Shadows Tribute Track

[OzGuitar]

Hi all,

I hope this is okay for me to post here, since I'm new the forum, I'm not sure so my apologies in advance if this does not suit.

I am wondering if somebody on this board in the Shadows community could help me with my query.

I have just finished recording a new surf guitar instrumental single I wrote, performed and recorded as a tribute to The Shadows. The track is called, 'Sunset Cruise'. Both Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch have heard the track and endorse it.

Here are their endorsement statements:

"Sunset Cruise captures the spirit of the early Shadows sound for me. Hank starting a worldwide craze with the Strat and his echo box and trusty Vox AC 30 and me with my Gibson J 200 a perfect combination. Joe has achieved this sound on his record. Catchy melody, lovely lead sound and big rhythm guitars which I love!" - Bruce Welch OBE (The Shadows)

“The sound Joe has achieved on ‘Sunset Cruise’ takes me back to the early Shadows sound and Abbey Road Studio 2. It conjures up an image of Bruce sitting a few feet away from me playing his Gibson J 200, his sound the perfect complement to my echoing Strat, and Jet’s bass guitar and Tony’s drums driving the band. With ‘Sunset Cruise’ Joe has managed to encapsulate the essence of The Shadows early recordings, I LOVE IT!“ - Hank Marvin (The Shadows)

I am looking for a record label that is interested in releasing the track on all digital platforms plus as a 7"inch vinyl or on a CD as part of a possible album compilation of similar sounding instrumental music. Does anybody know or have any connection with labels that deal with Shadows type instrumental music or know someone who could help me with my query?

Much appreciated, Joe

[Garystrat]

Hi Joe,
Judging by your username you are Australian based (and possible Hank connection), it might be worth dropping a PM (Private Message) or Email to Martin Celia who is a member of this website, he publishes a lot of his recordings and is very much into surf guitar!

https://martincilia.com

Hope this helps and looking forward to hearing your recording.

Regards

Gary

[OzGuitar]

Thanks for the reply. Yes I'm Australian.
I already know Martin, in fact Martin and I recorded and released two 'surf guitar' instrumentals back in 2020. Check them out on Spotify.
He's not of help to me with what I am looking for.

[MeBHank]

Hi Joe, welcome. Congrats on getting Hank and Bruce's endorsement, it's obviously a quality track.

I am looking for a record label that is interested in releasing the track on all digital platforms plus as a 7"inch vinyl or on a CD as part of a possible album compilation of similar sounding instrumental music. Does anybody know or have any connection with labels that deal with Shadows type instrumental music or know someone who could help me with my query?

You're encountering a problem which, here in the Shadows fan community, we've been acutely aware of for some time. No-one in the established music industry is bothered by Shadows-style guitar music. Even Hank is restricted by record companies as to what tracks he can record. The record labels have heavily controlled the content of his and The Shadows' albums by market research, which has meant they've been artistically restricted for more than 40 years. No other major group or singer has had to put up with that sort of treatment. I don't know whether they felt frustrated by that; if they did I don't know if their management tried to fight for more artistic freedom for them.

Record labels haven't been bothered about original guitar music for a long time. Apart from the tiny, one-person-run record labels run out of people's home studios, no-one's interested. The best success anyone's had is to release the instrumental track on an album of other material; Richard Hawley's album 'Cole's Corner' featured the track I'm Absolutely Hank Marvin. Brian Bennett produced a wonderful album a few years ago (with multiple big-name guest artistes) called 'Shadowing John Barry'. It was a wonderful production, although I'm not sure how well it sold beyond the Shadows fan community, because it didn't get the sort of publicity that a Hank album would have had.

Leo's Den are a small mail-order company specialising in Cliff Richard and The Shadows-related material. They might have some connections that could help you. Try contacting Julie to see if she has a suggestion. julie(AT)leosden.co.uk

Sorry I couldn't be more positive. Unfortunately, us Shadows fans have become used to mild, sustained disappointment in terms of the band getting mainstream cultural recognition. So much so that a few seconds of an early Cliff and The Shads recording in a TV advert is enough for its own thread.

I hope you find your answer.

[Iain Purdon]

What Justin says is pretty sound, and he’s exactly the right age and talent to take things forward in his own right.
Personally, I have never bought the idea that Hank today is restricted by anyone. Record companies are not essential now and plenty of artistes self-publish. Hank could easily do that if he wanted to and the cost would not be an issue for him - surely!

[andykombi]

Who dose Tommy Emanuel use for recording ?

[drakula63]

Personally, I think it's quite optimistic to think that a record company would be interested. Why not become your own record company?

If I were you, I'd make it available via apple music/itunes and then put an advert in Pipeline Instrumental Magazine. I think this is the way forward.

(As an alternative, our old friend 'Waffles' - Warren Bennett - might be able to help...?)