Burns Era Shadows Music: The end of the road?

[Didier]

You were so lucky, Didier. I am envious.

The Shadows had an enormous success in France in the early sixties, they were the only instrumental band to play as top of the bill several times at the famous Paris Olympia. The Spotnicks did it only once.
The Shadows liked so much playing at the Olympia that they choose to record their 1975 live album there.

Didier

[Teflon]

............ That sound is there on 'Move It' and we all know that The Shadows didn't play on that recording.........

I'm glad you mention that Dave. I've always thought Move It sounded like classic Shadows, yet there was no Fender Strat, no Meazzi, and no Hank. Did they even use a Vox amp I wonder? I would guess so, but I've no idea if I'm honest.

Cliff

[Iain Purdon]

Do we know what guitar Ernie Shear used? I’d guess it was an archtop.

[dave robinson]

It is well documented that Ernie Shears used a Hofner President with a Monkey Stick DeArmond pickup which was slid to the treble position for 'Move It' and used a Fender Vibrolux amp of the time.

The Shadows were known go be using Selmer amps in the very early days.

[abstamaria]

Still, many here, including our late, much missed Paul Rossiter, came exceedingly close to That Sound, minus Abbey Road.

Not to forget Dave. And Roberto Pistolesi! But that’s ptobsbly properly subject of another thread!

Andy

[abstamaria]

I believe Theme for Young Lovers was recorded in November 1963. Personally, I don’t consider it "Burns Era" in sound and style. It follows the usual format, with an acoustic guitar for rhythm and likely a Strat for lead, both played by Hank. John Rostill still was on bass, his last I think.

For me, That Sound -- the Holy Grail we have been chasing -- is the early, pre-Burns sound of Hank.

Some years ago, a young fellow in our staff drove me to a friend's home, where a good band was playing assorted 60s music. He did not join us in the patio where the band was, but stayed by the driveway on the other side of the house, chatting with other staff.

On our way home in the car, he told me he was so struck by the opening guitar strains of a tune that wafted in from the other side of the house. He hummed it to me. It was The Young Ones. He had never heard it before. "What is that!" he said he exclaimed to himself as he stopped what he was doing to listen. The first few notes drew him in and captivated him.

There is magic to the early Shadows pieces.

It was, I think, not only That Sound, although that was a critical component, but also the material and the style that made the difference. The Shadows changed all that in1964, along with the guitars. The 1965 album The Sound of the Shadows was and is alien to many old fans, including me.

I agree that by 1964 instrumentals were out of mainstream music, and the Shadows would probably not have retained their popularity even if they stuck with their old formula. But if the Shadows had done that, That Sound intact, It is entirely possible we and the other bands here and elsewhere would be playingp1964-65 tracks till now.

Andy

[JimN]

Andy wrote:

I believe Theme for Young Lovers was recorded in November 1963. Personally, I don’t consider it "Burns Era" in sound and style. It follows the usual format, with an acoustic guitar for rhythm and likely a Strat for lead, both played by Hank. John Rostill still was on bass, his last I think.

That was a typo, surely?!

On Friday 1st November 1963 (the date of recording), it was Licorice who was "still on bass". John Rostill was yet to be recruited.

[abstamaria]

ThanksJim. Not a typo, I’m afraid, but pure error. The hazard of writing from memory.

Best,

Andy

[GoldenStreet]

It is well documented that Ernie Shears used a Hofner President with a Monkey Stick DeArmond pickup which was slid to the treble position for 'Move It' and used a Fender Vibrolux amp of the time.

Ernie Shear is featured in this article on the prominent session men of the day...

https://gypsyjazzuk.wordpress.com/36-2/session-men/

Bill

[hiffclall]

I believe Theme for Young Lovers was recorded in November 1963. Personally, I don’t consider it "Burns Era" in sound and style. It follows the usual format, with an acoustic guitar for rhythm and likely a Strat for lead, both played by Hank. .....

Andy

Yep agreed. My mistake. For some reason I had it stuck in my head (incorrectly remembering the outcome in Paul Rossiter's video comparing Strat and Burns sound?), that it had been recorded on the Burns but watching again I realise that was unlikely. Also, as you say, it's definitely not the " Burns Era" sound of drier / compression etc. Still plenty of echo and verb there.