New CD from Hank!

[Uncle Fiesta]

... I think Hank would do an excellent version of 'Surfer Girl' & 'In My Room' ...

Sorry I have to disagree. Both are fine songs, but neither would cut it as an instrumental for the simple reason that most songs don't. (Something a lot of people at the Shadows Clubs I attend have yet to learn.)

Don't forget, Hank is 75 now. If he can't find something to record with a bit more life in it than Moon River maybe it is time to retire.

[Gary Allen]

If it's a themed album then the record company might be calling the songs,the gypsy jazz stuff is very lively though.

[Martin Payne]

Since the inception of the original Microsoft Shadows Community site (98/99?) and ongoing since then, there have been any number of very well penned original tunes posted by members of these sites - ok, some not so good ones as well - but certainly enough to constitute a decent albums worth. Maybe it would be a fitting tribute to the support (not to mention adulation) Hank has received over the years and as a sort of thank you to the fans if he were to record such an album.

Just a thought....

[MeBHank]

Don't forget, Hank is 75 now. If he can't find something to record with a bit more life in it than Moon River maybe it is time to retire.

Some might have thought the same of Summertime. Hank's treatment of it, however, was spectacular, IMO. It's not an arrangement anyone would choose to play at a Shadows club, in fact it's not a performance piece at all, but it's a wonderfully smooth production, and with the trumpet it feels far more organic than some of his previous work. It has a real progressive, experimental, improvised feel and it worked big-time. We know there's trumpet and flute on the new album, so hopefully they're exploring that organic angle.

Moon River is a beautiful melody, so it won't be a filler track, and I can't wait to hear what approach Hank takes with it.

I'm excited as the new record is being billed as a follow-up to the "Hank" album. which had some wonderful ideas and tracks. Although a lot of tracks were obviously chosen by the record company and didn't lend themselves to instrumental conversion (some here will know of my thoughts on how Hank has been treated by his record companies), there were some stunning pieces. Summer of '42 was one of the best covers Hank has ever made, and I can easily visualise him performing A Taste of Honey. That descending phrase on the 12-string in Sealed with a Kiss is such an ear-satisfying moment, and Summer Guitar is an instrumental masterpiece.

Hank has the best guitar sound he's had in years and he's still providing us with new ideas. Long may it last.

Now, how about a one-off gig at the Albert Hall while he's in the country?

J

[neil2726]

A suggestion was to record Diamonds again! Why not Hank plays Jet!!
Maybe Hank plays ELO?

[Paul Childs]

... I think Hank would do an excellent version of 'Surfer Girl' & 'In My Room' ...

Sorry I have to disagree. Both are fine songs, but neither would cut it as an instrumental for the simple reason that most songs don't. (Something a lot of people at the Shadows Clubs I attend have yet to learn.)

Don't forget, Hank is 75 now. If he can't find something to record with a bit more life in it than Moon River maybe it is time to retire.

Yes it can be done! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjofELo03Ak

[Uncle Fiesta]

I realise I'm further cementing my reputation as Shadowmusic's Grumpy Old Man here, but once again I have to disagree. The awful whining had me turning off within seconds.

[Clarry]

I think The Sentinels do a fine version of "Surfer Girl" on their album...er...Surfer Girl.

[Paul Childs]

I think The Sentinels do a fine version of "Surfer Girl" on their album...er...Surfer Girl.

You mean this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtBlkEd5MWw
and then there's The Astronauts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A4t-_PibNk

[Fenderman]

It's refreshing that a man in his 70's is still recording albums that get into the top 10, even if they are full of covers which sometimes irks me, the only difference between his and the 80's Shadows albums are that the arrangements tend to be more original but at the end of the day, it's still a cover.
But as it's Hank, i'll be buying it as soon as it's out, also, does anyone have a release date yet?