The Shadows (album)


The Shadows is the debut studio album by British instrumental rock group The Shadows, released in September 1961. It reached number one in the UK Albums Chart.

Recording

The album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios between 26 October 1960 and 21 June 1961. It was recorded on entirely analogue equipment in real time, with each track recorded on a one-track-per-day basis with no overdubs or edits on a 2 track recording machine. Rather than having a stereo mix being mixed down into a mono version, both stereo and mono mixes were recorded simultaneously but separately within the same session. Mistakes made during recording necessitated immediate retakes, and for that reason, multiple versions for some tracks exist in EMI's tape vaults.
All of the tracks were recorded in several sessions over an eight-month period, during which singles were also recorded, including "Kon-Tiki", "She Wears Red Feathers", "The Frightened City", "Wonderful Land", "36-24-36", "March of the Shadows", "Peace Pipe", "The Savage", "Blues From an Unfurnished Flat", "Happy Birthday to You", an LP by Cliff Richard.
The songs from the album were recorded in this order:
  • "Gonzales" – recorded 26 October 1960
  • "Baby My Heart" – recorded 27 January 1961
  • "Find Me a Golden Street" – recorded 27 January 1961
  • "Theme From a Filleted Place" – recorded 1 June 1961
  • "Blue Star" – recorded 18 February 1961
  • "Shadoogie" – recorded 20 April 1961
  • "Sleepwalk" – recorded 20 April 1961
  • "That's My Desire" – recorded 20 April 1961
  • "Big Boy" – recorded 12 May 1961
  • "See You in My Drums" – recorded 1 June 1961
  • "All My Sorrows" – recorded 13 June 1961
  • "Nivram" – recorded 13 June 1961
  • "Stand Up and Say That" – recorded 13 June 1961
  • "My Resistance is Low" – recorded 21 June 1961
Some of the songs were rereleased on The Shadows No. 2 and The Shadows No. 3 EPs.

Track listing

;Side 1
  1. "Shadoogie"
  2. "Blue Star"
  3. "Nivram"
  4. "Baby My Heart" –
  5. "See You in My Drums" – Drum solo
  6. "All My Sorrows" –
  7. "Stand Up and Say That"
;Side 2
  1. "Gonzales"
  2. "Find Me a Golden Street"
  3. "Theme from a Filleted Place"
  4. "That's My Desire" –
  5. "My Resistance Is Low"
  6. "Sleepwalk"
  7. "Big Boy"

Personnel

The sleeve notes were written by Cliff Richard.

Instruments

Formats

;Vinyl
  • 1961: 1st – Light Green, and Dark Green Columbia label
  • 1963: 2nd – Blue/Black Columbia label
  • 1970: 3rd – Black/Silver EMI label
;Tape
;CD
  • 1991: Normal. 2-fer CD: The Shadows/Out of the Shadows. Jewel case
  • 1997: Remastered. 2-fer CD:. Jewel case

Live performances

Only Shadoogie, Nivram, All My Sorrows and Sleepwalk were used "live on stage" to promote this album in 1961-2. Nivram has been used as 1st choice Shadows bass solo for live concerts from 1962 right through to 2010. The track Gonzales was played live on a radio performance but never on stage until belatedly included on the final tour live set in 2004.