TONIGHT. RADIO 2. 10 o'clock

[Uncle Fiesta]

Too true, my dad didn't believwe in borrowing money in any way shape or form (never even had a mortgage!) and it took me weeks to persuade him to sign the guarantor's form for my first 100-watt amp and 4x12 cab back in the mid-70s.

Then a few months later I got my first credit card and I was away!

[Paul Childs]

and back then it was a choice of an amp or a car, couldn't afford both.

[Fenderman]

I too was disapointed by the show, i found it too condensed and should have been a 2/3 parter (no mention of why they split up in 1990, i keep hearing different stories). No mention of leaving EMI for Polydor in 1980 and having many top 10/20 albums.
I also agree that Richard Hawley sounded bored, at one point i thought he was going to fall asleep! Is he a fan? I don't know.....
It was good that Hank didn't entirely write off the occasional one off show which would be nice, if they are all physically capable in the coming years (wonder if they would still do the FBI kick?)

[EJK]

I see that most comments on this programme could be put in the disappointing category and I am another thinking along similar lines.

Not much said about their first LP, just going over familiar ground and nothing said about the first EP featuring Mustang etc.

Not enough was featured about the style/recordings etc. of the rhythm section of Harris, Welch and Meehan which in these days was ground breaking and still stands the test of time.

Nothing said about the management of the band (Peter Gormley) and very little described about their recording sessions which would have been interesting adding some depth.

The chronological order of events went awry with the Aladdin music being mentioned during the time Licorice Locking was in the band then a brief mention of the appearance of John Rostill, only the Brian Bennett input about him. No effort was made to highlight him especially his first sngle being the wonderfully produced Flingel Bunt plus no mention of the different sound and style of play The Shadows had after he joined them.

No mention of changing from Fenders to Burns at that time and as for the excellent five 60s LPs from Dance with The Shadows to From Hank, Bruce, Brian and John apparently they did not rate as did their other EPs during that time. Then possibly one of the worst singles, Rhythm and Greens was featured!

It was a flawed concept to have a 55 minute programme, two or three programmes were required for a band of such influence and standing and I am sure that would have been the case if it was about other top bands from the 60s. As for the presenter he sounded half asleep and not too interested which I am sure was not the case, however he did not come across well.

All in all a sub standard programme which did not do justice to a band of such important stature in music.

We continue to wait for the definitive programme(s) about the band.

[Tone]

Excellent post, Eric, which just about says it all - unlike the programme!

Cheers.

Tony

[Ezekiel]

I listened to it last night on BBCiplayer - it was great to hear all my old heroes (Hank, Bruce et all) speaking frankly about the Shadows.
I was in a band which started in 1961 and all we played for 12 months was, you guessed it, The Shadows instrumentals; how we managed without a singer I do not know!
We also played The Ventures - sorry - but we just loved guitar instrumentals!
We would often get members of the audience coming to us after the show and asking questions like, 'Where did you get that tune from'?
They were, of course, referring to instrumentals from The Shadows' LPs!
There will never be another band like The Shadows but I am glad that their music is on 'record' - sorry - for all to hear and enjoy.
Just for the 'record' - there I go again - I was the rhythm guitarist in the band so Bruce as to be my favourite, although I wore glasses so people were always calling me Hank!

[GoldenStreet]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01mf9by/Out_of_The_Shadows/


BBC i PLAYER LINK
from 5.20

Regards
Jay

I've just tried replaying the broadcast and wonder if anyone else, like me, has found the conclusion is still missing. Bruce is cut short in full flow "Hank doesn't realise, I don't think, what he is....." All in all, a rather frustrating experience!

Bill

[ShadsBass]

[/quote]

I've just tried replaying the broadcast and wonder if anyone else, like me, has found the conclusion is still missing. Bruce is cut short in full flow "Hank doesn't realise, I don't think, what he is....." All in all, a rather frustrating experience!

Bill[/quote]

Try this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/b01mf9c0

Eric

[George Geddes]

What you need to do is listen to the first few minutes of the next programme that night (Jools Holland) which has the end of the Shadows documentary...

Just to put things into perspective: The Shadows get a one-hour programme on Radio 2. Next Friday, BBC4 devotes three hours to Fairport Convention.

George

[GoldenStreet]

Thanks, Eric and George. Yep, I should have thought of that one!

Maybe, George, the Shads never had a sufficient number of personnel changes, as per Fairport, to warrant a whole three hour TV documentary, in the eyes of the BBC!!

Bill