"HANK" is OUT

[dave robinson]

I won't argue with that Justin, I actually don't dislike it and love some of his sounds and a lot of his playing. It's the naff arrangements that annoy me, there are great songs on there in my opinion are mis-treated. I hate people not liking it because Hank should be liked, but he's done himself no favours with some of those arrangements.

[Rich Cowling]

Might just have glass of wine well done #Hank sat at no 11 tonight in official album chart update must pleased so far.
One of our Shadows is charting guys...let's celebrate

[Tony Szpala]

I agree wholeheartedly with Dave ("Robbo") - poor arrangements- Hank deserves much better than this.

Best wishes

Tony

[JimN]

I'm finally getting my first full listen of the album. It's the best produced work from Hank since "Into the Light" and "Heartbeat", IMO (though "Guitar Player" was a particular highlight). I have to break with popular opinion and say my favourite track so far is Summertime. Seriously loving it! I'll probably post another comment when I've heard the whole CD.
J

Along with Richard Rodgers and Cole Porter, George Gershwin is in with a strong claim to Best Composer of the Twentieth Century. But Summertime is one of the exceptions within his body of work. Harmonically, it's nowhere near the standard of the best of his output.

Ever wondered why so many beat-boom groups used to play it (and they did)?

Answer: because it's dead easy, with a simple sequence of simple chords and a very predictable tune.

Still, with over 1100 published pieces before his early death, even Gershwin's songs couldn't all be masterpieces.

[bor64]

I'm with Robbo, poor arrangements!!
Playing and recording is as always !
But even after a week I can't get my head around those weird intro's and so.
Comparing sealed with a kiss with the shads arrangement on reflections, Hanks recording is more clear due better recording equipment and digitalisation I reckon. But that intro and coda.....brrr
I suppose this cd is made for the masses hence the big advertisement campaign, when punters as myself can't get it completely in some cases, what would Joe public without any musically knowledge will think of this cd.
I can imagine lot's of people who bought this cd, will think twice if ever they will buy a next one of Hank........
Tin hat in place...

[MikeAB]

'Summertime' is surely one of the all time great compositions? Simple does not mean bad ( as all Shads fans surely testify to).

[dave robinson]

'Summertime' is surely one of the all time great compositions? Simple does not mean bad ( as all Shads fans surely testify to).

I hope that simple doesn't mean bad. A good percentage of Shadows stuff is simple, when they became complex record sales dipped.

[Stratpicker]

Strikes me as odd - such wailing and gnashing of teeth over a CD from Hank (the real thing) costing just £9 at Sainsbury's whereas several hundred folks will happily pay £61 plus hotels, fuel, food etc to sit and watch a load of Hank and/or The Shads "Tribute" bands and Acts.
Just my two penn'orth
Cheers
Ian

[bgohara]

Strikes me as odd - such wailing and gnashing of teeth over a CD from Hank (the real thing) costing just £9 at Sainsbury's whereas several hundred folks will happily pay £61 plus hotels, fuel, food etc to sit and watch a load of Hank and/or The Shads "Tribute" bands and Acts.
Just my two penn'orth
Cheers
Ian

Ian - spot on.

Of course whether people like this album or not is all a matter of taste.
I've heard it said that there is an estimated market of around 5,000 diehard shadows fans. Say he sells 50,000 albums - he needs to cater to general tastes - and that means giving the customer what they want. It's not about staying in the charts for months - it's about recognising there is demand for a product - and meeting that demand. That is simply business - the music business! Record companies aren't going to invest in something that will make a loss..

Given the chart placing yesterday, I'd say job done from both the perspective of Hank and the record company.

[Paul Creasey]

I've had my copy of the "Hank" CD for a short while now, but only just got round to a "proper" listen.
Sounded GREAT on my Bose Wave III and made me appreciate (again) what a BIG sound it provides from a compact piece of kit - well worth the trip to Meadowhall to pick it up a few months ago!
REALLY enjoyed it, and liked the arrangements - but I AM "only a Drummer" after all.
I always had difficulty getting into all this "better than - worse than" malarkey. As someone said on here quite a while ago "Music is an art form - NOT a competition".
Well done Hank, Ben et al!

Regards
Paul.