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Hi folks...

The Shads have altered the way they performed some tunes over the years. I'm wondering if anyone has any backing tracks of certain Shadows hits as they were performed in later years, complete with breaks, accents and alternate endings. I'm thinking of Wonderful Land, Atlantis, Apache, Foot Tapper and FBI. After years of stepping away from intentionally presenting a solo tribute act I'm now putting some extra work into doing a sharp Hank/Shadows tribute for the corporate market and tribute circuit. Having backing tracks to the versions as heard on, say, the Final Tour, would be great for me in terms of adding a little extra into my performance, and would increase the entertainment factor/potential.

Thanks in advance...

J

I don't know if they exist. Why not make your own, Justin? Have exactly the arrangement you want...

Good idea.

Fix a recording session, Justin.

I'll play rhythm guitar (period-correct electrics: Burns, Fender, with historically-correct string gauges) and appropriate Gibson acoustic(s).

AAARRGH!

NO! Justin, don't do it - please!!

You're too good for guitar karaoke!

For goodness sake, forma band- I'm sure there would be Shadows oriented drummers, bass players and rhythm players (Jim's offered already!) eager to join you in the project!

Hey, please don't knock 'guitar karaoke'! The inference that if you play to backing tracks you are an inferior player is a bit hard to swallow! It may not be the same as playing with a full live line-up, but it has made playing live gigs possible for those of us for whom playing in a regular band is not an easy option.

Hard reality. A capable singer/guitarist with well-chosen BTs can get gigs far more easily and cost-effectively than can a 4- or 5- piece group. Pure economics and practicality.

Thanks for the replies, gents.

Jim, Iain, I haven't any decent recording facilities. My first decent-size tribute show might be pretty soon, and instead of spending the time tracking down appropriate software and learning how to use it I thought my time would be better spent scouring the web for tracks that suit my purposes. So far, Roger Paulsson's BTs of Atlantis, Wonderful Land and FBI seem just about spot on, and Pete Korving's Foot Tapper sounds promising from the short clip I've heard.

John, as Iain says, playing to backing tracks makes too much financial sense. I cut my teeth on playing to backing tracks in my local pubs and clubs, and some of the most respected musicians within the Shadows fan circles make at least some of their earnings from doing the same. I'm revisiting my old idea of a fully-fledged solo Hank Marvin tribute because the potential is there for me to double my income with just one gig per week. Plus it's nice to vary the type of show I perform.

I play a '50s and '60s set to backing tracks in care homes to earn the bulk of my living, and the people I entertain love what I do. Seeing music affect people in such strong ways gives me more fulfilment than any music work I've ever done. Also, playing to backing tracks means I'm able to play obscure tunes or big production numbers which would be difficult for bands to play live, even adding harmony lead guitar lines and phrases that would hinder me from injecting the feeling I want to to convey in the main melody (a reason I'm not big on fingerstyle players).

The Shadowers are still a going concern (even though we haven't played since ShadowsFix in 2013), so there's no need for me to form another group, but it's more difficult for me to arrange band events now and I'm no longer in a position to take the financial risk of hiring theatres.

I'm going to start a new thread on the General board, as this relates to a subject I recently addressed on Facebook.

J

Hi Justin
Phil Mcgarrick does a pretty useable "Apache -Final Tour" BT complete with the ability for you to do Hanks "drunken" trem ending.
The "Bungleflint" CD has BTs for the Live versions of "The Frightened City" ( with the arpeggio'd chordy ending) and "Flingel Bunt" (with the 'quietly played mid-section). I found that they needed a bit of EQ work but work quite well for a Stand-Up Solo player.
Cheers
Ian

Back on 1979 I was the first in our area to use backing tracks that I made myself using a half track stereo Revox by 'bouncing' tracks to build up a little band. They consisted of drums, bass and rhythm guitar and I still have the press cuttings from that time chastising me for putting musicians out of work. I persevered and built up a good act as well as a business making backing tracks for a company who were doing karaoke tracks. This allowed me to afford four track and later eight track reel to reel facilities, before eventually going all digital and finally through the PC route via Cubase and eventually to Logic on the Mac. I did OK out of it back in the day, but never , ever lost sight of why I played, which was the love of live music.
The problem was at that time the professional groups were un-affordable and we had to split and make solo careers.
The backing in the majority of clubs was largely poor, you lived and died in the hands of so called musicians to whom you gave your 'dots' and were only ever as good as they were, which having been a member of a very 'tight' band I found unacceptable, which is why I used my recording experience from my time with working with Dave Berry and recording with 10cc and The Hermits over at Strawberry Studios in Stockport, to produce basic backing tracks.
Obviously the more tracks I found at my disposal allowed the addition of strings, horns, backing vocals - you name it and I was selling to everybody and anybody and creating competition for myself in the form of other acts. The trouble with that was, that they began under-cutting price wise and flooded the market with mediocre acts.
I always maintain that live music is best, but in 1979 my backing tracks replaced the acts that were standing up with a guitar and drumbox and proved to be the way forward in every form of performing music. I actually despise backing tracks these days as most people I see using them fail to give a performance, there are exceptions, but few and far between.
I now only do the odd track for myself should I venture out as a rare solo act these days, having suffered the flack back then, being accused of miming - which in itself is flattering. I did it as a means to an end, but these days no longer find that I need to as the band has no problem in working. That said I don't mind the odd one on my own.

Stratpicker wrote:Hi Justin
Phil Mcgarrick does a pretty useable "Apache -Final Tour" BT complete with the ability for you to do Hanks "drunken" trem ending.
The "Bungleflint" CD has BTs for the Live versions of "The Frightened City" ( with the arpeggio'd chordy ending) and "Flingel Bunt" (with the 'quietly played mid-section). I found that they needed a bit of EQ work but work quite well for a Stand-Up Solo player.
Cheers
Ian

To get back to Justins original point rather than a tennis match of "my Bands better than your BTs" however much fun that is - add to the above list Roger Paulssons BT for "Wonderful Land" which is based on the Live version, with tip-toe middle.
Any more?
Ian