British guitarist analyses The Searchers live in 1966!

[@marktubeie07]

Clip taken from 'Bandstsnd', a Australian classic music TV program from the 60s, fantastic!

[@robincortez6586]

Fil, I ABSOLUTELY do NOT mind if the sound quality of these old videos is not perfect. NOT A PROBLEM. I originate from that year, and I am FAR from perfect myself. 😁👍 This group is a CLASS ACT, and they look and sound VERY COOL to me!! Keep up the great work. LOVE IT. 💕💕

[@RCAnderson42]

This makes me think of the movie That Thing You Do! Lol oh my gawd the drummer actually waving at some excited girl, I love it! 😂

[@bellesmom238]

Needles and pins was my favorite from them , Written by sonny bono

[@lynndow3185]

I did not know that!!

[@bufb]

I liked Walk in the room

[@stevenharrison488]

Tom Petty did a great cover of it too.

[@bellesmom238]

@@bufb YEA JACKIE DESHANNON WROTE THAT ONE FOR HER THEN BOYFRIEND ,, JIMMY PAGE

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

There was a time in the early 1960s when a common question was "Who do you prefer, the Beatles or the Searchers?"

[@suzannerobbins6293]

Hi Fil! Now we are talking about some great music! I feel so lucky that I was a teenager in the sixties! I was there when all the cool groups were big! I remember putting this music on the stereo...turning it up, and I was in another world! Thanks for taking me back to a fun time in my life! ✌️

[@davidwright2498]

An excellent explanation of the song/performance.

[@debravirden7130]

Needles and Pins was my favorite. I never realized how many band mates came and went! Great explanation of the cords and especially the bass. The drummer was a hoot.

[@debishaw9355]

Debra Virden, I do remember that song. And Love Potion number nine was a hoot..

[@lynndow3185]

@@debishaw9355 Love Potion #9 is still a shower song for me! (I think because I use some hair stuff called Potion #9, but still.)

[@kathleenbergeron1292]

The drummer, with his sun glasses, brought to mind the Tom Hanks movie, "That Thing You Do," with the drummer Guy Patterson. I "One-der" if The Searchers' drummer was the inspiration for that.

[@DriverClarkson]

The front line up with John Mike and Frank lasted until about 84 I think when Spencer James joined as lead vocalist and brought a guitar synthesizer to the group and John went on lead. Including Cris Curtis the bands had about 5 drummers I think. Frank Allen joined after Cliff Bennett & The Rebbelrousers and replaced Tony Jackson late 64 after he left

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

"Walk in the room" was a great song too.

[@mrnubbyman]

Fil, you're the only guy i know who listens to music and smiles from ear to ear. I often feel like im the only one.😎🤘

[@christoh711]

Prefer Needles and Pins to this song, but I'm always a sucker for Rickenbackers, so 👍🏼👍🏼. l never really noticed the sixth chords and voicings in such detail but now I can't unhear it! Great stuff, thanks Fil.

[@peterpanassow7814]

Love Rickies too! 👍

[@rifroar]

Fil, I saw these guys in the late 70's and they were very tight band,same as The Beatles live, they gave a great performance.

[@louiefortune]

Love the Searchers

[@jackjohnson7396]

Searchers were great, still listen to them. Good video.

[@HowardWeber]

Howard Weber says > Just to let you know , it was Tony Jackson that sang lead originally on Sweets for my sweet. Not Mike Pender.

[@joycerichardson1810]

Tony was great on lead vocals.

[@rodduke7669]

Very good and interesting analysis of the Searchers. Thanks Fil.

[@rcpinsa]

Correction if I may Tony Jackson was still lead singer on second album, it was third album that he only got one co-lead vocal on. TJ and CC didn't get on so he was basically forced out.

[@NickRatnieks]

Chris Hillman of the Byrds mentioned in liner notes to one of his albums regarding the Jackie DeShannon song "When You Walk In the Room" : "We borrowed this song from the British group, The Searchers. We borrowed a lot from The Searchers back then." Obviously, the Byrds unique sound was a blend from a number of influences and their own inspiration but Chris points out how The Searchers were a key input to their success.

[@ಠಿ_ಠ-ಶ8ತ]

Great in depth analysis, thank you! :D

[@danr5105]

A band and songs dear to me. Fil mentioned "Sugar and Spice". Remember it was used in the Robin Williams (miss you Robin Williams) movie "Good Morning Vietnam?" Such a happy sounding song,what a contrast with the event. I had to go listen to "Sugar and Spice'. I found out it is a Tony Hatch song, no wonder I like it. I could be very happy never moving out of this genre and the 60's. I, like Allen below (in the comments) are waiting for an analysis of The Zombies with the distinctive singing voice of Colin Blunstone. Just today was the first time I was made aware (watched a video) of chord voicings (spread voicings) I had never heard the term before and now Fil uses it. Strange things happen here.Thanks Fil.

