The Searchers Play the System – Rarities, Oddities & Flipsides

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]

The Searchers Play the System – Rarities, Oddities & Flipsides
Compilation album by
Released1987
Recorded1963–1967
GenreRock/Pop
LanguageEnglish
LabelPRT Records
ProducerTony Hatch

Overview

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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

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Side 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Originally releasedLength
1."It's All Been a Dream"Chris CurtisB-side of "Sweets for My Sweet", 19631:48
2."Saturday Night Out"Mark Anthony, Robert RichardsB-side of "Needles and Pins", 19641:43
3."I Pretend I'm with You"Chris CurtisB-side of "Don't Throw Your Love Away", 19641:57
4."No-One Else Could Love Me"Chris CurtisB-side of "Someday We're Gonna Love Again", 19642:12
5."I'll Be Missing You"Chris Curtis, Mike Pender, John McNally, Frank AllenB-side of "When You Walk in the Room", 19642:01
6."This Feeling Inside"Chris Curtis, Mike Pender, John McNally, Frank AllenB-side of "What Have They Done to the Rain", 19641:43
7."Till I Met You"Chris Curtis, Mike Pender, John McNally, Frank AllenB-side of "Goodbye My Love", 19652:56
8."So Far Away"Chris Curtis, Mike PenderB-side of "He's Got No Love", 19652:00
9."I'm Never Coming Back"Chris Curtis, Mike PenderB-side of "When I Get Home", 19651:59
10."Don't Hide It Away"Mike Pender, John McNally, Frank AllenB-side of "Take It or Leave It", 19662:40
Side 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Originally releasedLength
13."It's Just the Way (Love Will Come and Go)"John McNally, Mike PenderB-side of "Have You Ever Loved Somebody", 19662:42
14."Popcorn Double Feature"Larry Weiss, Scott EnglishA-side, 19672:02
15."Lovers"John McNally, Mike PenderB-side of "Popcorn Double Feature", 19672:54
16."Western Union"Mike Rabon, John Durrill, Norman EzellA-side, 19673:32
17."I'll Cry Tomorrow"John McNally, Mike PenderB-side of "Western Union", 19672:59
18."Second Hand Dealer"Frank Allen, Mike PenderA-side, 19672:30
19."Crazy Dreams"John McNally, Mike PenderB-side of "Second Hand Dealer", 19672:29
20."The System"Mike Pratt, Robert RichardsEP track, 19642:44

Personnel

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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

References

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  1. ^ Martin Charles Strong (1998). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate. p. 730. ISBN 9780862418274.
  2. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Play the System: Rarities, Oddities & Flipsides". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  3. ^ "The Searchers Play The System - Rarities, Oddities & Flipsides". Discogs.com. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  4. ^ uncredited author (1987). The Searchers Play The System (LP sleeve note). PRT Records Ltd.
  5. ^ Tim Neely, Dave Thompson (1997). Goldmine British Invasion Record Price Guide. Krause Publications. p. 334. ISBN 9780873415354.
  6. ^ Frank Allen (2009). The Searchers And Me: A History of The Legendary Sixties Hitmakers. Aureus Publishing. ISBN 9781899750412.