Cliff's dream...

[iefje]

Agreed. I think he contributed more to the group than a lot of people are aware of. Most people think the "Shades Of Rock" album in particular and (to a lesser extent) the albums with John Farrar are edgy and/or progressive, but for me, tracks like "Bombay Duck", "Tennessee Waltz" and "Voyage To The Bottom Of The Bath" fall in the same category, which I personally really like.

[Monty]

yes indeed, and a compilation of their tougher and more experimental tracks over 1964-68 would be great - really highlighting the more 'gutsy' and progressive side of The Shadows

maybe something like this;

1) The Rise And Fall of Flingel Bunt
2) Rank-A-Chank
3) Blue Shadows
4) Rhythm & Greens
5) I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Arthur
6) Stingray
7) The War Lord
8) Breakthru'
9) The Lost City
10) Alice in Sunderland
11) Scotch On The Socks
12) Benno San
13) March To Drina
14) Late Night Set
15)Tennessee Waltz
16) Jigsaw
17) Bombay Duck
18) Naughty Nippon Nights
19)The Tokaido Line
20) Last Train To Clarksville
21) The Flyder And The Spy
22) Voyage To The Bottom of The Bath
23)Tomorrow's Cancelled
24) Maroc 7

Revised to include two tracks - IF they would all go on - maybe a 2CD set might be a better idea including 'Main Theme' and a few others too, such a compilation would highlight the often overlooked more progressive and powerful side of the 'mid-sixties' Shadows that often seem to be seen as not being as powerful as the earlier Jet Harris and later John Farrar line ups, which really was not the case !

[anniv 63]

Yes , lets add Scotch On The Rocks to this list after all we would want 78.8 mins of
FULL good music on a CD, not a half empty glass (hic) !!!!!
Mike

[anniv 63]

Sorry I meant Socks this mornings aperitif is quite strong!!!

[Monty]

by all means

- and maybe 'Main Theme' and 'Zero X' theme too - if there is enough running time on a single CD...!

I'd love to hear a stereo version of 'Scotch on The Socks' minus all that laughing, but I suppose that's not possible (?)

to my 'Acoustic Shadows' compilation idea earlier we could add both 'Bony Moronie' (1970) as suggested, and 'All My Sorrows' (1961) too bringing that set up to 20 tracks - I have revised my initial track listing accordingly

as I said the purpose of such compilations is to both re-introduce the band to the wider public beyond the immediate fanbase, plus possibly pick up new younger fans interested in fifties/sixties music - hence the reason the record companies DO issue these compilations and re-present the back catalogue in various ways, like 'Shadows Vocals', 'Shadows With Strings Attached' etc....besides just re-promoting the group's older albums.

[iefje]

by all means

- and maybe 'Main Theme' and 'Zero X' theme too - if there is enough running time on a single CD...!

I'd love to hear a stereo version of 'Scotch on The Socks' minus all that laughing, but I suppose that's not possible (?)

to my 'Acoustic Shadows' compilation idea earlier we could add both 'Bony Moronie' (1970) as suggested, and 'All My Sorrows' (1961) too bringing that set up to 20 tracks - I have revised my initial track listing accordingly

as I said the purpose of such compilations is to both re-introduce the band to the wider public beyond the immediate fanbase, plus possibly pick up new younger fans interested in fifties/sixties music - hence the reason the record companies DO issue these compilations and re-present the back catalogue in various ways, like 'Shadows Vocals', 'Shadows With Strings Attached' etc....besides just re-promoting the group's older albums.

The stereo mix on the 2013 6 CD box compilation "The Early Years (Expanded Edition) –. Their Complete Studio Recordings 1959-1966", still features the larking about, but is more back in the mix, as compared to the mix on the 1997 "The Shadows At Abbey Road" CD. The timbre on the former is more close to the original mono single version.

[Fenderman]

Isn't there a stereo version on The First 20 Years? I have this CD and all tracks as far as i know are in stereo.

[iefje]

Isn't there a stereo version on The First 20 Years? I have this CD and all tracks as far as i know are in stereo.

No, this compilation was released in 1995 and features "Scotch On The Socks" in its original mono single version. Until 1996/1997, a stereo version didn't exist. For "The Shadows At Abbey Road" compilation, Peter Vince made a stereo mix from the original 4-track tape(s), with studio banter included, as well as the 'larking about', probably recorded during the vocal overdubs. Also, the lead guitar overdubs are much prominent and even reveals a slight mistake.

[GoldenStreet]

The new album... not too sure about the 'duet' with Elvis, though...

http://www.itv.com/news/2016-09-29/clif ... sley-duet/

Bill

[drakula63]

No; I'm not too keen - in principle - on the whole 'duets' with people who are dead thing. It seems that almost anyone can now sing with a legend, if the money is right! Now, I am not suggesting for one moment that Elvis would resent getting the chance to sing with Cliff, but the point is, no one can ask him and so it's all done without his knowledge and consent. For me, Susan Boyle cheapened the whole duets thing beyond belief, as it's hard to imagine someone less worthy of singing a duet with Elvis. For Cliff it's a lifelong dream come true and none of us can be in any doubt about how much it means to him, but will his 75 year old voice gel with Elvis's, who must have been in his 20s when he recorded it?

Time will tell.

For the record, I'd like to state that I WILL be buying Cliff's new album in November - possibly on the same day as I buy the forthcoming Motley Crue live DVD and the forthcoming Doctor Who: Power of the Daleks DVD - if for no other reason than because I think he deserves some success after the hellish couple of years he's had.

Power to all our Friends!