The Searchers
One of the premier groups from the mid-60s Merseybeat explosion.
Having previously backed Liverpool singer Johnny
Sandon, they
broke away and took their new name from the 1956 John Ford
western.
During 1962, they appeared in Hamburg and, after sending a demo
tape they were signed to Pye Records the following year.
Guitarist
Michael Pendergast shortened his surname to 'Pender' while
drummer Chris Crummey changed his name to 'Curtis' (for some
reason).
Their debut, Sweets For My Sweet, was a memorable tune
with strong harmonies and a professional production. By the summer
of 1963, it climbed to number one establishing The Searchers as
rivals to Brian Epstein's celebrated stable of Liverpool groups.
The album Meet The Searchers was swiftly issued
and revealed the group's R&B pedigree on such standards as Love
Potion Number 9. Meanwhile, Tony Hatch composed a catchy follow-up single, Sugar
And Spice, which just failed to reach number one
The band toured constantly and embraced an exhausting schedule
of TV and radio spots and other promotional necessities. High
points included a weekly Radio Luxembourg series and package tours
on the "scream circuit" with Roy
Orbison, Freddie
& The Dreamers and Tommy Roe, where they were constantly
mobbed by teenage fans.
With two smash hits in rapid succession, The Searchers caused
The Beatles some nervous backwards glances by the close of 1963.
It was their third single, however, that won them international
acclaim. Needles And Pins was a superb song, written by
Sonny Bono (of Sonny & Cher fame) and brilliantly arranged by
the group and a striking chart-topper of its era. It also broke
the group in the USA, reaching the Top 20 in March 1964.
Earlier that year the band released their superbly atmospheric
cover version of The Orlons' Don't Throw Your Love Away,
which justifiably gave the group their third UK number one single.
The pop world was shocked by the abrupt departure of bassist Tony
Jackson, whose falsetto vocals had contributed much to the group's early sound and identity. He was replaced in the autumn
by Frank Allen (real name Francis McNiece) formerly of Cliff
Bennett & The Rebel Rousers.
When You Walk In The Room was another highlight of
1964 and showed their rich Rickenbacker guitar work to notable
effect - as demonstrated in their promotional film clip shot
outside the (unfinished) Sydney Opera House. What Have They
Done To The Rain?, indicated their folk-rock potential, but
its melancholic tune and slower pace was reflected in a lower
chart placing. The track offended hard-line Searchers purists with
its use of strings.
A return to the 'old' Searchers sound, with Goodbye My
Love, took them back into the UK Top 5 in early 1965, but the
number one days were over. They enjoyed further US success when
their cover of The Clovers' Love Potion Number 9 was a
Top 10 hit at the end of 1964 and on into 1965.
The release of P.F. Sloan's Take Me For What
I'm Worth
(US number 76, UK number 20) suggested that they might become
linked with the Bob Dylan-inspired folk-rock boom.
 Instead, their commercial fortunes rapidly declined and after
Curtis left in 1966, they were finally dropped by Pye.
Curtis worked in A&R and
production and tried creating a new band, called Roundabout.
The
band failed and the other members of Roundabout went on to form
Deep Purple. By the end of the 60s Curtis had left the music world for the
Inland Revenue.
The Searchers' last UK hit was a version of Paul And Barry
Ryan's Have You Ever Loved Somebody?. This proved to be
their penultimate success in the USA, which ended with Desdemona
in 1971.
Cabaret stints followed but The Searchers continued playing and
underwent minimal line-up changes.
They threatened a serious resurgence in 1979 when Sire Records
issued a promising comeback album.
The attempt to reach a new wave
audience was ultimately unsuccessful, however, and after the less
well-received Play For Today (titled Love's Melodies
in the USA), the group stoically returned to the cabaret circuit.
Tony Jackson was imprisoned in 1997 for making threats with an
offensive weapon. Chris Curtis passed away on 28 February 2005
after many years of suffering from depression, diabetes and high
blood pressure. He was 63.
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