There were 25 numbers performed in all, 11 of these were from the days of The Shadows although "FBI" was performed in an entirely different way (see below). Of the other 14 numbers, 6 were from the new album "Hank Plays Holly"; 2 were new to me in this context (Cliff's "We Say Yeah", from the film "The Young Ones", and "Willie and the Hand Jive"); "Pipeline" was from "Into The Light". The other 5 were performed in the '95 show, 2 from "Hank Plays Cliff"; the 2 Elvis vocals and "Live & Let Die" admittedly a superb show number.

What were the songs and what did I think of them ? Here goes:-

1. APACHE The set opened with this classic Shadows' number followed quickly by
2. THE YOUNG ONES from "Hank Plays Cliff" and then by
3. WONDERFUL LAND another Shadow's classic. All three were met with rapt attention from the audience and set the tone in an excellent fashion for the entire show.
4. OH BOY from the new album "Hank Plays Holly" The harmonica being played by Mark Griffiths. This was followed by
5. RAINING IN MY HEART another track from the same album. As a Buddy Holly afficianado I was overjoyed when I found out about this album, and these performances did the songs credit.
6. FOOT TAPPER another Classic which according to Hank was Jaques Tatti's loss and Summer Holidays gain.... and from one shaggy dog story to.....
7. HOUND DOG preceeded by a bit of audience participation with the old song "How Much Is That Doggy In The Window" and the audience barking and howling, making fools of themselves? As Hank said, he gets paid for it! But it's all in the best possible taste. This number, treated as a close harmony vocal, is actually the type of thing that I personally find I listen to more than the instrumental tracks and I count the Marvin, Welch and Farrar albums (and "All Alone With friends") as among my favourite albums.
8. MYSTERY TRAIN carrying on the vocalising with another old Elvis number which caught the attention of my son, who asked me if I had a copy of the original. I am not quite sure whether this was a compliment to the treatment of the song or not.
9. TRAVELLIN' LIGHT another song from "Hank Plays Cliff" and the acoustic guitar section was a joy to the ear.
10. IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE one more great Buddy Holly number, bringing back memories of the Rock & Roll era to many who remembered drainpipes and coffee bars.
11. THE RISE AND FALL OF FLINGEL BUNT played like you've never heard it before, featuring Ben Marvin this becomes a real rocker.
12. CAVATINA / THEME FROM THE DEER HUNTERWhat can you say about Hank's playing on this type of tune. Many can copy his style but few can produce the almost vocal quality with such consumate expertise.
13. PIPELINE from the album "Into The Light", Ben played Duane Eddy's part and the first half of the concert was closed with another rousing rocker which the audience appeared to really appreciate. These guitar duets with Ben really add an extra dimension, their different styles reflecting the generations they represent seem to complement each other.
14. THAT'LL BE THE DAY part two was opened by another from the new album, Mark again playing the harmonica and showing what a versatile musician he actually is.
15. THE SAVAGE back to the Shadows classics, the atmosphere in the second half seemed to be more electric and this certainly had the audience moving.
16. LIVE AND LET DIE taken from the "Heartbeat" album, this Paul McCartney number from the film "Goldfinger" ( I'm sure Hank got that wrong) is becoming a Hank Marvin Classic. Yet another number which shows just how big a sound the 5 performers can generate.
17. GUITAR TANGO what a contrast ! Ben and warren joined Hank on acoustic guitars and did this old classic proud.
18. WILLIE AND THE HAND JIVE half of the audience were once again re-living their lost youth going through the motions of the hand-jive, whilst the younger half looked on in amazement, another great vocal number.
19. EV'RY DAY brought us all back to earth with another lyrical performance from Hank's guitar.
20. ATLANTIS once more we were treated to the sound and musical interpretation that only Hank can bring to this Shadows' classic.
21. PEGGY SUE the last of the numbers from the Holly album, which could not have prepared us for the next number,
22. FBI this was a blaster. Once again Ben's rock style complemented Hank's playing with this interpretation of a Brian May interpretation, of the Old Shadow's Classic; as featured on TWANG the tribute album to Hank and The Shadows. This bought the house down if not quite literally, wow, fantastic. What a way to end a show. The applause was tremendous and did not stop until the band returned for an encore, "I was coming back anyway", said Hank.
23. WE SAY YEAH The encore started with a vocal, an old Cliff number from the film "The Young Ones" just to keep the hot pace going.
24. DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA I had by this time run out of superlatives to describe this number, bringing the audience down from a high to be enthralled with this example of how to P_L_A_Y a guitar.
25. MEDLEY the real end to the show was this fast paced collection of Shadows' classics including "Man of Mystery", "Dance On", "Kon Tiki" and the evening finished as it had started with "Apache". These numbers need nothing said except by this time my hands were sore from applauding.

