The ShadowMusic Web Community

would any member have info. on the ventures vocal version of
of the shadows'i want you to want me'? wondering if its a demo
the ventures recorded a instrumental of 'i want you to want me
from 'where the action is album' called 'a little bit more action
but have no idea were the vocal version comes from
thank you,
moondawg

Really cool! I have no idea what the answer is, but here's the video of The Ventures singing "I Want You to Want Me."

The second video says: "PART I: I WANT YOU TO WANT ME vocal by The Shadows (1963 Single b/w Atlantis)
PART II: LITTLE BIT OF ACTION inst. by The Ventures (1966 LP -Where The Act!on Is). In my opinion these two tunes have a lot in common. Great tunes, great bands! See if you can spot the 'Common Denominator' here, if you haven't already!"

Kind regards,
Donna

As far as my internet research has been able to take me, The Ventures took a composer credit for Little Bit Of Action...

Iain

Excellent! I was unaware that the Ventures had ever covered this fairly obscure Shadows vocal. A pretty strong, dynamic performance too. I like it! Overall- I've always felt that the Shadows were actually excellent vocalists (& more adept vocally than the Ventures) - but this is a fine performance. Bravo!

Rob

Well, well, interesting stuff, this, and thanks to Rene for raising the issue.

The Ventures "Little Bit Of Action" instrumental (1966 UK issue of "Where The Action Is" on Liberty LBY 1297) is clearly the tune for Hank's "I Want You To Want Me" (both music and lyrics - publisher Shadows/Carlin) from 1963.

The PRS documentation for 'LBOA' gives the composers as Don Wilson, Mel Taylor and Bob Bogle (as Iain says, the Ventures, but minus Nokie Edwards) - publisher EMI United Partnership - with no mention of Hank Marvin, perhaps not unexpectedly in the circumstances... wonder if Hank has ever been aware of this recording!

Like Rob, it's the first time I've heard the Ventures version of 'IWYTWM' (thanks, Donna, for the video post), which certainly has its own merits, but recording an intrumental version under a different title and claiming the tune as their own... hmm, I'm not so sure!

Bill

I am reminded of the Chiffons (He's So Fine) winning half a million dollars damages from George Harrison (My Sweet Lord) for copyright infringement. I never heard that much similarity. But this.....

This could lead to a completely different topic of discussion, but such 'borrowing' is as old as music itself.

Poor old George got well and truly clobbered, but perhaps it was felt he could afford it!

Bill

With reference to George Harrison being clobbered for My Sweet Lord/He's So Fine. One aspect of the case that does not get mentioned is that Allen Klein, Georges' former manager when he was in The Beatles, actually bought up the copyright of "He's so fine" during the plagiarism case as an act of vengeance for George's opposition to Klein being named as Beatle's manager. Klein was actually Harrisons manager when "My Sweet Lord" was first released and thus switched sides during the case. George was originally due to pay $1.6 million in damages, but the damages were slashed to $587,000 which equalled the sum that Klein paid for the copyright.

thank you bill for youre kind words and to other members
on their feedback on this topic,and donna, for uploading the vidoes
for all to see and helping me on sending youtube videos for us to see
still wonder were the vocal version comes from
maybe a japan cd or fanclub release.
but no shadows credit just does not seem right
all the best
moondawg61[sure wish the shadows recorded the gamblers version of the great instrumental moodawg]

As far as I can tell, it would appear this Ventures version of IWYTWM has never been issued in the UK, if in fact it is a commercial recording at all, although I can't speak for overseas territories. Any ideas anyone?

Bill