|
After more than 30 years in the Searchers MikePender decided to quit and start a career of his own. First this seemed to be a problem that couldn't be solved but finally they found Spencer James and he soon left his mark on the Searchers’ sound. |
|
|
But it took more than two years until they had the chance for a new record contract - in the country where they made their first lp back in 1963: Germany. The German Coconut label (who also had worked with the Hollies) gave them a contract for a new lp (cd), mainly with new songs. Only two re-recordings were made but totally different to the originals. This new sound should attract them for a younger audience. |
![]() |
left: John, Frank and Spencer in the Coconut Studio in
Hennef near former German capital Bonn. Billy is not on the picture and I
wonder if he was involved at all, all the drum works sound artificial. Picture taken from newspaper “Bonner Rundschau.” |
|
|
The album was produced in 1988 but before it came out there
were two singles ( + maxi singles and maxi cds) taken from it (see below),
so it took until 1989 that the lp was on the market. That’s the reason why
the sticker of the cover says: `89 remakes of Needles And Pins /Sweets For
My Sweet. Those tracks were already recorded in 1988. |
|||||
![]() |
![]() |
Hungry Hearts was available as lLP 209459, CD 259459 and MC 409459 (in Germany) on the Coconut label and in the Benelux countries on Dureco 115162.1. It contains twelve tracks. For details see comment by Tim Viney, taken from The Searchers’ Newsletter above left: CD cover left: back of the LP below: Vinyl and and CD label far below: Taken from CD booklet |
|
![]() |
|
|
Side 1. 1. FOREVER IN LOVE: (A-side of the new single): An atmospheric ballad, lead vocal by Spencer with Frank's voice prominent in the chorus. 2. LOVE LIES BLEEDING: A catchy tune written by John, more up-beat than the previous track. 3. ANOTHER LONELY WEEKEND: Another ballad, originally picked as the A-side of the new single, Spencer again sings lead in a softer style than usual. 4. SOMEBODY TOLD ME YOU WERE CRYING: The song we fans wanted
to see as a single by The Searchers, but at least it is now available on
record. 5. EVERY LITTLE TEAR: (B-side of the new single), A bright number sung by Frank and good to listen to. 6. SWEETS FOR MY SWEET: A up-to-date treatment of the group's debut single and light years away from the limpid RCA version of the song. Side 2. 1. NO OTHER LOVE: Side 2 gets off to a good start with this beat ballad from Spencer with the support of John and Frank on the chorus. 2. THIS BOY'S IN LOVE: One of my favourite tracks on the
album. This song features a driving bass-line from Frank, a great vocal by
Spencer with 3. FOOLED MYSELF ONCE AGAIN: Those of you who bought the
Christmas cassette from Serena will already be familiar with outtakes of
this song. 4. BABY I DO: This is my favourite. Sung by Frank, with
support from Spencer, this song has a lovely late 50's/early 60's feel with
its marvellous "bop 5. PUSH PUSH: A slow soulful number from Spencer. Perhaps the biggest change of style from The Searchers. 6. NEEDLES AND PINS: This is a superb re-vamp of the group's
biggest hit, from the new extended intro to the vocal fade-out (closer to
the original |
![]() |
Benelux LP |
|
On October 15th, 1988 the new Searchers single was out: Forever In Love (Near To Heaven) b/w Every Little Tear: Ariola Coconut 111783. Below: Cover and label Coconut even made a video clip - probably their only one - which was broadcasted on German television. But - despite being a perfect song for the late 80s - nothing happened chartwise. |
|
|
|||||
![]() |
|
Maxi-Single 611783 with the two tracks from the single plus a remix of Forever In Love (Dream Mix). Cover see single above. |
|
|
Maxi CD releases: CD 661 783 came out with the following three songs Forever In Love (Near To Heaven), Every Little Tear and Forever In Love (Dream Mix) corresponding the Maxi Single. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
and finally a four - track - maxi CD: 661 783 extended with Needles & Pins. |
|
The first one is the usual vinyl single: in Germany Coconut 112033 b/w Fooled Myself Once Again; and in the Netherlands Dureco 110156.7 The German Maxi-Single 612003, with Needles And Pins Radio Edit - Instrumental as an extra track. The German Maxi-CD 662033 which had a fourth song: Lonely Weekend as a bonus track. The fourth format is a two track CD single, only released in the Netherlands: Dureco 110156.2 Below: German single, front cover, back cover, label both sides |
|
|
|
|
|
|
above: NL single, below: NL label, A-side | far below: Maxi single |
|
|
|
|
|
below: German CD single | |
![]() |
![]() |
and fianlly the two track cd single from the Netherlands | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Searchers on German Televison, promoting their new single |
below: Maxi Single, front cover like the 7 inch single | |
|
|
![]() |
below: 4 track Maxi CD |
![]() |
|