The Searchers - 30th Anniversary Collection (CD)

Most under-rated 60's band

By Russell  Apr 25, 2000

In the same vein as Rick Nelson in juxtaposition to Elvis - the Searchers are/were underappreciated then and now - largely due to the deserved legacy of the Beatles. But who else could have sustained such Everly inspired harmonies and Buddy Holly ly...rical purity, all the while crossing back and forth between rock, pop, and countryfolk - long before it became accepted.Lennon's compliment on their "American sound" neatly sums it up.The Searchers, originally Chris Curtis (versatile-inspired), John McNally (founder - jangling guitar), Mike Pender (talented vocalist and lead guitarist) and Tony Jackson (choir-boy voice but not character)later replaced by gifted slap-bassist Frank Allen - were schooled in the Liverpool-Hamburg nexus that enabled professionalism and craftmanship at a remarkably young age.Chris Curtis' ear for the girl group tunes and all the eclectic interests of these four Liverpudlians - found just as much expression in this group as that other!! The story also needs to be told how 3 albums were dumped on the market in 9 months and how a fast changing music scene left little for the band to dobut struggle on in a fadish world. Insults of insults - the manufactured Byrds unjustly get the credit for pioneering the jangling guitar and electronic folk sound."Take Me For What I'm Worth" is a fitting song for understanding this band.Take a listen-that's all you really need to do. All the great songs of this remarkable band are here. Read more Less