Backscratcher

[flingal64]

Hello everybody.
Just wondering, when I found this on you tube.
Is this The Shadows? It's called Backscratcher,
from Live in Japan 1972. I thought I heard all from The Shadows,
but this one , never..
I do not know how to put the direct link to it here,
but if you can look it up on you tube, and confirm that it's The Shadows.

[iefje]

This is not The Shadows, but rather Marvin & Farrar with the Brian Bennett Band. The line-up on this track is as follows:

Hank Marvin - Lead Guitar
John Farrar - Rhythm/Lead Guitar
Brian Bennett - Drums
Alan Tarney - Bass Guitar
Trevor Spencer - Percussion
Alan Hawkshaw - Piano

It was recorded live during concerts on the 22nd and 23rd of September, 1972 at the Kosei Nenkin Hall in Tokyo, Japan. It was released in September, 1973 on the Japanese Cliff Richard double live album "Cliff 'Live' In Japan '72". Side one kicks off with "Backscratcher", after which comes a 19-track set of Cliff Richard with Marvin & Farrar and the Brian Bennett Band, also featuring Olivia Newton-John and Pat Carroll on backing vocals. Side four features a 9-track set by Marvin & Farrar on which the line-up is as follows:

Hank Marvin - Lead Guitar & Vocals
John Farrar - Rhythm/Lead Guitar & Vocals
Alan Tarney - Bass Guitar & Backing Vocals
Trevor Spencer - Drums

[flingal64]

Thank for that info...
I think I have to get me this lp..
do you have any idea where to get?

[iefje]

Thank for that info...
I think I have to get me this lp..
do you have any idea where to get?

Well, this double LP may not be that easy to get hold of. I have an original copy of the double LP, complete with obi-strip, 12" sized insert with lyrics of all the vocal tracks (Cliff's tracks, as well as Marvin & Farrar's) and a text (unfortunately) in Japanese, probably describing the venue. I bought it in The Netherlands from a Dutch Cliff Richard & The Shadows specialist for about EURO 130,- , so it was quite expensive.
Copies do sometimes turn up on eBay, but prepare yourself for high bids. If you want the first 20 tracks only (Marvin & Farrar's "Backscratcher" together with Cliff's 19 tracks), then you can also buy the 2009 UK EMI first CD issue of the album. The 9 Marvin & Farrar tracks have only been issued officially on the original Japanese double album. The 9 tracks being:
1. The Rise And Fall Of Flingel Bunt.
2. Mr. Sun.
3. Apache.
4. Lonesome Mole.
5. Tiny Robin.
6. A Thousand Conversations.
7. Bye Bye Love.
8. Something.
9. Keep The Customer Satisfied.

Tracks 1, 3 and 8 are instrumental. Tracks 2, 4-7 and 9 are vocals.

[flingal64]

Thanks for this ' iefje' .
On e-bay just now the bid was 109 USD....
, but still.. I want it...

[Steve Parish]

I managed to buy this on LP from a record fair in Birmingham a number of years ago. The record sleeve is still in it's original wrapper, and the price tag (£25) is still on it.
'Back Scratcher' is, for me, the best track on the record!

[JimN]

The Cliff Richard tracks, plus Backscratcher, from the (extended version of) this double LP were released on an Italian CD in 1994: "Oriental Gems"; Fremus CDFR 0527. All of the Marvin and Farrar tracks (including Backscratcher) were released (with other rare Shadows and related material) the same year on the Fremus CD "Dakota"; Fremus CDFR 0520. Naturally, the CDs were sourced from a clean dub from the vinyl.

The Cliff Richard tracks (but not the Marvin/Farrar material, with one exception - Backscratcher) were also later (2008) released as "Cliff 'Live' in Japan '72" on EMI Odeon 509992 1659928. I assume that this was taken from the master tape. I assure you that it doesn't sound very different from the Fremus release.

The Fremus CDs are rare, but come up occasionally on eBay.

The Cliff Richard EMI/Odeon CD is still available on Amazon UK (and as stated above, contains Backscratcher). It is currently priced at £8.99 with free delivery:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cliff-Live-In-Japan-72/dp/B0039SFKXC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411067535&sr=8-1&keywords=Cliff+live+in+japan+%2772

I hope this is helpful.

[Moderne]

The Marvin, Farrar set is - IMHO - outstanding, and I can't believe it's never been given an official British release. It gives an indication of the direction that Hank and John wanted to go within the confines of 'The Shadows' legacy: great singing and outstanding guitar playing. Their arrangement of Keep The Customer Satisfied is a particularly impressive closer; I'd love to have seen them live but was too young!!!

[iefje]

The Cliff Richard tracks, plus Backscratcher, from the (extended version of) this double LP were released on an Italian CD in 1994: "Oriental Gems"; Fremus CDFR 0527. All of the Marvin and Farrar tracks (including Backscratcher) were released (with other rare Shadows and related material) the same year on the Fremus CD "Dakota"; Fremus CDFR 0520. Naturally, the CDs were sourced from a clean dub from the vinyl.

The Cliff Richard tracks (but not the Marvin/Farrar material, with one exception - Backscratcher) were also later (2008) released as "Cliff 'Live' in Japan '72" on EMI Odeon 509992 1659928. I assume that this was taken from the master tape. I assure you that it doesn't sound very different from the Fremus release.

The Fremus CDs are rare, but come up occasionally on eBay.

The Cliff Richard EMI/Odeon CD is still available on Amazon UK (and as stated above, contains Backscratcher). It is currently priced at £8.99 with free delivery:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cliff-Live-In-Japan-72/dp/B0039SFKXC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411067535&sr=8-1&keywords=Cliff+live+in+japan+%2772

I hope this is helpful.

As most fans know, these releases were legal under Italian law at the time, but illegal elsewhere. Not long after, Italian law changed and now these two CD's, as well as The Shadows' "Apache - The Classic Collection" and "Atlantis - The Classic Collection" and Cliff Richard's "Wonderful Cliff - The Classic Collection" and "Live In Holland '64-'65" (12 tracks by The Shadows and 12 tracks by Cliff Richard & The Shadows) have now been placed under the banner 'illegal' and 'bootleg'.

[iefje]

I managed to buy this on LP from a record fair in Birmingham a number of years ago. The record sleeve is still in it's original wrapper, and the price tag (£25) is still on it.
'Back Scratcher' is, for me, the best track on the record!

It's interesting to note, that in early 1971, "Backscratcher" was used as a lead-in and lead-out instrumental piece for Brian Bennett's drumsolo feature "Little 'B' '71", during the Spring 1971 tour, billed as "Cliff Richard & The Shadows featuring Marvin, Welch & Farrar".
The Shadows featuring Marvin, Welch & Farrar featured this line-up:

Hank Marvin - Lead Guitar & Vocals
Bruce Welch - Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
John Farrar - Lead/Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
Brian Bennett - Drums
Dave Richmond - Bass Guitar

The tracklisting was as follows, not in that order per se:
1. The Rise And Fall Of Flingel Bunt.
2. Dance On.
3. Nivram.
4. Apache.
5. My Home Town.
6. Faithful.
7. You're Burning Bridges.
8. Something.
9. Little 'B' '71.
10. Keep The Customer Satisfied.