Did Cliff Play Guitar On "Apache" or "Quatermasster's Stores
Posted: 19 Nov 2009, 16:36OK. I'm starting a new thread because I nearly hijacked Alan's in error. The photograph on the sheet music for "Quatermasster's Stores" (showing Cliff strumming a mic'd up J200) probably is indeed from the "Apache" / "Quatermasster's Stores" session I'm inclined to believe. The main clue is the time on the studio clock - c.2.40pm. All of Cliff's sessions with the Shadows from December '59 onwards (apart from one on June 24th, 1960) were evening sessions. Plus, as Alan says - Cliff was in the studio with The Shadows and the J200 was there. So - I would now agree that the photograph does indeed date from June 17th, 1960. Jerry Lordan is quoted as saying that Cliff played the Chinese drum (commenting on his excellent time - keeping) throughout the entire duration of "Apache". Plus, the recording is SO clear that you can hear Bruce's mighty rhythm sound (using the J200) perfectly. So Cliff didn't play guitar on "Apache" - not that that's ever really been contested. However - "Apache" took up c. 45 minutes of the three - hour session - with the remainder of the time (quoted by Jerry Lordan - who was also present) being devoted to "Quatermasster's Stores".
In the photograph - Cliff does appear to be playing the J200 - which is clearly mic'd up. But notice Norrie Paramor actually standing in the studio talking to Hank and Bruce. I've been privvy to hear hours and hours of EMI session tapes which have never been released or bootlegged (I will say more in another post). Sometimes you can hear a lot of studio chat. So - the photograph was clearly taken when the Shadows were rehearsing or trying things out...ie not while the track was actually being recorded for a take. In all of the tapes that I've heard - Norrie's (or Malcolm Addy's) voice always booms out through the studio tannoy speakers - from the control booth / box. "Quatermasster's Stores" is also brilliantly recorded and the rhythm guitar part is definitely played on an electric.
Cliff may have played the J200 to try out a particualr sound or to help with balancing the instruments etc. Bruce clearly (as he has stated on many occasions) preferred the huge sound of the J200 as a rhythm guitar instrument for recording purposes on many tracks. So, on "Apache", Cliff played the drum and Bruce played Cliff's J200. The J200 clearly wasn't deployed on "Quatermasster's Stores." The arrangement was Norrie's and maybe he insisted on the electric rhythm guitar. As "Apache" was down to Jerry Lordan & the Shads - Norrie felt able to give them more scope -as he, as we all know, initially just thought of it as a 'B' - side. The other thing was (I'm sure) - particularly in 1960 - that I doubt Norrie would have let Cliff play guitar on a Shadows recording session - because he simply wasn't a good enough player. Added to all of this is the fact (independently and at separate times) that Hank, Bruce, Jet, Tony and Brian have all told me that - yes - Cliff was actually present at many Shadows' recording sessions in the early days but that - no - he most definitely never played guitar on any Shadows recordings.
Best wishes,
Rob B
In the photograph - Cliff does appear to be playing the J200 - which is clearly mic'd up. But notice Norrie Paramor actually standing in the studio talking to Hank and Bruce. I've been privvy to hear hours and hours of EMI session tapes which have never been released or bootlegged (I will say more in another post). Sometimes you can hear a lot of studio chat. So - the photograph was clearly taken when the Shadows were rehearsing or trying things out...ie not while the track was actually being recorded for a take. In all of the tapes that I've heard - Norrie's (or Malcolm Addy's) voice always booms out through the studio tannoy speakers - from the control booth / box. "Quatermasster's Stores" is also brilliantly recorded and the rhythm guitar part is definitely played on an electric.
Cliff may have played the J200 to try out a particualr sound or to help with balancing the instruments etc. Bruce clearly (as he has stated on many occasions) preferred the huge sound of the J200 as a rhythm guitar instrument for recording purposes on many tracks. So, on "Apache", Cliff played the drum and Bruce played Cliff's J200. The J200 clearly wasn't deployed on "Quatermasster's Stores." The arrangement was Norrie's and maybe he insisted on the electric rhythm guitar. As "Apache" was down to Jerry Lordan & the Shads - Norrie felt able to give them more scope -as he, as we all know, initially just thought of it as a 'B' - side. The other thing was (I'm sure) - particularly in 1960 - that I doubt Norrie would have let Cliff play guitar on a Shadows recording session - because he simply wasn't a good enough player. Added to all of this is the fact (independently and at separate times) that Hank, Bruce, Jet, Tony and Brian have all told me that - yes - Cliff was actually present at many Shadows' recording sessions in the early days but that - no - he most definitely never played guitar on any Shadows recordings.
Best wishes,
Rob B