    Come back soon Hank !

Previous shows

1. The Cliff Richard Show - 1963.

   
   The band consisted of Hank, Bruce, Brian and John who supported a well known vocalist (also backed by Bob Miller and his Millermen with supporting appearances by June Leslie, Alan Lee and Dougie Arthur & the Milltones). Additional entertainment from Dailey & Wayne, comedians.
   Amongst other hobbies it is noted that Hank is a keen archer and "can wield a bow with the same dexterity that he handles a plectrum.
   Among the many tunes from the combination of Welch & Marvin are Cliff's "Please Don't Tease", "I Love You" and "Batchelor Boy".
   Brian BENNETT in his spare time sits in with the London Amateur Symphony Orchestra and studies music

2. The Shadows in Concert - 1978

   
   Hank, Bruce and Brian were supported by Alan Jones on base guitar and Cliff Hall on keyboards.
   The notes mention that Hank had been extremely busy producing the latest album by Des O'Connor (?????) The significance of this undertaking may not be appreciated by those who do not know Des or his nemesis Eric Morecame (of Morecame & Wise, the British comedy duo). Also recorded is the fact that Hank co-wrote "Sam" with John Farrar which was a hit for Olivia Newton-John and was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award.
   At the same time Bruce was producing "Green Light" for Cliff on which Brian was playing drums. Bruce also co-wrote "Count Me Out" from that album. Brian had also the previous year released his album "Voyage" entering the sphere of electronic music.
   The Shads represented the UK and came second in the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest with "Let Me Be The One" and "20 Golden Greats" held down the number 1 slot in the UK album charts and earned a platinum disc in the process. The TV commercial for this also won an award in its own right.

3. The Shadows in Concert - 1981

   
   The personnel were the same as for the 1978 tour, (I will have to take another look at the Who's Who page where I had listed Cliff Hall & Alan Jones as "short-lived members ????).
   

   Hank Marvin

   More info on that Des O'Connor project, it was actually a "country-pop" album which included a song called "Can't Smile Without You" which later became a hit for Barry Manilow.It is also noted that he worked with a Scandinavian band called Flare, who enjoyed success in their domestic market. Apart from working on his own album, Hank had been involved with Paul McCartney's "Rockestra" for his album "Back to the Egg", he also played lead on several tracks on Roger Daltrey's album "One of the Boys" and also played on Evita. Hank makes it clear that tHe Shadows come first in his working life.

   Bruce Welch

   Bruce started producing in 1970, working with Olivia Newton-John until she moved to the states following the success of "Let me be there". In 1975 Bruce started working with Cliff and produced "I'm Nearly Famous", Every Face Tells A Story" and "Green Light". Other artists produced by Bruce are:- Cilla Black, Sutherland Brothers, Charlie Dore amongst many others. At this time Bruce considered his production work his full time job and spent some 4 months a year recording and touring with The Shadows, but said, "The Shadows work is so incredibly important. I can't conceive of any reason why The Shadows should ever stop, as long as we enjoy it all".

   Brian BENNETT

   Brian is more than just the drummer (or a consumate percussionist - it says here), he is also a composer and an arranger. It records here the fact that Brian is working on a "serious" piece of music to be used as a TV programme score (and we all now now where that led to). Whilst the Shads were apart Brian did a lot of session work with an enormous number of artists too many to name. However pressed to name one he admitted working with the legendary Ella Fitzgerald. Brian says that with their individual careers there is no danger of boredom creeping into the work with The Shadows.

   Alan Jones & Cliff Hall

   Regular members of the Shadows' line-up since the mid 1970's, both are active on the London scene having appeared on record with artistes such as:- Elton John, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Leo Sayer.

4. The Tour - 1986

   This time around the line-up was Hank, Bruce and Brian with Cliff Hall and Mark Griffiths replacing Alan Jones on bass guitar.
   

