The Shadows: Quirky Song Titles Online Trivia | Music

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1. A 1964 album of The Shadows with Cliff Richard and others featured a tune written by Welch/Marvin/Bennett/Rostill called 'Genie with the Light Brown___________'. Fill in the blank.

Answer: Lamp

Pantomimes are very popular in the U.K., especially around Christmas. Cliff and The Shadows (along with the Norrie Paramor Orchestra) recorded the music to a classic panto they appeared live in called 'Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp'. 'Genie', composed by The Shadows, was on the 'Aladdin' L.P. released in U.K. late 1964.

2. From the 1977 Shadows album 'Tasty' came what Bennett/Marvin/Welch tune with a distinctly British ring to it? Hope this clue doesn't stump you.

Answer: Cricket Bat Boogie

'Cricket Bat Boogie' was among an eclectic list of originals and covers, including The Shadows version of The Stones 'Honky Tonk Woman' and Elton's 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'.

3. In 1966 The Shadows released an E.P. with a catchy title that Lewis Carroll may have found quirky, unless he knew Hank Marvin's home town. What was the name of this E.P?

Answer: Alice in Sunderland

This E.P title suggests a cross reference to Alice in Wonderland meeting the city of Sunderland U.K. which is very close to Newcastle, where both Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch grew up. Apart from this track, written by Bennett/Welch/Marvin/Rostill, there was 'Stingray', 'Dakota' and 'Don't It Make You Feel Good', which, as I recall, was a vocal track. E.Ps (that's a seven inch extended play vinyl record with usually a coloured cover) in the 60s had four tracks, two on each side and were good value for poor but dedicated fans.

4. Written by Marvin/Welch/Harris, this instrumental, which featured an amazing bass solo from Jet Harris, was on The Shadows' first L.P., called, of all things, 'The Shadows'. Looking back, Hank (hint) had a big influence on the naming of the track in question.

Answer: Nivram

'Nivram' (Marvin backwards) was, and still is in my opinion, a landmark track in bringing the bass player to the fore. I cannot recall an electric bass solo on a 'pop' record anything like it prior (remember we're talking 1961 here!) up till John Entwhistle with 'The Who' and the 'My Generation' bass solo.

5. Can you complete the title of this Marvin/Welch/Bennett tune, found on The Shadows 'Hits Right up Your Street' album from early 1980s? They called it 'Hats off To _________________'

Answer: Wally

To me, it's a play on the 1961 world wide hit for Del Shannon called 'Hats off To Larry'. Also on the album such diverse covers as the beautiful 'One Day I'll Fly Away' and 'The Third Man'.

6. 'You can't do that, the Stones have used it already', screamed The Shadows' manager as they compiled the running order for the album called 'Rockin' with Curly Leads'. So what did The Shads rename the track in question?

Answer: Jumpin' Jack Input

Farrar/Bennett/Marvin/Welch share writing credits for this song. John Farrar is an Australian guitarist who grew up in Melbourne, and played with a very popular group called The Strangers who were Melbourne's Shadows and went on to back many local artists on the T.V. teen shows of the era. Imagine what John thought years later when he became a Shadow? But there's more.

As a 'baby' bass player I was in a big band in Melbourne in the late 60s and several times we backed John's future wife, vocalist Pat Carroll. Four degrees of separation to The Shadows?

7. 'I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Arthur' was the B side of what 1965 Shadows single that made the UK charts?

Answer: War Lord

'Arthur' was written by bass player John Rostill. John was the last fully-fledged (and longest serving) permanent bass player with The Shadows. He joined after Brian 'Liquorice' Locking left in 1964 and played with them till they went their separate ways in the late 60s.

He then became Tom Jones' bass player. Sadly in November 1973 he died after accidentally being electrocuted in his home recording studio. 'Shimmy Like My Sister Kate' was a popular tune from well before the 1950s.

8. The Shadows released many an E.P. over their recording career. The title to this E.P. (and a track on it) was NOT 'Rhythm & Blues' but what?

Answer: Rhythm & Greens

"Rhythm & Greens". Oh how I remember that EP cover. 'The Shads' in a punt dressed all medieval. Probably the first EP I purchased, and the actual 'Rhythm & Greens' track had LYRICS. As I write this I am singing them. 'Yeah, baby, ohh, ahh, Yeah, baby, ohh, ahh, Yeah, baby, ohh, ahh, Yeah, baby, ohh, ahh' and you get the picture.

9. Correctly name the title of a tune from The Shadows L.P. 'Out of The Shadows' by selecting the missing words from the song title 'Theme From ___________ Place'.

Answer: a Filleted

Subtle, subtle, I would have called it 'Theme From a Filleted Plaice', but then I had nothing to do with the writing of it, Harris/Marvin/Welch get the credits. The Percy Faith Orchestra had a huge world wide hit with 'The Theme From a Summer Place' (not Sumner) in 1960, following the success of the film of the same name. It's very possible this helped The Shadows in having a basis to name their tune.

10. 'Wonderful Land' was a number one hit record for The Shadows in U.K. and Australia circa 1962. Like all singles there was a B side. I recall a four bar whistling chorus on the 'flip' side. Can you select the quirky title the lads gave it?

Answer: Stars Fell on Stockton

'Stars Fell on Alabama'(Parish/Perkins) was a very popular tune long before The Shadows recorded 'Stars Fell on Stockton'. Stockton U.K. is reasonably close to Newcastle (Bruce and Hank territory originally) so here maybe is the source for the twist in the title?

Source: Author casey317

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The Shadows: Quirky Song Titles Quiz

The Shadows, arguably the top U.K. instrumental quartet, formed in 1958. They recorded many self penned tracks over the years. Some of their tunes had tongue in cheek titles, such as 'The Flyder and the Spy' What others can you recall?

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