The Shads' vocals

[iefje]

I agree on the vocal harmonies, either in The Shadows, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Marvin, Welch & Farrar or any solo tracks. I do think Hank is a very able singer as is Bruce. Also, both John Rostill and John Farrar were/are very good at their vocals.

[bassboogie]

Brings back memories of when I arrived in the UK in 1973. Having paddled by canoe from the Zambesi river in Africa I was very keen to catch up on what had happened to the Shadows. Very surprised to hear that Hank and Bruce sang in a group called MWF. At the time Music Makes My Day got quite a lot of airplay and I think did quite well in the charts. I still think that was the best song MWF ever produced, unfortunately it was released at the same time as Clifford T Wards Gaye, which was an all time big hit classic. Went along to a MWF concert thinking they would do the Shads stuff and throw in a few MWF songs, but the opposite happened and I must confess I was one of many disappointed fans shouting "Wot about Apache and FBI then ?" Knowing better now I should never have joined the heretics displaying their anger. But had they remained the Shads and added some MWF material rather than the other way round I am certain that some of the "selected MWF material" would have had the success it certainly deserved.
Hindsight is always the winner.
Regards, Luigi

[Gary Allen]

Anyone still listen to Hanks "words and music" ?

[Didier]

As Bruce and Hank said themselves, in the early years their singing was inspired by the Everly Brothers, and at the time of MWF by Crosby Stills Nash & Young. But I always prefer the original to the copy.
I don't mind the Shadows doing some singing, and they have a few good songs, but i'll always prefer their instrumental music...

Didier

[neil2726]

I thought "MY Home Town" was the highlight of the Final Tour!

[hansaustria]

As Bruce and Hank said themselves, in the early years their singing was inspired by the Everly Brothers, and at the time of MWF by Crosby Stills Nash & Young. But I always prefer the original to the copy.
I don't mind the Shadows doing some singing, and they have a few good songs, but i'll always prefer their instrumental music...

Didier

And I say that MWF were musically and in their compositions better than CSNY - CSNY had another musically background than MWF. Listen to a lot of songs
the country / blues influence you can hear. The only both acts had together were their singing in closed harmonies.

[Steve Parish]

I love MWF's music! It is still a massively pleasant surprise to listen to those two awesome albums they did and hear the outstanding musical quality. Just after, I think Rocking With Curley Leads is a superb album too.
I rate Hank as a lead vocalist... and Bruce aswell. To be honest, in my opinion, when Hank and Bruce do the harmony thing, I reckon it's hard to better them.

[Fenderman]

Anyone still listen to Hanks "words and music" ?

I still play that occasionally. I liked 'Lifeline' and 'Oh Suzie'.
Wasn't too keen on 'All alone with friends' though.

[donna plasky]

While I could never choose between Hank and Bruce as singers -- I like them both, and they have different types of voices (alto vs. tenor, etc.), I think Hank generally doesn't receive enough credit for his vocal abilities. Maybe it's just because he is so well known as a guitarist. I think the song that best demonstrates Hank's ability as a singer is "You Never Can Tell." Cliff recorded that song as well, but in this case I think Hank's version (technically MWF) is stronger. Other songs like "Silvery Rain" and "The Day I Met Marie" are very pretty but also very difficult to sing, in my opinion. As for Bruce, I love to hear him sing "Faithful," the song about a ship sailing out to sea. I think it's nice that they can perform instrumentals as well as vocals; not everybody can.

Kind regards,
Donna

[ribiers]

..for me the best and the most "pop" record is "I want you to want me"....I imagine it sang by keith richards....!!!!