"HANK" is OUT

[dave robinson]

Hank certainly is out . . . . . . Of the top 20. After shooting to 8 when he was on TV every verse end, hanging in at 9 for fathers day, sliding to 16, it's now down at 35, in the space of four weeks.
Most of the 'normal' people I know don't rate it, it's just the fans that do.
I will resist saying 'I told you so'.

[MikeAB]

Don't 'normal' people really just want Greatest Hits/Moonlight Shadows/String Of Hits over and over again? This one may be a bit too edgy for them - incredibly. I think it's a slow grower and I now like a different set of tracks than before eg I Can See Clearly Now is getting played a lot more, despite the acoustic squeaks.

Don't think it's rise and fall in the charts is at all surprising these days, but it is very surprising to see it there at all.

People of a certain undefinable 'younger' age just don't know who this 'Hank' is - not least because they never seem to collect 'accidental' knowledge about anything they or their peer group are not interested in in the first place, as they don't browse newspapers and watch TV news etc (too boring!).TV shows like Pointless prove that conclusively.

[dave robinson]

Don't 'normal' people really just want Greatest Hits/Moonlight Shadows/String Of Hits over and over again? This one may be a bit too edgy for them - incredibly. I think it's a slow grower and I now like a different set of tracks than before eg I Can See Clearly Now is getting played a lot more, despite the acoustic squeaks.

Don't think it's rise and fall in the charts is at all surprising these days, but it is very surprising to see it there at all.

People of a certain undefinable 'younger' age just don't know who this 'Hank' is - not least because they never seem to collect 'accidental' knowledge about anything they or their peer group are not interested in in the first place, as they don't browse newspapers and watch TV news etc (too boring!).TV shows like Pointless prove that conclusively.

You have a couple of valid points there Mike regarding the 'younger age' thing, but I don't entirely agree about the expectation of the material. A case in point would be the Chet Atkins & Mark Knopfler album 'Neck & Neck'. I play that in between sets at gigs and folks just love it , another one I play is Hank's 'Guitar Player' which is always well received.
What a great album it would be if he did something similar to 'Neck & Neck' with Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton or even Mark Knopfler . . . . . . That would be nice !

[Fenderman]

I had to explain recently to 39 year old friend who Hank Marvin and The Shadows were, she'd never heard of them but then again she listens to nothing but dance/rave music (which i think is rubbish) she knew who Cliff Richard was and now thinks i'm a fan, because i listen to his backing band. I am not a fan but like some tracks.

[Steve Parish]

'What a great album it would be if he did something similar to 'Neck & Neck' with Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton or even Mark Knopfler . . . . . . That would be nice ! '
Hank and Mark would be a superb album. Or with Jeff, come to think of it. Both are possible, considering that Mark and Jeff were heavily influenced by the Shads.
If Hank Marvin did an album with Eric Clapton... wow. Imagine that! Purely instrumental, or purely vocal? A combination of both would be outrageously amazing!
Don't forget Brian May/ Peter Green/ Ritchie Blackmore/ that great guitarist in Imelda May's band. As soon as I heard Johnny's Got A Boom Boom, without knowing who the muso's were, I thought, that sounds like Hank. Darrel Higham.
What about Hank doing an album, EP, or even a single recording, with Darrel Higham?
p.s. what's going on with the brand new Shadows recording, the John Barry tune? Any news?
Much love Shads fans everywhere...
Steve

[Billyboygretsch]

I love the album Twang. So many guitarists appreciate Hank and the shadows I am sure there are many guitarists would like to duet with Hank. Perhaps Hank doesn't want to!

[Phil from Melbourne]

Having read with interest the response to HANK, it saddens me greatly that so many have reacted so adversely. For example, statements such as "Hank certainly is out" (referring to the charts) smacks of a triumphant 'I told you so attitude' that simply beggars belief. Surely the fact that a man of 73 can reach so high in the charts, at a time as so readily acknowledged by commentators that Hank is virtually unknown in the UK to 'normal' people, is an unbelievable achievement??!!

I never expected Hank to issue another 'normal' album and have embraced his Gypsy jazz music, having enjoyed a couple of concerts in Australia. Now most of this style is simply way above my level of playing, but I deeply admire his ability to play this sort of material. It so technically very difficult but Hank has it down to a pretty good level. My point is that with all Shads/Hank albums, there are tracks I would not wish to play, but still like; and tracks that I like very much and would like to play. With HANK, I think Summer Guitar is the best original he has put down for many a year and as some have suggested, would be a great sports theme. I also very much like Summer of 42, the catchy improvisation of Daydream, the melodic I only have eyes for you, and several others. Sure, Summertime is a complex arrangement, but it adds variety. I understand everyone has different reactions and opinions, but you're never going to get an album in which everyone likes every track.

Let us rejoice at this unexpected new album and express a big thank you to Hank for its production. I personally am very grateful and simply cannot understand some of the over-the-top criticism expressed throughout this post. If you don't want another album then some of you are going the right way about it to discourage Hank. As I said, to sell approx 25,000 copies at his age is fantastic.

Let's all give Hank his due credit and stop being so critical, and unreasonable if I may say!

Philip Davey

[Billyboygretsch]

Phil you raise some valid points. I believe Hank will always sell albums to the loyal supporters of both him and the Shadows. It was fairly predictable that sales would rise sharply at the beginning as fans would purchase a long awaited album and Fathers Day in the uk was an easy option for kids to buy "Hank" their dads.
I personally am not keen on the album, having listened to it quite a few times. However I do appreciate that Hank is continuing to record and believes he enjoys it too.

I don't believe his age is a major obstacle to him recording, many people of his age are continuing to work in their careers successfully. However I cannot see him touring widely and afar as this would be exhausting.
Hank is a highly capable musician and with the Gypsy theme seems to be playing the type of music he enjoys. The problem he seems to face is that this and his recent album are not what many of the punters perceive as Shadows style numbers.
This is a problem a number of artists have perceived in their careers - Elvis had this problem when he came out of the army.
I think justified criticism is fair and is not aimed at demeaning the work that Hank has and is doing.

Some of the suggestions made about future direction and collaberation are made with a view to Hank listening to what some of his fans would like and hopefully these type of discussions help.
I personally believe that collaberation with some of the rising stars of the guitar would develop his own musical skills as well as those who might play with him. Still prefer and listen to the early stuff same with Elvis

[Billyboygretsch]

The shortish interview in this months"Guitarist" with Hank was interesting and one of the best so far as he is talking about the music and the instruments but not the one that is usually mentioned. Nice of him to refer to Jet Harris.

[Tigerdaisy]

I think one or two of the numbers don't lend themselves too well to instrumental interpretation, but the overall playing is very good- it needs a two or three listens. The problem with a lot of this stuff is that we often have preconceived ideas of what we think we should hear.