1960 – This is a song I’ve had for some time, in fact, it was written when I was a teenager. It’s written in the original early 60s Shadows style. The melody is played on my 1961 white Fender Stratocaster into a Boss DM-2 delay pedal, 1963 Fender Reverb Tank and a Vox AC30 Amp. The acoustic rhythm guitar is a 1962 Gibson J-200 and the bass is a Fender 1964 L series P Bass.
Cry For A Shadow – This rare instrumental Beatles tune is played using my 1964 Gibson Firebird guitar into an Alesis QuadraVerb GT direct to tape. A blond 1962 Gibson J-200 is on rhythm guitar. Incidentally, this is the only song ever credited as written by George Harrison and John Lennon.
(Remixed and remastered 2019)
Christmas in July – The song was originally on the “Electric Christmas” album, but I thought it would be good to give it another life. The melody guitar was played using my white 1961 Fender Stratocaster into a Klemt Echolette then a 1963 Fender Reverb Tank and a 1962 Vox AC30 amp.
(Remastered 2019)
The Rise and Fall of Flingle Bunt – I first heard the song while growing up in England in the 60s. My father had a reel to reel tape recorder and would play Shadows tunes on it. It was the toughness of their original recording that attracted me and I’d never heard anything like it before. The melody guitar is my 1961 white Fender Stratocaster into a Hot Cake, Boss DM-2 delay pedal , 1963 Fender Reverb Tank and a 1964 Vox AC30 amp. Rhythm guitar is my cream 1963 L series Fender Stratocaster.
(Remastered 2019)
Los Spaniard – Originally written with my friends from Spain in mind, the surf band “Los Coronas”, I thought I’d have a crack at it myself. The melody guitar is played using a 1965 L series Fender Stratocaster into a Boss DM-2 delay, 1963 Fender Reverb Tank and a 1963 Fender Vibroverb. Acoustic rhythm guitar is a 1935 Martin 00-17 and the nylon string guitar is a 1982 Gibson Chet Atkins. Bass is a 1965 Fender Jazz Bass.
Bombora – I was hesitant to record this tune. It was written by my good friends Jim Skiathitis and Peter Hood from The Atlantics, and was a number one hit for the band in 1963. As a member of The Atlantics I’ve played this song many times, but with Jim always being the one playing the lead melody guitar. At the end of a recording session one day I thought I’d have a crack at it. Here’s the result. Lead and rhythm guitars are played on my white 1961 Fender Stratocaster, Echolette, 1964 Vox AC30 amp. The bass is a 1957 Fender P Bass.
Marvin Bay – Another song written with the 60s Shadows sound in mind. The melody guitar was recorded using my 1961 white Fender Stratocaster, Boss DM-2 delay, 1963 Fender Reverb Tank and 1964 Vox AC30 amp. The bass is 1964 Fender L series P Bass.
Going to Kaleponi – This song originally appeared on the album “Going to Kaleponi” as a swing/Hawaiian style song but this new recording has it as originally written with a straight beat. The melody guitar is the 1961 Fender Stratocaster, Echolette, 1963 Fender Reverb Tank and 1964 Vox AC30 amp. Acoustic rhythm guitar is a 1963 Gibson J-50 and the bass guitar is a 1964 Fender Precision L series bass.
(New version)
Night Star – This song was originally recorded and released by The Atlantics in 1999. It appeared on the “Flight of the Surf Guitar” album. Here’s a longer version. The melody is played using the 1961 Fender Stratocaster, Boss DSD-2 delay pedal, 1963 Fender Reverb Tank into a 1964 Vox AC30 amp. Acoustic guitar is a Gibson 1962 J-200. Bass is a 1964 Fender Precision Bass.
(New version)
Shindig – I’ve always liked this song written by Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch. This is my updated version with a slight rockabilly feel. The melody is played on my 1961 Fender Stratocaster, Boss DM-2 delay, 1963 Fender Reverb Tank into 1964 Vox AC30 amp. Rhythm guitar is the 1963 Candy Apple Red L series Fender Stratocaster. Bass is played on a 1965 Fender Jazz Bass.
Nitram – The name is not quite as cool as Marvin backwards, but hey, you have to work with what you have! It’s a tune I’ve had for some time. It’s just guitars (and bass), I decided not to use drums or percussion on this track as it didn’t seem to need it. Played using the 1961 Fender Stratocaster into a DM-3 Boss delay, 1963 Fender Reverb Tank and 60s Vox AC30 amp. Acoustic guitar is a Gibson J-50 from 1963. Bas is a 1964 Fender P Bass.
Wonderful Land – I hadn’t played this song until just recently, I’ve heard it many a time but never learnt it. (Maybe the strings put me off…) The melody is played on my 1961 Fender Stratocaster, Echolette, 1963 Fender Reverb Tank, 1964 Vox AC30 amp. Acoustic guitar is a 1964 Gibson J-50. Bass is a 1964 Fender Precision Bass. The arpeggio guitar is a 1957 Danelectro into a 1963 Fender Vibroverb amp.
This Boy – Also known as “Ringo’s Theme”. I absolutely loved the instrumental version of this song in The Beatles movie “Hard Days Night”. Here’s my take of the song. The melody guitar is played on a 1964 CAR Fender Stratocaster with flatwound strings, Boss DM-3 delay pedal, 1963 Fender Reverb Tank and a 1962 Vox AC15 Twin amp. The acoustic guitars are 60s J-50 and J-160e. Bass is a 1965 Fender Jazz Bass.
Twilight Surfer – This song was originally on the Surfersaurus album and has become popular in the Shadows guitar community, with many cover versions being done. Melody guitar is the 1961 Fender Stratocaster, Echolette, 1963 Fender Reverb Tank and 1964 Vox AC30 amp. Acoustic guitar is a 1964 Gibson J-50. Bass guitar is a 1965 Fender Jazz Bass.
(Remastered 2019)
Apache – This is the first song I ever played in public at our school hall when I was 13 years old, with some school mates. The melody guitar is the 1961 Fender Stratocaster, Echolette, 1963 Fender Reverb Tank, 1964 Vox AC30 amp. Rhythm guitar is played using a 1963 Fender L series Jaguar, Boss DM-2 delay pedal, 1963 Fender Reverb Tank and a 1963 Fender Vibroverb amp. Bass is a 1964 Fender Precision Bass.
(Remastered 2019)
Eleanor Rigby – There are so many different versions and arrangements of Beatles’ songs done in most styles of music. The Shadows and Hank Marvin have done many themselves. This version, which is heavily influenced by Australian band “Zoot”, and The Shadows ”Shades of Rock” album. Maybe this is what The Shadows would have sounded like if they had chosen guitars instead of keyboards for “Shades of Rock”. The melody guitar is a played on a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Custom (2 pickup model) into an Alesis QuadraVerb direct to recorder. Rhythm and riff guitars are a 1964 Gibson ES335 and a 1962 Gibson Les Paul SG into a 1973 Marshall amp. They ‘other’ melody riff guitar is a 1958 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop into a 1958 Fender Bassman amp.