The ShadowMusic Web Community

Today I received an enquiry as to whether I had recorded a backing track for Hank Marvin's version of "Red River Rock".
I wasn't aware of Hank or The Shadows having recorded that number and a quick search confirmed that.

However, my curiosity was aroused and after doing some checking on the internet I found that that number had been recorded by a
group calling themselves The Shades of Grey.
I found a copy of the album on Ebay and in my opinion the cover makes every effort to make it appear that the recording artists are
The Shadows. The item number on Ebay is 120697484256 - see what you think.

Hello all, I bought this album a few years ago and if you ignore the 'cashing in' on the Shads name it isn't bad. I think I have seen another album available that is 50% by Shades of Grey and 50% Shadows. Both are well worth a listen and usually quite cheap. Jim

Hi Roger

I now the album, it was also put under the band name of The Apaches, pretty good too.

Scott

"Red River Rock" does have a Shadows connection. It was recorded in 1990 or 1991 by Warren Bennett & Friends, featuring Brian Bennett on drums, Warren on bass guitar, Mark Griffiths on lead and rhythm guitar and I think also Cliff Hall on keyboards and Nick Payne on sax. It was released under the name of 'Brian Bennett of The Shadows a.o.' on the CD "Greatest Guitar Hits Vol.1".

In 1977 'Fifth Avenue Play The Shadows Guitar Greats' contained 'Sylvia' and 'Because They're Young' and in 1981 'Hits From The Shadows' by The Typhoons contained 'Runaway', a year before The Shadows recorded it for 'Live At Abbey Road'. 'Red River Rock' appeared on three 'The Apaches' releases, Hits Of the Shadows performed by The Apaches, The Apaches Play The Hits Of The Shadows and The Apaches Play The Music Of The Shadows. They also had one other release The Apaches Play 18 Hits Of The Shadows (all Shadows numbers). Haven't played any of them for a long time, but form what I remember they were worth buying.

SO what are you saying this track / album is a con and misleading people into buying it as an original shadows recording when it is a cover band called The Shades of Grey ..???
No doubt this is not the first nor will it be the last...perhaps Hank should go and do a cover version of a cover version of Red River Rock by The Shades of Grey....why do people do this...?

rogera wrote:Today I received an enquiry as to whether I had recorded a backing track for Hank Marvin's version of "Red River Rock".
I wasn't aware of Hank or The Shadows having recorded that number and a quick search confirmed that.

However, my curiosity was aroused and after doing some checking on the internet I found that that number had been recorded by a
group calling themselves The Shades of Grey.
I found a copy of the album on Ebay and in my opinion the cover makes every effort to make it appear that the recording artists are
The Shadows. The item number on Ebay is 120697484256 - see what you think.

My sister in law bought me a one of their CDs from a charity shop for 50p - thinking she'd got a bargain genuine Shadows one. The cover is very misleading with 20 years of the Shadows in large letters at the top of the cover and performed by Shades of Grey in small letters at the bottom, very similar on the back cover. I haven't got round to playing it yet so it still may be a bargain. Track 10 is Red River Rock

Track 8 of The Apaches play the Hits of the Shadows. Had it for years -
Best track on the album except The Shadows never played it !
Phil

I have that CD. I seem to remember them lengthening every track by way of a key change.

Martin.

Phil McGarrick wrote:Track 8 of The Apaches play the Hits of the Shadows. Had it for years -
Best track on the album except The Shadows never played it !
Phil

I bought this CD way back in 1993, when I was eleven years old, but haven't played it in years. I seem to remember The Apaches even did a version of The Shadows' "Mary Anne". Actually, it was The Apaches' version I first heard, before discovering the 1965 Shadows original on my father's stereo copy of "More Hits! The Shadows"! I do still have the CD.