Jet's last Shadows EMI sessions

[ash]

I wonder if the more knowledgable fans on the board might be able to help with the following questions.
When was Guitar Tango recorded with Jet ?
I read an interview from just before Jet left that stated a spanish style instrumental (presumably Guitar Tango) or a vocal track were likely to be the next single. Was that by any chance The Bandit ?
Were tracks such as Summer Holiday re-recorded because it would simplify the film contracts or because the performances weren't up to scratch and do these attempts survive ?
I've seen other tracks mentioned as having been attempted with Jet (The Boys ?) but completely re-recorded with Licorice (as opposed to overdubbed with harmonica). Anyone know which songs or does this remain a grey area ?
Has there ever been a definitive listing of The Shads EMI sessions that detail such items as well as take numbers etc. ?
thanks for your help.

[JimN]

I wonder if the more knowledgable fans on the board might be able to help with the following questions.
When was Guitar Tango recorded with Jet ?

The EMI archives database I have doesn't give a date for the "Jet" version of Guitar Tango. But Jet left the Shadows on Sunday 15th April 1962 (the day of the NME Pollwinner's Concert), which means it had to be (just) before that.

I read an interview from just before Jet left that stated a spanish style instrumental (presumably Guitar Tango) or a vocal track were likely to be the next single. Was that by any chance The Bandit ?

It was Guitar Tango. It was intended as the next single and would probably have been issued earlier, but the Shadows' whole operation was dislocated in the middle of 1962 by the parting with Jet, whose name was, until then, on every contract, including the one with EMI. The Shadows would never have issued The Bandit as a single (I hope). But it was recorded with Jet, on 26th April 1962. [Sorry - that should have been 26th January 1962.]

Were tracks such as Summer Holiday re-recorded because it would simplify the film contracts or because the performances weren't up to scratch and do these attempts survive ?

Summer Holiday was not recorded with Jet. The first takes of the track were done on 5th May 1962, with overdubs (presumably orchestral and/or celeste) made the same day.

I've seen other tracks mentioned as having been attempted with Jet (The Boys ?) but completely re-recorded with Licorice (as opposed to overdubbed with harmonica). Anyone know which songs or does this remain a grey area ?

Guitar Tango was completely re-recorded with Licorice on bass. Tracks which featured Jet which were issued after he left included The Bandit, What A Lovely Tune, Cosy, Perfidia, South Of The Border, Tales Of A Raggy Tramline and (surprisingly, perhaps) the single version of All Day.

The Boys was not recorded with Jet. The track features Licorice, though the EMI archive lists its recording date (16th May 1962) as a re-make or overdubbing session.

Has there ever been a definitive listing of The Shads EMI sessions that detail such items as well as take numbers etc. ?

Not really.

thanks for your help.

JN

[Arpeggio]

Well Ashley,
You won't ever get a more comprehensive reply than Jim's (First - rate as ever Jim). But...just to 'muddy the waters' slightly. According to "Cliff Richard: The Complete Recording Sessions" - a version of "Summer Holiday" (unissued) with Jet on bass was attempted on April 5th 1962. The Shads were back in the studio again with Cliff on April 12th. "What A Lovely Tune" had been taped on April 4th & Jet quit on April 15th (most, if not all, of this noted by Jim - I'm just summarising). The Shads (backing Cliff as well as performing their own numbers) had also recorded for BBC Radio c. April 11th & the tracks were used on "Easy Beat" (April 15th). So....it must have surely been sometime during the first two weeks of April that "Guitar Tango" was being worked up. There are at least 3 complete takes which survive. They are interesting but 'demo - like'. Each one shows progression. However, insofar as Bruce is concerned they are rough 'works in progress' & not good enough for commercial release. So, they remain locked in the EMI archives for the foreseeable future - if not forever.

Rob Bradford

[ash]

Thanks for your reply Jim.
Did you mean 26th jan (overdubs may 22) for The Bandit ?
The attached cuttings suggest a vocal track was up for release. I can't see what else it was likely to be - like you said, lucky The Bandit wasn't the next single. I wonder what they were considering. Maybe they felt it was the right time to try again with vocals rather than get stuck as instrumentalists which is what happened effectively which is kind of a shame. They were quite able singers with some nice harmonies but this work gets er.. overshadowed.
Someone mentioned a number of outtakes exist of the Jet Guitar Tango - maybe this mean the tapebox/documentation survives somewhere and a date can be found at some stage. I'm hoping to get to the emi archives later this year.
I think the Cliff Richard Chronicle (and Cliff Recording Sessions Book) says Summer Holiday and Dancing Shoes were recorded april 5 and 12th respectively but both were re-made on may 5th which was why i asked. The chronicle (which is far from complete) does have some errors which is why i wondered if anyone knew any more about these two cuts. I can imagine it might have complicated things from a film contracts point of view and it might have been easier to re-record said numbers or maybe Jet was just not on form towards the end of his tenure.
As regards All Day the only dates i have are april 27th and 21st november. Are you sure that the 45 features Jet ?
Once again, thanks for your reply. I'm trying to put together a bunch of Cliff/Shads data from 1958 to 62 and to be honest my speciality is " they who shall not be named" and the beat groups that followed. Any help is much appreciated.

[ash]

Sorry i couldn't upload the other attachment from nme 26 april 1962. I'll type it.
"There's the long-awaited vocal-instrumental which they have already recorded and which is sitting on a shelf in Norrie Paramor's office awaiting a decision.And even more fascinating is a title they have recorded with acoustic guitars....which is decidedly Spanish-flavoured in conception."
the article notes this was the last interview with Jet although Record Mirror (i think) have one too which says mostly the same thing IIRC.

[ash]

Thanks Rob. I was trying to attach the attachment and didn't see your reply.

[JimN]

Yes - "April" should have been January. See correction above.

JN

[Iain Purdon]

Thought-provoking.

I can't see that there would have been a problem with the "Summer Holiday" film if they had used any material with Jet on it. The soundtrack for the next film "Wonderful Life" had Licorice on it but it was John who appeared in the film.

I am surprised to hear that Jet was on the B side of Dance On, although it would have amused him since Diamonds knocked it off the UK No 1 slot. However, I am more surprised because the alternative version of All Day on the Abbey Road CD sounds like work in progress to me and Licorice was on that. Why would they have continued experimenting with it if they had already canned a more polished version with Jet?

[MeBHank]

IIRC, Licorice told me that All Day was written with a certain day in mind, the day in question being the one in Athens when the Shadows were filmed wearing traditional Greek dress for the final scene of "Summer Holiday". He said that it took "all day" for the filming to be completed. The Shads stood around for the whole day in those costumes. Lic couldn't remember whether the composition of the tune itself began that day whilst the group were waiting with the bouzoukis (a romantic thought, perhaps, but feasible) or whether the mere memory of the day inspired the tune at a later date.

Hope that doesn't throw too big a spanner in the works...

J

[iefje]

According to Malcolm Campbell's "A Pocket Guide To Shadow Music", both "Dance On" and "All Day" (single version) were recorded on the 21st of November, 1962, which means Licorice plays on both tracks.