Cliff & Drifters BBC Live 10" LP Coming

[hubcaps]

On Geoff Barker's Rock & Roll Party on BBC Bristol last week he played tracks from a forthcoming 10" LP (on Rollercoaster Records) featuring Cliff & The Drifters/Shadows recordings made for the BBC. I gather there's an early version of Guitar Boogie as well as the Cliff tracks. Anyone else any more information?
Ian

[Arpeggio]

Great news indeed! These BBC 'back up' recordings were made privately by producer Bernie Andrews. They were only ever intended for his private / personal use - and he subsequently forgot about the for over 40 years!! Meanwhile, the BBC in their infinite wisdom promptly wiped / destroyed just about everything that Cliff & The Shadows recorded for them during 1958 - 1963. Fast - forward c.40 years - a potential Shadows at the BBC release was imminent - but the BBC themselves only had material from 1964 onwards. When the material held by Bernie Andrews came to light - it was felt that this would make for a much better release.

But....as most people know: The Shadows were happy to have the material released. Brian Goode was happy to have the material released. EMI desperately wanted to put the material out. But.....the BBC would not pay Bernie Andrews for the 1959 - 1963 material that he had. Big problem - they might 'morally' (possibly even legally) own the copyright in the recordings - but they had destroyed all of their own copies. The only existing tapes were those made by former BBC employee Bernie Andrews - but the BBC didn't see why they should pay him anything. Bernie wouldn't give up the material for nothing. The BBC promised to sue if the material was released without their consent. The release was scrapped. Bernie Andrews (now, i believe, deceased) sold the tapes to John Beecher. The 1959 material is now out of copyright - so i say WELL DONE & THANK YOU JOHN!!! At last, at last - we will be able to hear this historic material. BRILLIANT!!!!

Rob Bradford

[John Boyd]

WOW!!! This is what we've been waiting so long for.
Let's hope it will be the first in a series of releases as there were a considerable number of tracks recorded by the Beeb.
May I respectfully ask that members keep 'the colonials' posted on this project's progress.
Cheers,
JB

[AlanMcKillop]

I too had heard about this and what was maybe going to be a complete set, will probably be drip fed as the 'copyright' expires, great news indeed.

[Arpeggio]

As I did all of the original research for these sessions years ago - here's what was recorded in 1958 / 1959 by Cliff + Drifters / Shadows*:

1. 27 / 12 / 58 (Saturday Club): Move It / My Babe / Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On / Summertime Blues / Baby I Don't Care / High Class Baby

2. 14 / 3 / 59 (Saturday Club): Baby I Don't Care / Steady With You / Danny / Down The Line / Apron Strings

3. 18 / 4 / 59 (Saturday Club): C'Mon Everbody / Steady with You / Ready Teddy / Apron Strings / Never Mind / Danny / Don't Bug Me Baby

4. 20 / 6 / 59 (Saturday Club): Mean Streak / Dream Lover / It's Me And I'm In Love Again / Rip It Up / Living Doll

5. 5 / 9 / 59 (Saturday Club): Mean Woman Blues / Blue Moon / Apron Strings / Here Comes Summer / It's Me And I'm In Love Again / Living Doll

6. 24 / 10 / 59* (Saturday Club): Dynamite / It's Me And I'm In Love Again / Twenty Flight Rock / Pointed Toe Shoes / Heart Of Stone / Travelling Light

Show no.6 was a live broadcast from the studio - all of the others were pre - taped. Versions of Apron Strings / Down The Line / Living Doll were also transmitted from a show called "Funny Side Up" in August 1959 - but Bernie Andrews wasn't involved.

The Shads* / Drifters tracks were as follows (the initial number refers to the shows previously referred to)

1. "Guitar Boogie" / 2. "Jet Black" / 5. "Jet Black" / 6. "Jet Black"*

I say roll on 2011 (when 1960 will be out of copyright) - because the Shadows recorded 36 tracks for the BBC in 1960 and 22 of those were for Saturday Club.

Best wishes,

Rob

[Martin Page]

I can't wait!

[Stratpicker]

I wonder how limited a sale this will be if I consider how many of us still have Turntables to play them on.
I certainly don't and all my albums from the 60s and 70s now fester away up in the loft.
cheers
ian

[s4wgb]

.

[Arpeggio]

Stuart / Ian,
I don't believe that this is out just yet - maybe in a month or two. Also - although the initial release will be on 10" vinyl - I'm pretty certain that Rollercoaster will then follow through with a CD release.

Bests....Rob

[leosden]

This LP was great news after the disappointment of the EMI plans for the CD a few years ago. We will also be stocking this LP when released and details will be going up on our web site www.leosden.co.uk later this week or please email us and we can let you have any additional news we might get regarding a CD release maybe next year.
These are the sort of releases we need.

Good to see so many of you at Shadowmania and in some cases put faces to customers we speak to often on the phone.
Pat & John