The Searchers Play the System – Rarities, Oddities & Flipsides
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| The Searchers Play the System – Rarities, Oddities & Flipsides | |
|---|---|
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| Compilation album by | |
| Released | 1987 |
| Recorded | 1963-1967 |
| Genre | Rock/Pop |
| Language | English |
| Label | PRT Records |
| Producer | Tony Hatch |
The Searchers Play the System – Rarities, Oddities & Flipsides, commonly abbreviated to Play the System, is the compilation album featuring a selection of songs by English band the Searchers.[1] The album was originally released as part of the Searchers collection on PRT Records, a set containing all original Searchers recordings released between 1963-1967 in the UK on Pye Records. It is also the only album gathering together mostly self-penned tunes by the Searchers.[2]
Overview[edit]
When all of the Searchers' UK sixties albums were being reissued in 1987 (on LPs, CDs and cassette tapes[3]), PRT Records decided to make two-disc compilation album set originally released as two separate volumes.[4] The set compiles every song released commercially by the band that was not available on their original UK albums.[5] The hits featured on the album named Hits Collection. On the other hand, Play the System was conceived to include lesser-known songs, 18 tracks, including mainly B-sides of their singles, three non-LP A-sides, and the odd 1964 EP-only cut "The System", which was used in a 1964 film of the same name.[6]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Originally released | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "It's All Been a Dream" | Chris Curtis | B-side of "Sweets for My Sweet", 1963 | 1:48 |
| 2. | "Saturday Night Out" | Mark Anthony, Robert Richards | B-side of "Needles and Pins", 1964 | 1:43 |
| 3. | "I Pretend I'm with You" | Chris Curtis | B-side of "Don't Throw Your Love Away", 1964 | 1:57 |
| 4. | "No-One Else Could Love Me" | Chris Curtis | B-side of "Someday We're Gonna Love Again", 1964 | 2:12 |
| 5. | "I'll Be Missing You" | Chris Curtis, Mike Pender, John McNally, Frank Allen | B-side of "When You Walk in the Room", 1964 | 2:01 |
| 6. | "This Feeling Inside" | Chris Curtis, Mike Pender, John McNally, Frank Allen | B-side of "What Have They Done to the Rain", 1964 | 1:43 |
| 7. | "Till I Met You" | Chris Curtis, Mike Pender, John McNally, Frank Allen | B-side of "Goodbye My Love", 1965 | 2:56 |
| 8. | "So Far Away" | Chris Curtis, Mike Pender | B-side of "He's Got No Love", 1965 | 2:00 |
| 9. | "I'm Never Coming Back" | Chris Curtis, Mike Pender | B-side of "When I Get Home", 1965 | 1:59 |
| 10. | "Don't Hide It Away" | Mike Pender, John McNally, Frank Allen | B-side of "Take It or Leave It", 1966 | 2:40 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Originally released | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "It's Just the Way (Love Will Come and Go)" | John McNally, Mike Pender | B-side of "Have You Ever Loved Somebody", 1966 | 2:42 |
| 14. | "Popcorn Double Feature" | Larry Weiss, Scott English | A-side, 1967 | 2:02 |
| 15. | "Lovers" | John McNally, Mike Pender | B-side of "Popcorn Double Feature", 1967 | 2:54 |
| 16. | "Western Union" | Mike Rabon, John Durrill, Norman Ezell | A-side, 1967 | 3:32 |
| 17. | "I'll Cry Tomorrow" | John McNally, Mike Pender | B-side of "Western Union", 1967 | 2:59 |
| 18. | "Second Hand Dealer" | Frank Allen, Mike Pender | A-side, 1967 | 2:30 |
| 19. | "Crazy Dreams" | John McNally, Mike Pender | B-side of "Second Hand Dealer", 1967 | 2:29 |
| 20. | "The System" | Mike Pratt, Robert Richards | EP track, 1964 | 2:44 |
Personnel[edit]
The Searchers
- Mike Pender – lead guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals (1-20)
- John McNally – rhythm guitar, lead and backing vocals (1-20)
- Tony Jackson – bass guitar, lead and backing vocals (1-4)
- Chris Curtis – drums, lead and backing vocals (1-9, 20)
- Frank Allen – bass guitar, lead and backing vocals (5-20)
- John Blunt – drums (10-19)
Additional musicians and production
- Tony Hatch – producer, piano (1-20)
References[edit]
- ^ Martin Charles Strong (1998). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate. p. 730. ISBN 9780862418274.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Play the System: Rarities, Oddities & Flipsides". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "The Searchers Play The System - Rarities, Oddities & Flipsides". Discogs.com. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ uncredited author (1987). The Searchers Play The System (LP sleeve note). PRT Records Ltd.
- ^ Tim Neely, Dave Thompson (1997). Goldmine British Invasion Record Price Guide. Krause Publications. p. 334. ISBN 9780873415354.
- ^ Frank Allen (2009). The Searchers And Me: A History of The Legendary Sixties Hitmakers. Aureus Publishing. ISBN 9781899750412.