess, Tim Chacksfield will be involved somewhere along the line.
Wonder if I'll get a mention for locating the long lost stereo version of FBI in The States which EMI had so obviously forgotten about, I doubt it. It'll be like those Magic Records releases who plundered the rarities I'd researched and suggested for 'The Shadows at Abbey Road' CD and in its wisdom marked them as 'first time on CD'. What a load of toff.
Pissed off, Me? Yeah, just a little.

Hoffers

[Arpeggio]

Hi Ash,
There was a fleeting thought refs: unissued material - but there is an agreement between EMI / Parlophone to run everything like that past Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch & Brian Goode. You may draw your own conclusions. Thus....it was decided to concentrate on putting out all of the Shads officially recorded / issued studio ouput 1959 -1966 in the best possible sound quality. So - from master tapes - 32 first - time mono anywhere, 3 first - time stereo and 2 stereos never on an EMI CD before. Plus....everything else remastered etc., etc. There are various possibilities refs: Cliff's back catalogue - but I gather it will have to wait now until the Warners takeover. Who knows what ideas / policies new management might have? We shall just have to wait and see...probably until early 2014 at the very earliest. This Shadows project will be out shortly before the Warners takeover is completed.

Bests....Rob

[ash]

Hoffers - i know of a few instances where this has happened both with record companies and more recently at the BBC. It might not be much consolation but a lot of people are very grateful for the work you've done over the years with Shadsfax etc./FBI (stereo) etc. On the plus side it indicates that at least EMI in whatever form they are this week are willing to put something like this out - i assumed it was all over for cliff and the sahds except for greatest hits packages.
I'm going to write and ask if i can licence all the Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd out takes. With any luck they'll nick that idea too !

Rob - thanks for your reply. I hope this is being done properly (no channels reversed,collapsed to mono stereo etc.).Sounds like it is. If so it'll be one of the most important releases of their career. Do you think there will be any video promotion for it ? It really sucks that the only way to watch the Shadows legally with Jet is when Cliff's standing up front. There has to be a quality copy of their Jack Good produced Apache promo at least. They have such a reputation as squares outside of this board and that clip alone is priceless - mean moody and magnificent. Any chance you could have a word ?

[iefje]

This is indeed a great release! One downside (sorry for spoiling the fun) is in order to get the previously unavailable stuff, you always have to rebuy a lot of tracks you already have. But, to turn to a positive note, it's great to see the original mono mixes for the entire EP's "The Shadows", "The Boys" and "Los Shadows", the entire fourth album "The Sound Of The Shadows" and most previously unavailable mono mixes from the singles released officially! I'm eager to listen to "Blue Shadows", "French Dressing" and "Lady Penelope" in true stereo as well. I cannot help asking if there are plans to issue the remaining mono mixes of singles and EP's on a CD?

[Arpeggio]

Hi Ash,
Many thanks. I agree with your sentiments refs: Tony. He has done an enormous amount for both the Shadows and their fans over the years. It's true that we would not have the stereo "FBI" were it not for Tony's efforts. I can't say too much publicly on these boards...I know too much about what has happened 'behind the scenes'. Equally...Tony knows a lot about my 'trials and tribulations'. But....the bottom line is...that this IS a great release for Shads fans / collectors - so I'm 100% behind it. Refs your other points Ash...it's all very good and nice of you to say so....but my influence with 'the powers that be' at EMI does not extend very far at all. So, I wouldn't build up your hopes about various promotions etc., etc. C'est La Vie!!

Rob

[Arpeggio]

Hi Ivo,
I will leave all of that to Jim 'Mr Mono Mania' Nugent. He will, i'm sure have chapter & verse on this. The thing is....everything else has now already been issued on mono...Jim will tell you where & when!!

Bests...Rob

[ash]

Just a quick thought - they're not going to use any noise reduction or sonic solutions crap are they ? That'd be a major bummer as would gratuitous loudification (as it is known). Some of the engineers/remaster people seem to be technicians rather than musicians and judge the sound by a frequency graph or similar read out rather than by listening to the music at normal volume over speakers. I'm firmly with George Harrison on this one - "I like hiss" and the human ear is the best filter.
Obviously that would not be true if we were discussing the radio luxembourg recordings !