[@barriethurlow3897]

Grand analysis as always, sir - in the '63 original Tony Jackson had the lead vocal and played bass, with a simple but tight and very interesting alternation of quick and slow.

[@trevordixon1427]

Who's the drummer ?

[@TheDivayenta]

They were my very first rock concert! I saw them in Germany. Loved Love Potion #9!

[@UberLummox]

Yeah that's a cool recording but The Coasters is THE version!

[@lynndow3185]

@@UberLummox I got confused and had to look it up, The Clovers did it first, but I loved the Coasters ('71) one best, too.

[@UberLummox]

@@lynndow3185 Heck yeah. The Coasters are so damn cool!!!

[@wingsofpegasus]

Cool!

[@AluminumCloud74]

Nice job with the analysis and I like hearing you demonstrate on the guitar!

[@debishaw9355]

I liked bandstand! It’s really fun to watch these older ones for sure. I don’t remember this song. I was probably listening to my Beatles albums over and over and over.. 😉

[@sharonmuzik]

ditto

[@danielroberts1559]

I'm familiar with many songs by The Searchers but after watching all of the video of their set on the Australian TV show I can't stop listening to 'Take Me For What I'm Worth'. A song that has echoes of The Byrds or Dylan. Another great analysis video Fil.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks!

[@alansack3490]

Great analysis, Fil, as always. The Searchers are one of my favorite bands, and for anyone looking for great 12-string guitar and great vocals and harmonies, I strongly recommend the Sire Recordings which produced the two records you mentioned. And keep breaking out your guitar. It helps us non-players better understand the analysis.

[@davidschecter5247]

LOVE The Searchers and their chiming guitars. Thanks SO MUCH for doing an episode on them. God, they were the best. If they had been songwriters (other than a few songs) they would have been incredible. Too bad there's not much video on the DC5. And there's all that "mystery" about whether Dave played drums. But Mike Smith is one of the all-time great rock vocalists, and not bad on the keyboards, either! Can't wait to watch this video again! Thanks so much!!!

[@lindsaymac01]

Thanks, Fil, I'm feeling about 110 years old here. I was 15 when this was on the Hit Parade and Brian Henderson's Bandstand was one of the most popular shows on Aussie TV. Lovin' your, mate, keep it up. :-)

[@elizabethspedding1975]

My Mum loved this band, I heard their music a lot growing up.

[@jdgiamario]

Thanks Fil....I found your Searchers analysis....and loved it...just wish it was the version with Tony Jackson....Jogn Lennon said it was his favorite song in 1963....always great from you....

[@joycerichardson1810]

Tony had the voice!

[@dc-py9dz]

Great channel. I lived through all those great bands. An era is coming to an end.

[@eljaykayaye1186]

Love this sound ! Looking up more Searchers now! Love your explanations, playing and info.

[@stevegibbons8941]

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT ! These guys ar very brave , yes its a multiple Cfg, but live? Ilove the Searchers. Thanks Fil. The Beatles had a LOT of help. Great vid !!!

[@michaelgordon8763]

Their song..."Don't Throw Your Love Away" is my fav by the Searchers....thanks Phil!

[@joycerichardson1810]

Yes, mine, too. I also like "Someday We're Gonna Love Again "

[@leilabennett1582]

Love Searchers, first record I ever bought was "Don't throw your love away". I saw them live at Butlins in the 1990's they were still magic then.

[@Ozmag1508]

Thanks for doing this as I requested. Good interesting analysis, the Searchers have always been an excellent truely live band. Thanks for your videos

[@louisb5563]

Needles and Pins-ah! So THEY did that song! Good job Fil!

[@darlatidwell6255]

Good live performance and a great live analysis! 👍🤟

[@gordenscottfan3107]

BIlly J. Kramer in his book said he had "Needles and Pins" before the Searchers but the band did not want to do it.....

[@keithhyttinen8275]

These guys are all right! "Sweets For My Sweet". In my area then, it got a ton of radio airplay.

[@pattyfarghaly1821]

Great year for music.

[@shaunw9270]

Brilliant analysis Fil. Great musicians 👌

[@3leggedkitten]

I just love, love, love how varied your content is, from the Searchers to the Foo Fighters and then A-Ha! And you give all of them the same in-depth analysis and present it in such an entertaining way too. I'm so happy I discovered your channel.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks!

