The Searchers

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Originally founded as a skiffle group in Liverpool in 1959 by John McNally and Mike Pender (Mike Prendergast), the band took their name from the classic 1956 John Wayne western The Searchers. Prendergast claims that the name was his idea, but McNally ascribes it to ‘Big Ron’ Woodbridge, their first lead singer. The issue remains unresolved.

The band grew out of an earlier skiffle group formed by McNally, with his friends Brian Dolan (guitar) and Tony West (bass). When the other two members lost interst McNally was joined by his guitarist neighbour Mike Prendergast. They soon recruited Tony Jackson with his home-made bass guitar and amplifier and styled themselves Tony and the Searchers with Joe Kelly on drums. Kelly soon left to be replaced by Norman McGarry and it is this line-up—McNally, Pender (as he soon became known), Jackson and McGarry—that is usually cited as the original foursome.

McGarry did not stay long, however, and in 1960 his place was taken by Chris Crummey (who later changed his name to Curtis). Later that year Big Ron had a successful audition with Mecca and became a ballroom singer. He was replaced by Billy Beck, who changed his name to Johnny Sandon. The band had regular bookings at Liverpool’s Iron Door Club as Johnny Sandon and the Searchers.

Sandon left the band in late 1961 to join The Remo Four in February 1962. The group settled into a quartet sharing the vocal lead and billed simply as The Searchers. They continued to play at the Iron Door, The Cavern, and other Liverpool clubs. Like many similar acts they would do as many as three shows at different venues in one night.

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60s, classic rock, oldies, british, rock
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Greatest Hits
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The Searchers: The Pye Anthology 1963 - 1967
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Needles And Pins
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The Definitive Pye Collection
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Top Tracks

1	Needles And Pins full track	873
2	Sweets For My Sweet	633
3	Don't Throw Your Love Away	395
4	Sugar And Spice full track	365
5	Love Potion No. 9	346
6	When You Walk In The Room	301
7	Needles & Pins full track	214
8	Take It Or Leave It full track	125
9	Someday We're Gonna Love Again full track	120
10	Goodbye My Love	112
11	Twist and shout	100
12	Love Potion No.9 full track	77
13	What Have They Done To The Rain	75
14	Take Me For What I'm Worth full track	72
15	Love Potion #9 full track	71

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Sapegas wrote:
October 2009

I could not see "Stand by me" on top charts, so strange... this song is awesome ballad

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foxyluva wrote:
September 2009

I agree. Their self-titled album from 1979 is great.

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GMenRVA wrote:
May 2009

Some of their later work isn't too bad either--early 80s.

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Sonofthe60s wrote:
April 2009

"Needles and Pins," "Don't Throw Your Love Away,"...I really liked these guys then and these songs still sound great today.

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madone1972 wrote:
April 2009

great song

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Lucifer-Sam wrote:
April 2009

If you dont like the 1980s join my group http://www.last.fm/group/The+80s+Are+Dead+lets+Keep+It+That+Way

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aafval03 wrote:
March 2009

"NEEDLES AND PINS" it was an unforgotable "hit" from sixties, but I prefer "WHEN YOU WALK IN THE ROOM". Hey !!! SEARCHERS, keep searching.

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prz_rulez wrote:
March 2009

one of these artists, who were unfortunately forgotten...

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XXXnicoletteXXX wrote:
March 2009

yep. :D

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loneberry wrote:
March 2009

love potion no.9's fab! love it!

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mynameisjoehann wrote:
March 2009

penis

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dopemoves wrote:
March 2009

Very good underrated band...long live The Searchers!

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rjoycerocknroll wrote:
February 2009

The Searchers never got as popular as some of the other British Invasion bands but I feel they were very influential on a lot of bands that came after such as Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. The Searchers are fantastic. Last time I saw them was in the seventies in London and they still sounded great !

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bicknor wrote:
February 2009

Great record - I still feel Ns and Ps at times, even now.

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bicknor wrote:
February 2009

Needles and Pins - great record, I still feel them at times.

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celineacc wrote:
January 2009

veryy funny :))

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BarneyElf wrote:
January 2009

one of my all time favourite groups. And when you walk in the room is plyed I co allgoose-pimpley. Listen to that guitar - magic.

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rodney47 wrote:
December 2008

Another great Brit group

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edgesofvision wrote:
December 2008

Yeah!!!

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LADYLOVES123 wrote:
December 2008

bring back a lot of good times

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