Archive for March, 2018
The Shadow of Your Smile
“The Shadow of Your Smile“, also known as “Love Theme from The Sandpiper“, was written by Johnny Mandel with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. The song was introduced in the 1965 film The Sandpiper, which was directed by Vincente Minnelli and starred Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.
This lovely tune is now considered a standard, and has been recorded by countless artists, both vocal and instrumental. My instrumental version is done as the Shadows might have performed it in the mid-sixties.
Standing in the Shadows
“Standing in the Shadows” is another original instrumental composition in which I try to combine the feel of 60’s instrumental guitar rock with a somewhat more sophisticated musical and harmonic language than was typical for that genre. This one is similar to the style of the Shadows.
When Time Is Short
“When Time Is Short” is another original instrumental composition in which I try to combine the feel of 60’s instrumental guitar rock with a somewhat more sophisticated musical and harmonic language than was typical for that genre. This one is similar to the style of the Shadows.
Scarlett O’Hara
“Scarlett O’Hara” is an instrumental composition by Jerry Lordan, who is noted as the composer of a number of the Shadows hits — including “Apache” and “Wonderful Land”.
“Scarlett O’Hara” was released in 1963 by former Shadows Jet Harris & Tony Meehan, and by Lawrence Welk and His Orchestra. In the United Kingdom, Jet Harris & Tony Meehan’s version reached No. 2 on the charts. Lawrence Welk’s version spent 2 weeks on the USA Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 89.
My arrangement is in a 1960’s guitar-rock style, but is not a cover of the Jet Harris/Tony Meehan version, which uses a full orchestra.
First Bass
“First Bass” is an original instrumental composition in which I try to combine the feel of 60’s instrumental guitar rock with a somewhat more sophisticated musical and harmonic language than was typical for that genre. This one is similar to the style of the Shadows, and is a tribute to their first bassist, Jet Harris.
Each Step On the Way
“Each Step On the Way” is an original instrumental composition in which I try to evoke a feel that is similar to the style of the Shadows.
And On The Next Day
“And On The Next Day” is an original instrumental composition intended to sound similar to the style of the Shadows of the early 1960s.
Les Girls
“Les Girls” was originally a Shadows’ instrumental featured in the 1963 musical movie “Summer Holiday” starring singer Cliff Richard (who, of course, used the Shadows as his backing band).
The rather light plot concerns Don (Cliff Richard) and his friends who are bus mechanics for London Transport. Don manages to persuade London Transport to lend him and his friends a double-decker bus, which they convert into a holiday caravan, and then drive across continental Europe. Mainly this provides numerous backdrops for musical numbers.
My rendition is pretty much a cover.
Theme from “The Boys”
The Boys was a 1962 British courtroom drama film, directed by Sidney J. Furie and with a screenplay by Stuart Douglass, starring Robert Morley.
In the film, a night watchman at a garage is found murdered, and four “teddy boys” are put on trial for the crime. Witnesses and suspects give differing accounts of the lead-up to the crime, and the truth eventually emerges.
The Shadows recorded the soundtrack for the film. In the UK, four tracks were released on an EP in 1962 and was number one for three weeks there.
The original “theme” is pretty heavily produced and accompanied by the Norrie Paramor strings. In my arrangement I tried to preserve the feel of the original while presenting it as the Shadows might have performed it live, with just the four of them.
Sweet Dreams
“Sweet Dreams” was originally released as a track on the Shadows EP “The Boys” in 1962. All of the tracks were music from the 1962 film “The Boys”. While not released as a single in the UK, it was released in Scandinavia. The song was written by Bill McGuffie — a successful and popular pianist, conductor, and film composer in the UK.
Round and Round
“Round and Round” was originally a Shadows’ instrumental featured in the 1963 musical movie “Summer Holiday” starring singer Cliff Richard (who, of course, used the Shadows as his backing band).
The rather light plot concerns Don (Cliff Richard) and his friends who are bus mechanics for London Transport. Don manages to persuade London Transport to lend him and his friends a double-decker bus, which they convert into a holiday caravan, and then drive across continental Europe. Mainly this provides numerous backdrops for musical numbers — including a performance of “Round and Round” set in a club.
My rendition is pretty much a cover.
Jamaica Shadow
“Jamaica Shadow” is an original instrumental composition in which I try to combine the feel of 60’s instrumental guitar rock with a somewhat more sophisticated musical and harmonic language than was typical for that genre. This one is similar to the style of the Shadows — who, as far as I know, never did a number with a reggae beat.
The Lost Shadow
“The Lost Shadow” is an original instrumental composition in which I try to combine the feel of 60’s instrumental guitar rock with a somewhat more sophisticated musical and harmonic language than was typical for that genre. This one is similar to the style of the Shadows.
Shadow Train
“Shadow Train” is an original instrumental composition in which I try to combine the feel of 60’s instrumental guitar rock with a somewhat more sophisticated musical and harmonic language than was typical for that genre. This one is similar to the style of the Shadows — who, as far as I know, never did a “train” song.
March Shadows
“March Shadows” is an original instrumental composition in which I try to combine the feel of 60’s instrumental guitar rock with a somewhat more sophisticated musical and harmonic language than was typical for that genre. This one is similar to the style of the Shadows.
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