[@drewpall2598]

The Searchers where another band from the British invasion scene that held their own. they record some great tracks! great footage of the Searchers. as You known a lot of the bands from the British invasion had great talents among the band members. great analysis on a great band. keep rockin' through the history of music Fil.

[@ADGreen-es6hm]

Fil thanks takes me back

[@cassvirgillo3395]

Hey Fil, Good analysis, good band. Early British Invasion is one of my favorites, classic rock, the good stuff. Really enjoyable channel. Stay well, best from across the Pond in Oregon, C.

[@derpimusmaximus8815]

My dad grew up in the Liverpool in the 60's, so this kind of thing is very much his jam.

[@phantomrockerr]

Thanks Fil. I knew nothing about these guys.

[@rcpinsa]

Enjoyed that in fact sent it on to the guys. Just for clarification whilst Mike Pender formed Mike Pender's Searchers in 1985 over last few years he is basically a solo artist and is backed on packafe tour by other acts on the bill.

[@kathleenbergeron1292]

Always wondered why the Searchers haven't been inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame.

[@bermgram7271]

they are British, and did covers of some already charted American hits. Not saying this is right just saying it might influence people who prefer the originals.

[@PhilFoley-e3f]

Roc HOF is very biased! They would not know a good rock act if they saw it!​@@bermgram7271

[@allensaunders449]

Nice still waiting for the zombies i assume they will appear eventually

[@reddymon]

Allen Saunders She’s not there

[@allensaunders449]

@@reddymon good choice

[@TheDivayenta]

Time of the Season, too!

[@joylunn3445]

@@reddymon One of my lovely late sister's favorite songs and consequently one of mine.

[@steveweiser2792]

Great tip! Love the Zombies. Also Blind Faith and Traffic!!!

[@seanandsteve]

Fil, your knowledge of music through the ages astounds me! I saw the Searchers twice in the 70’s. My claim to fame was being in the front row, and i caught one of their speakers as it was falling off the stage. Ah memories

[@wingsofpegasus]

Cool!

[@lorellstoneman74]

Thank you for all you do, Fil. Enoying your video break down, and chords.

[@freespiritwithnature4384]

Wow,there’s so many bands ,I’ve never heard before. Thanks Fil ! I thought at first glance Roy Orbison look . 😊?

[@marilynsheffield612]

Great analysis Fil. 👏 You have shed such light on musicians that I so admire about you. I wish you do vocals along with your guitar demonstrations, there would be screaming in the back ground and that would be me. lol. 😍 You have a lot of #1 fans and I'm one of them! 🤗 love ya, Have a good day Fil & stay well.❤Congrats on 133,000 subscribers!

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks!

[@lifetools-help8017]

You are a musical genius, Professor! Your music knowledge and explanations make the groups and their compositions appear to have been so easily performed (I wonder if they knew half as much as you do)! I learn so much from you! Your historical lectures are interesting and fun portions as well! Plus your million dollar smile is fabulous!

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks!

[@relhcseod]

Great review. The Searchers are up there with the Beatles, not with written material but performance and vocals. Just a Fabulous group.

[@fongy200]

My late father played with them a couple of times in the 80's, he played a few social clubs with them one in Farnworth Lancashire and a country club in Leeds. Thank you by the way, these guy seem to be the forgoten ones. After all they were there with the Beatles, Jerry and the Pacemakers, Culla and of course The Searchers. You honour them sir.

[@kyotocoversjimanderson782]

Great analysis, as usual. Loved the Searchers, though my favourite by them was their cover of When You Walk In The Room.

[@bigbow62]

The B & W vids are back ✌😎 Let the old school Rock-n-Roll flow ! Another cool vid from our leader 🤘😆 Thank-you Fil & enjoy the weekend ! Keep healthy and safe everyone........ 💜 💛 💚 💙 💖 🌎 💖 💙 💚 💛 💜

[@dconn74]

Great job again Fil. I enjoy the music lessons as well, though I'm not musically inclined myself.

[@swinetrek]

I saw Mike Pender's Searchers in Hong Kong when I lived there. It was basically fly in and play the bar and fly out. Which may explain why it wasn't too flash a show.

[@marioct130]

The Searchers were my first concert, at Worcester Aufitorium...

