Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA  | The Rapiers are probably the closest thing to the Shadows without being the Shadows. By that I don't mean they are a clone band, though they certainly are heavily influenced by the Shads. Their chief writer Colin Pryce-Jones wrote fine songs, and their sound was readily identifiable. Their vocal material was very much rockabilly based, as opposed to the Shadows' crooning with Cliff Richard at the mic. |
Picks: The Venture, The Phantom Widow, The Jynx, I've Got You Under My Skin, Shadow Land, In The Hall Of The Mountain King
Track by Track Review
Shadows (Instrumental)
As you might guess from the title, this Colin Pryce-Jones original is dedicated to the Ventures. The most interesting feature is the Shadows filter through which it's conceived. The rhythm track is very much the Ventures, while the guitar is more subdued and British. The melody is quite good, as is the arrangement. A fine track.
Shadows (Instrumental)
The Shadows styling of "The Phantom Widow" is very effective with the melody, which is more than rockabilly and quite fluid. Colin Pryce-Jones wrote the tune.
Shadows (Instrumental)
Drummer John Tuck wrote "The Jynx," which is in large part a drum solo track. Structured like many a Sandy Nelson instro, the opening guitar verse gives way to a drum solo, and then returns to close out the track. The drum solo itself is tribal and unusual for the period. A little on the long side, yet interesting throughout.
I've Got You Under My Skin 
Shadows (Instrumental)
This venerable MOR song, a hit for Frank Sinatra among others, is transformed into the world of British instro. The melody is well suited for the arrangement. Quite pretty, and just rockin' enough.
Shadows (Instrumental)
Soft and slow, "Shadow Land" displays an almost island mystique as it lightly flows. Most of the piece is played with dual note guitar. Very pretty.
In The Hall Of The Mountain King Shadows (Instrumental)
This is a lumbering arrangement, with nearly Indian drums, and a lush piano break. Edvard Grieg's "In The Hall Of The Mountain King" has been adapted to rock formats a dozen times or more. Probably most familiar is the E.L.O. translation.