New CD from Hank!

[bbigmusic]

Well spotted Chris! - that's a very well used anorak you have there

Pete's 'Who' theme is one of the best imo. All done in the Radiophonic Workshop with oscillators and the good old CS80

Grainer's original idea was probably more along the line of his other music at the time - more jazzy and without any electronics - there is a version he arranged from an obscure 1980's album (on YouTube) which is more disco-ey (and horrible!!). Delia's 'realization' of the theme completely transformed it so much so that Grainer barely recognized it. He even offered her half the royalties but the bosses at the Beeb wouldn't allow it so she didn't get any credit until much later.

[drakula63]

Well spotted Chris! - that's a very well used anorak you have there

Pete's 'Who' theme is one of the best imo. All done in the Radiophonic Workshop with oscillators and the good old CS80

Grainer's original idea was probably more along the line of his other music at the time - more jazzy and without any electronics - there is a version he arranged from an obscure 1980's album (on YouTube) which is more disco-ey (and horrible!!). Delia's 'realization' of the theme completely transformed it so much so that Grainer barely recognized it. He even offered her half the royalties but the bosses at the Beeb wouldn't allow it so she didn't get any credit until much later.

Delia Derbyshire only seems to have received proper recognition in later years and, without checking and purely from memory, I know there have been public retrospectives of her work fairly recently. There's a sequence in the first episode in which Susan is listening to what sounds like The Shadows on her little transistor radio. I think it turned out to be John Smith and the Common Men (ironically). Funnily enough, the first 7" single I ever bought was the Doctor Who theme (from the shop attached to the Doctor Who exhibition in Blackpool, circa 1975) and the second single I ever bought was Love Deluxe!

Sadly, I find that my anorak has bitten the dust. However, a nice black/grey denim jacket has taken its place!

[drakula63]

Oh and I think it would be nice if someone would re-release 'The Hank Marvin Guitar Syndicate' album on CD. Now would be a great time, as it too is celebrating its 40th! There must be some interest in it, especially since Jay-Z sampled 'New Earth'.

[dave robinson]

My goodness, a lot of Doctor Who haters on here

I actually recorded a version of it https://soundcloud.com/steve-gibb/dr-who-theme a couple of years ago and sent out a backing track and tab to everyone on my mailing list. I remember saying at the time if there was one tv theme I wish Hank and The Shads had recorded it would be Doctor Who. So, I am quite surprised but very pleased he's recorded it. I think it works great as a guitar instrumental given the right treatment, especially for Hank's style.

Cheers
Steve

That's a great version Steve.

[dave robinson]

Out of curiosity I listened to America by Yes and halfway through it lost the will to live. By contrast, Hank's version actually sounds like America from West Side Story, which compared to the Yes version is a bonus - and I know they amalgamated the Simon and Garfunkel song too, which I also used to like until I heard Yes play it. Not for me, too much b******s and improvisation, the only album I ever liked of theirs was the first one which I bought.

I put the new Hank demos on 'loop' tonight on iTunes in the background allowing it to run through a couple of times ( there was sod all on TV ) , it's a good album and will be generally well received. OK it's very MOR but that's what The Shads and Hank are - isn't it ?

[Gary Allen]

Just in case demon music are looking in.....A mastertrax version would be a nice touch.

[dave robinson]

One of the things that I love about Hank's interpretations on these tunes is the clear gipsy influence and his 'feel' on the slower numbers. I have mentioned 'feel' before when discussing and I have always said that it's difficult to teach, as it comes from the soul, but these recordings illustrate it in a big way and anyone listening who plays guitar and has yet to find it, will benefit greatly from listening to Hank's interpretations of simple songs, such as 'Moon River' & 'Are You Lonesome Tonight' and particularly 'Alfie'. Dare I say that it is as though Hank has visited some of the Shadows clubs and heard people playing the notes and making this album as a lesson in 'feel'.
I also love the use of the echo as Paul described, not the old 'Wonderful Land' repeats, but subtle 'note lengthening' , added to the fabulous slightly compressed sound, making the guitar 'sing'. Also, the acoustic rhythm guitar sound is to die for, I haven't quite heard that rhythm sound on a Hank or Shads track since the original 'Apache' - it's massive without being loud. The drums, bass, keys and wind instuments are all in the same ball park too, just excellent!
There's a lot of good things about this album that the previous two lacked and although some have reservations (as I myself did when I saw the titles) it's won me over.

[scouserjoe2]

Thank you iTunes previews for saving me a fiver (and am I going to need every penny given that the SNP lot have today increased my Council Tax by 14%). The word ‘feeling’ has been mentioned, and indeed I recall feeling better after having had a tooth drilled without anaesthetic than I did listening to this.

To my ear many of the backings were overworked and almost drowned out the lead guitar which, when buried within the mix, sounded the same throughout the entire repertoire. I found that very disappointing given the capability of the Stratocaster and the Vox to produce such a wide variety of wonderful tones.

Again, in my opinion (and each to his own), the only difference between one track and the next was the melody, and I’ll give Hank credit, he certainly knows how to play all the right notes in all the right places. To be fair, there are some lovely melodies on this album and Hank certainly knows how to interpret them. ‘Alfie’ was the stand-out track for me, and I might just risk 99p for that track alone if it becomes available.

You can’t knock Hank’s talent nor, to his credit, the ability to turn out another album at 75 years of age. Things have come a long way since ‘Apache’ , but as one of a dying breed of fans from that era (soon to become an endangered species) I am afraid to say that this is another that he has lost along the road that many will call ‘progress’. Sorry, Hank, I’ll not be buying this one either. I gave up after ‘Heartbeat’ which was the last album I really enjoyed.

Ian

[Fenderman]

Heartbeat is to my mind one of his best 'late' releases, it contains some energetic, exciting tracks, something that seems to have vanished on later releases sadly.
Oxygene is one of my all time favourite Hank tracks.

[Monty]

I won't be wasting my cash on this MOR record company marketed piffle either....

sounds like a 'Shadow' of his old self...

maybe it's time for the peace pipe...and slippers Hank ?