[@djjonosborn1531]

Fil - Thank you for this. The Searchers is one of those bands that never seem to get much attention. During the Sire years, I met all of those band members. They were all very nice. Unfortunately, Billy Adamson who played drums for them at that time, died in more recent times. Billy was a great drummer. The Searchers were one of those bands that depended A LOT on outside song writers. I don't know what songs Chris Curtis wrote but, they must have been album cuts. In the Sire years, most of the guys wrote. But, the singles were other song writers. Have you heard the Sire recordings? Wonderful!!! I saw the Searchers last about five years ago. With Spencer James. That is when I was told about Billy. Fil, you are a special person. Music is dear to my heart. NEXT Paul Revere & The Raiders!! Please!! Thanks.

[@jimmyrazor6202]

One correction to Fil's history. When The Searchers' contract with Pye expired in 1967, they signed with Liberty Records. On that label, they released three singles (including the magnificent "Umbrella Man") between 1967 and '69. As none of those records charted, the band was dropped. It was 1972 when The Searchers signed with RCA. Their biggest success with that label was "Desdemona," which went Top 40 in parts of Asia.

[@malcolmhowe6602]

It made USA 94… ish

[@barbaradownie3265]

LOVE THIS SONG 🎶🎶🎶🎶😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@The_Soundrops]

Wow, another great video that I've found today! The Searchers are one of my favourite bands. You've done a great analysis of the guitar arrangement. I consider myself quite a capable rhythm guitarist, but I find John McNally's parts very difficult to copy, eg. on such songs as Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya No More or Farmer John - very original and unpredictable strumming patterns and a very clever interplay with drums. I hope you will make a video on their singing sometime. Tony Jackson was a splendid singer with a shining Graham Nash-like tenor voice, always staying in pitch live - his performance on Ain't That Just Like Me is jaw-dropping for me (he steals the song though he only sings backing vocals to Chris Curtis on it). Mike Pender and Chris Curtis were great as well. Very neat vocal arrangements, never manneristic like sometimes The Hollies. A pity they weren't very successful as songwriters, though they did have a couple of good self-penned tracks.

[@highpath4776]

tony hatch getting them at Pye, his only complaint was that using overseas covers did not earn enough for the label, so he wrote Sugar and Spice for them for the next single.

[@TheKyPerson]

Does that take me back or what? I remember the Searchers so well, but like a lot of commentators I too was a huge fan of Needles and Pins. To this day, it is one of those perfect songs for me.

[@davidfielding8001]

I saw Mike Pender just after he had formed Mike Penders Searchers around 1985. My friend and I mingled with them in the dressing room afterwards. The amount of material The Searchers recorded in the 60s was phenomenal. Another great review Fil.

[@jerrybrownell3633]

Award winning songwriting duo Jerome(Doc) Pomus and Mort Shuman wrote this in 1961. They also wrote Teenager In Love for Dion & The Belmonts/ Turn Me Loose for Fabian/Hushabye for The Mystics/ and many songs for Elvis including Surrender, Little Sister, His Latest Flame, Viva Las Vegas and Suspicion- although I prefer the Terry Stafford version, Pomus the lyricist and Shuman the composer were second only to Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller from 1958 to the middle of the 60's.

[@granadascarf4375]

Thank you, Fil! The Searchers and Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas brought a very romantic sound to the British Invasion!

[@joycerichardson1810]

Love "Bad to Me," John Lennon gave it to them.

[@riogorgos]

Always admired John McNally’s frantic rhythm guitar playing often played on a Telecaster high up the fretboard which gave it a unique almost shrill/sharp sound.

[@johnmontgomery9149]

Very good. Maybe a suggestion is another analysis on the bands final line up with Spencer on lead vocals. 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@dalem8332]

Was just a kid when the Searchers had their hits being part of The British invasion here in Canada...but l remember their records doing well here..having a #1 record with Needles & Pins and Top Ten with Don't Throw your love Away & another #1 with Love Potion number 9. Great performance musically and vocally with great harmonies! Saw them years later in the 70s in Toronto Ontario Canada as part of a British invasion show with The Searchers, Billy J. Kramer, Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders with Herman's Hermits as the big Headliners. Great memorable show..all really tight live! Interesting analysis Fil! Thanks! 😎🎼🎶🎵🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@vtbn53]

This is one when an analysis breaks the magic, none the less terrific stuff. The Searchers forever!

[@genebrenner855]

Good choice. Please consider The Fortunes, one of my favorite 60s British bands. What a great singer Rod Allen was.

[@allensaunders449]

I also appreciate your interview with the warning my favorite band. I know they can't pull in as many views as some others yet

[@chadlpnemt]

I'm very surprised that the Sire records didn't do well. There's some really good songs in there, perfect for the time.

[@michaelfaraci4693]

CHRIS CURTIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE ORIGINAL DRUMMER for a PROTOTYPE BAND called ROUNDABOUT, WHICH BECAME DEEP F'N PURPLE........ that is just plain Cool.

