Tracks you wish they had never recorded

[iefje]

Dear Old Mrs Bell.

Oh, and everything released by Polydor.

Not even the originals from the decade and some great renditions like "Equinoxe (Part V)" or "Going Home"?

[alewis41]

Dear Old Mrs Bell.

Oh, and everything released by Polydor.

Not even the originals from the decade and some great renditions like "Equinoxe (Part V)" or "Going Home"?

Nope. Synthetic sounding arrangements that could have been done by competent session guys, nothing Shads-like about the sound.

However I do have one exception to my dismissal of the Polydor years - The title track of Guardian Angel - A Shads classic and of course an original song, not a cover version.

[Iain Purdon]

To me, the Polydor Years are best represented in the compilation CD Shadstrax in which you get The Shadows in their magnificent 80s line-up giving fine performances of their own compositions. Most (not all) of those tracks do bear repeated listening and that CD is one of my in-car regulars.

Iain

[Fenderman]

It does seem the Polydor years material is amongst the worst, tracks such as 'Theme from Eastenders', 'Something's gotten hold of my heart' and 'Sealed with a kiss' are terrible, also Hank's solo version of 'Star Wars' could be the worst song he ever recorded!
Having said that some of my favourite tracks are from this period. Tracks such as 'Life in the jungle', 'Midnight Creeping' and 'You Rescue me' are all on my mp3 player.
The funny thing is that all the cover version albums sold really well, i think most made the top 10 whilst the earlier ones with more original tracks sold less, strange.

[MikeAB]

This thread has featured the usual ' knock the later stuff' comments but if the boys had not updated their sound as they went along think of the criticism they would have received then - and no doubt recording contracts/publicity would not have been available. I believe really good instrumentals are very much harder to write than vocal songs, and as such we should be grateful for the fact that the extensive use of cover versions allowed the Hank/Shads sound to go on for so long. I think much of the Polydor years material is very good and some is indeed dire - but for me the same thing applies to the early years where of course there were also plenty of cover versions. Personally I hate all of 'Jigsaw' apart from Green Eyes and the full length version of Tennessee Waltz - I also dislike 'The Sound Of' apart from Brazil, Lost City and Santa Ana - I think the vocals are terrible. The Girls, The Letter, I Just Called, Imagine/Woman, Uptown Girl, I know Him So Well and Can't Play Your Game spring to mind immediately as well. Not keen on a lot of 'Step Into' but it's not that bad I suppose - and in any case Mountains and Shoba alone completely make up for that! Mrs Ding Dong - well it goes without saying doesn't it!

I follow a few bands in similar depth to the Shads - mostly more 'progressive' - and on their fan sites exactly the same criticisms are made as they matured with more technical ability but a less fresh and innovative style. Like Mountains, these guys still turn out the occasional wonderful gem of a track that makes up for any of the surrounding dross eg Floyd's Coming Back To Life and BJH's Ballad of Denshaw Mill

And maybe the new ALW Phantom sequel will feature some tunes that tempt Mr Marvin - we wouldn't baulk at that would we?!

Mike

[StuartD]

Hi

I think the post above is spot on. Not that I agree with the tracks he doesn't like. I really like Jigsaw - I called my Music Shop after the Album - but the points about other bands are correct. I'll put my tin hat on now but I really believe there was a lot of pure drivel and $hite on most of the Beatles later albums. Some gems, but some pure rubbish!!

Regards

Stuart

[Risky]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the truly awful "Turn Around and Touch Me"

[captainhaddock]

Hi

I think the post above is spot on. Not that I agree with the tracks he doesn't like. I really like Jigsaw - I called my Music Shop after the Album - but the points about other bands are correct. I'll put my tin hat on now but I really believe there was a lot of pure drivel and $hite on most of the Beatles later albums. Some gems, but some pure rubbish!!

Regards

Stuart

Hello Stuart, Well said. For me the Beatles peaked with most of "Revolver" and some of "Sgt Pepper". If I may borrow your tin hat, I can even understand why they found it hard to find a label in the first place! George Martin must be the worlds greatest psychic.

[Pedro]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the truly awful "Turn Around and Touch Me"

One of my favourites!

[dave robinson]

In my opinion, 'Turn Around And Touch Me' is a great piece - musically and soundwise - I guess it takes all sorts.