The Shads' vocals

[drakula63]

Having been inspired by reading the glowing reviews in Malcolm Campbell's book 'A Pocket Guide to Shadow Music', I have just listened to 'Dance With The Shadows' for the first time in a while.

What can I say? Certainly better than 'Out of the Shadows' (according to memory) and on a par with the first album. What hit me was the quality of the two songs, both Marvin/Welch compositions, "Don't It Make You Feel Good" and "That's The Way It Goes". Obviously it is very easy to be critical in hindesight but, as others have said, I do think it's a shame that these two weren't released as singles and that, from 1964 onwards, the Shads didn't release more vocals as singles. From the evidence of these two alone, I'd say that the Shads had just as much to offer, in some ways more, than many of the purely 'vocal' groups of the time. Certainly I'd say that Hank and Bruce made a formidable song-writing partnership. What especially struck me was that one of the songs, "That's The Way It Goes" (I think), was actually composed in 1961! OK, they may have re-arranged it for the 1964 album, but here is a song that is not a thousand miles away from what the Beatles were doing in '63/'64 - and yet it was composed three years earlier! I'd love to know more about the history of this song.

Generally, I really do feel that although it was obviously the instros that made them 'unique', The Shadows had a great deal to offer as song-writers and vocalists and this aspect of their output is criminally overlooked.

[dave robinson]

Really ? I'll have a pint of what Drak's on - Merry Christmas !!

[donna plasky]

Hi, Dave. How about some Cool Water? I am just kidding, I am not fighting. But I do agree with Chris.

Kind regards,
Donna

[dave robinson]

That's OK Donna, the majority of the record buying public in the UK seemed to agree with me . . . . . . .

Allow me to elaborate on this. My mum and dad liked The Shadows vocals, as did a lot of other mums and dads - they just weren't cool when singing, but The Beatles etc . . . . different gravy I'm afraid. I get no satisfaction from having to admit this, but apart from 'Don't Make My Baby Blue' their vocal efforts in the sixties were not up the the mark compared with the other bands. I prefer to remember them for what they are good at - guitars & drums !

[Jiggerz]

I have to admit to having a soft spot for Stay Around. And My Way. I'm going to stop here though, before I incriminate myself further...

[Ivan Pongracic Jr]

Dave, I mostly agree with you, with a very notable exception of the handful of vocals that were recorded around '66 (several of them on the Shadow Music album): One Way To Love, I Only Want To Be With You, Trying To Forget the One You Love, Stay Around, I Met a Girl, Will You Be There. I think these are all exceptionally good vocal songs, great melodies, great arrangements, energetic sound, great harmonies - they've got it all. There were a handful of others from before or after '66, too - I also love I Want You To Want Me, Mary Anne, My Way, I Can't Forget, Running Out of World, and Here I Go Again. And then of course they had some great vocals on the Specs Appeal album (never mind the MWF & MF albums). So, let's give credit where credit is due.

[dave robinson]

The vocals on the Specs Appeal album are great and they are great songs too.
The others you mention were 'nice', like I said mums and dads liked them, but not the teenagers, as reflected on sales and chart positions at the time.

[Ivan Pongracic Jr]

But of course, just because the teenagers at the time didn't respond to them doesn't mean that they're not great songs, right??

[Ivan Pongracic Jr]

And by the way, are those Shadows songs any more 'nice' and beloved by mums and dads than She Loves You or I Want To Hold Your Hand or I Feel Fine, or anything by many other successful vocal bands of the time like Herman's Hermits or Gerry & the Pacemakers, etc., etc. Let's not let chart positions and popularity judge the quality of music.

[Jiggerz]

I was a teenager in the early 80s. I'll stick with Stay Around or Don't Make My Baby Blue to Shaddap You Face or Mickey any day!