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

Goodbye My Love by The Searchers is an amazing record. The Beatles were so huge and so different that it made everyone else seem insignificant in comparison until '67 or so when Hendrix arrived and the rules all changed. There were a remarkable number of top quality groups in the charts in those days. There was nonsense too of course but The Searchers were great

[@DocReasonable]

Awesome, I have this Searchers gig on my Channel. Luv your analyses, top notch!

[@dlsmpsn]

Always liked this band, and didn't hear enough of their songs here in the US. I heard The Younbloods on the radio today, and wondered if you have done them yet. Would love to hear your commentary of that great band.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Not yet!

[@paulweddle9250]

Hey Debra..did you know Sonny Bono wrote Needles and Pins? It's my favourite as well and the inspiration for Gene Clark of the Byrds "Feel a Whole Lot Better"

[@JeffinLowerAlabama]

The Searchers seemed like they found what they were looking for early, nice analyses Fil, Jeff in LA USA

[@scottcrosby-art5490]

I saw these guys live about 10 years ago, still sounded good

[@klmjtr]

Loved this! ❤️. Here’s another song to add to your extremely long list...Nick Gilder - Hot Child In The City he has such a cool voice! 🤘

[@tullybascombe2107]

Consistently excellent guitars on all their records.

[@edford1693]

"Needles and Pins" is the song I know the best by The Searchers. Talking about the cover songs, "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" is one of the best known because Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, and CCR released it within a year and a half. 👍👍

[@tjvanpopta]

Best music in the 60,s came out of the UK, starting with the Beatles and all these amazing Britisch invasion bands. Just in that decade the amount of great music that evolved was unbelievable. 60,s were like blessings in the music industry. It was the greatest music era ever and still strong today and will be in years and years to come.

[@tjvanpopta]

@Quentin Gaylord i know that. I like jackie deshannon original recording " when you walk in the room ".

[@beckyneufeld5531]

Another great British invasion band.love how they got there name too.talent

[@hainanbob6144]

I think the first time I heard this was in a youth club before I joined the army, probably 1964. Fell in love a thousand times but was always too shy to do anything about it!

[@Braglemaster123]

Needles & Pins was written by Sonny Bono and Jack Nitzsche “

[@3leggedkitten]

The variation in position that John plays reminded me of the beginning of Jerry Jeff Walker's "Sangria Wine". I'm sure you have a thousand suggestions and own ideas lined up but you should totally do a video on him, too. :D

[@jerseyporter]

Only just found this amazing channel! I play guitar, so really enjoying some of the technique stuff. But in respect of The Searchers, have you looked at any of their more recent performances of their classics? They're retired from touring now, but I saw them live loads of times between 1989 and last year, and they were still totally amazing live. John McNally was still such an excellent guitarist well into his 70s, likewise Frank Allen on the bass, but in the 80s they also incorporated Spencer James and his rhythm guitar with all its gizmos to enhance the range of sound they could make, so analysing a later performance of their hits like Sweets for my Sweet would be really interesting (if you'd like to do one"). The youtube examples of them live aren't great, which might be an issue because they don't necessarily do them justice, but there are some reasonable ones around, plus some purpose-made videos/dvds of them live a few years ago for the fans to buy at concerts (I have them all!). But really loving these videos, so thank you!

[@Braglemaster123]

This song was written for “ The Drifters “ by Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman who wrote a ton of great 👍 songs.

[@stevemiller1203]

Please consider Joan Osborne, What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted, from movie Shadows Of Motown

[@alancoull7969]

Yes! Joan Osborne backed by the Funk Brothers. Her version of "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" is a vocal powerhouse and is my favourite performance EVER! It's here on KZbin. Rock!

[@sharonmuzik]

Oh, I agree...she is awesome! Love that song!

[@Braglemaster123]

He won’t do it “

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Thanks for this video. I agree with Robin Cortez and don't mind that you look at videos where the sound quality isn't that good. Glad that you can do some tweaking to help out, but just having your demonstrations helps loads.

[@Lockemeister]

ok, that does it! I'm getting my electric guitar back out, firing up the amp and trying this out!

[@jimmygrieves2909]

The Searchers went into the wilderness for many years - then around 1978 they did a fantastic LP on the Sire label which flopped - Mike Pender left after that. It's a great shame. After the Beatles, Stones and Kinks - the Searchers were my next fave 60's Britband.

[@epipick]

John McNally is an excellent rhythm guitarist.

[@MrLaydownsally]

He does lead too