tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6292285431372088721.post8051121235252806021..comments2023-10-25T04:16:48.405-04:00Comments on dj's groovysounds: The ShadowsVSL Poltroonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515311335225348697noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6292285431372088721.post-3226693807449046382011-01-30T18:15:55.844-05:002011-01-30T18:15:55.844-05:00Interesting comments. I live in Australia where Th...Interesting comments. I live in Australia where The Shadows have maintained a large fan base for 50 years, similarly in most of western Europe, NZ, South Africa. Cliff Richard & The Shadows did a 50th Anniversary World Tour in 2010 and they wowed everybody with their energy and musical brilliance. They are all approaching 70, in fact Cliff just turned 70. There won't be too many acts that can still pack stadiums after 50 years. Why they never took off in the States? Probably lack of promotion and maybe Cliff was too Elvis-influenced at the start. I always preferred the Shadows sound to the Ventures and the Spotniks, another big (Swedish) instrumental group of the day. The Shadows recordings were very clean and sonically brilliant and the Fender twang was just right, although they switched to the English Burns guitars for about 6 years. Hank Marvin, the lead guitarist still puts out recordings on his own and the other Shadows remain involved in all sorts of production and writing and arranging. They continued to put out recordings through the last 5 decades but although musically very good, they are covers and lack the excitement of the 60s stuff. If you want to hear how good they still can be, there's a Cliff/Shadows reunion cd that came out last year to mark their 50th anniversary.Speedy Flindershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07259088663044461118noreply@blogger.com