New Searchers book - 'Crazy Dreams' by Peter Checksfield

[gee]

Sometime EO  forum member Peter Checksfield had a new book devoted to The Searchers sessions listing every song from every session over 1963-2023

'Crazy Dreams !' a 214 page paperback book is now available on Amazon UK


the book features many photos of the band members, all the group line ups, single record labels, album and EP covers with a focus on the early pre PYE years (Philips / Fontana records), the famous PYE era 1963-67, the later Liberty, RCA Victor, SIRE, PRT, and Coconut records releases   plus some private pressings and a focus on solo recordings by band members from Tony Jackson and Chris Curtis up to Mike Pender and Spencer James

This is a fine companion set to Frank Allen's two books;
'The Searchers And Me', 'Travelling With The Searchers' and Mike Pender's book 'The Search For Myself'

Mike Pender MBE has written a foreword to the book which in a nice touch is dedicated to 'Tony' (Jackson), 'Chris' (Curtis), 'Billy' (Adamson), 'Eddie' (Rothe) - the four group members sadly no longer with us.

[JamesT]

I'd like to second this, a superb little book from which I learned a few things about the band. Well worth obtaining a copy!

[peterc]

[peterc]

Excellent new Frank Allen interview:


thestrangebrew.co.uk/frank-allen-searchers/

[knut]

I got my copy from Amazon com marketplace. This is a book I would like to recommend. Especially I learned more about rare recordings and where they came out. Well done, Peter!

[peterc]

Oct 17, 2023 9:48:19 GMT knut said:

I got my copy from Amazon com marketplace. This is a book I would like to recommend. Especially I learned more about rare recordings and where they came out. Well done, Peter!

Thank you for your kind words, Knut!  

It got a nice review in the latest issue of 'Shindig!' magazine:

[Stranger]

Not to draw attention from Peter's book but is Mike Pender's book a good read?

[peterc]

Nov 5, 2023 15:16:54 GMT Stranger said:

Not to draw attention from Peter's book but is Mike Pender's book a good read?

I think so, yes. It's not as polished as Frank's book, the print is larger, and it's a bit disorganised at times, but there's some interesting info. It it also obvious that he's read Frank's book, as he questions some of the things in it several times. Mike's a nice person, and this largely comes across. 

Incidentally, back in the late '90s, The Tremeloes (basically Dave Munden and Rick Westwood + a couple of newer members by this point) took legal action against Chip Hawkes, who was touring as "Chip Hawkes' Tremeloes". It cost them a lot of money, yet within a few years they were happilly sharing stages again. If only The Searchers could've done that... and maybe they would've if it wasn't for John McNally still clearly holding a grudge!

[peterc]

John Blunt, The Searchers' drummer from 1966 to 1969 sadly died this morning.

[johnt]

That's sad news, Peter. Another Searchers' drummer no longer with us - Chris Curtis, Billy Adamson, Eddie Rothe and now John Blunt all passed away. 

ps. I only found out yesterday that Tich (from Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich) died last month. Only Beaky and Mick survives, as far as I know.   

[peterc]

Can't imagine Dave Clark doing this...