   Hank Marvin

   Few new notes in this program but it does mention that Hank had performed with Tim Rice on a Yorkshire Television Christmas Special, "Lyrics by Tim Rice". They teamed up to perform the first ever song by Tim, called "That's My Story", one of his rather lesser known compositions recorded in the 60's by The Nightshift.

   Bruce Welch

   Another name to add to Bruce's list of production honours is Roger Whittaker, his album "The Genius of love".

   Brian BENNETT

   It is recorded that Brian had recently written and recorded the music for the film "The American Way" and had written "The Twelth Man" recorded by Billy Birmingham which was Australia's biggest selling single in 1984, achieving platinum discs for Billy and Brian as composer.

   Cliff Hall & Mark Griffiths

   Cliff Hall admits that there's no bigger Shadows fan than himself. Mark Griffiths had been working with Cliff Richard for the past 5 years and other artists such as:- The Everly Brothers, David Essex, Midge Ure, Gallagher & Lyle and many others.

   The show had been rounded out with the inclusion of a magician to warm up the audience, Wayne Dobson who some may know went on to bigger things.

5. Hank Marvin & Brian BENNETT - 1994

   The line-up was completed by Ben Marvin on guitar, Warren BENNETT on keyboards and Mark Griffiths on bass guitar.
   A note to the effect that the Beatles had recorded an instrumental "Cry For A Shadow" writen by Lennon / Harrison (their only collaboration), a sign of the impact and influence of The Shads on a young Liverpool group. Other influences are remembered by:- Allan Bates (Neil Young's guitarist) "Were we influenced by TheShadows, is the Pope Catholic?" Eric Clapton "Hank Marvin had settled on a clean, pure sound. The result was a marvellous mixture of clear, sweet melody over a strong rock beat." Pete Townsend "The Shadows powerful stance lives on in my mind, one of the great passions of my life, one I have not, after 30 years, come close to outliving."
   The Shadows music was a seamless part of the musical tapestry of the 60's and has been used effectively by filmmakers in such 60's reappraisals as Scandal (featuring Apache) and Buster (Atlantis)
   Hank and Brian played with Sir Cliff Richard at Knebworth in 1990 before a crowd of 150 000 and a TV audience of millions. Amongst other acts performing were Paul McCartney and Pink Floyd, this was the UK's largest music event since Live Aid 5 years previously.

   Hank Marvin

   1985 - Hank was a special guest of Dire Straits at their Wembley Arena shows. And in 1988 Hank was specially asked by Jean-Michel Jarre to appear at the Dockland's Concert. He also played on the charity record "Living Doll" by Cliff Richard and The Young Ones nearly 30 years after he had played on the original. In 1993 Hank joined Mark Knopfler (produced by Jeff Lynne) on Wonderful Land, in a more light-hearted vein he joined Leslie Neilsen on a TV commercial for Red Rock Cider and joined in battle on guitar with Brian May on Queen's anthemic "We are the Champions".

   Brian BENNETT

   Brian was now reaching massive audiences via wowrk for a number of TV programmes, including:- "The Ruth Rendal Mysteries", for which Brian received an Ivor Novello award in 1990. Brian also contributed to "The Knock" and the major BBC series "Nomads of the Wind".

   Warren BENNETT, Ben Marvin & Mark Griffiths

   Warren has worked extensively for TV and films and produced over 20 albums. He has also released solo albums and worked on "Into the Light" and "Heartbeat". Somewhat mysteriously it is noted that Hank will know him better as the man with the double-handed backhand and wicked first serve!
   Ben is playing with Australian band Paperhouse. Early influences were Kermit the Frog and the Wombles which he has fortunately grown out of enjoying a wide variety of music from hard rock to jazz.
   Mark's first professional job was lead guitar with Mathew's Southern Comfort who had a world-wide hit with "Woodstock". Mark has toured with many artists, additionally from above are :- Jeff Lynne, Mark Knopfler, Duane Eddy.

   now plus

6. Hank Marvin Live - 1997

   The line-up was Hank, Ben Marvin on guitar, Warren BENNETT on keyboards, Mark Griffiths on bass and Mathew Lettley on drums.
   Question.... What was Keith Richard (of The Rolling Stones) talking about when he said, " It's as elegant as a race horse and as stong as a mule". Answer.....The Fender Stratocaster. Hank recalls that Cliff Richard bought him his first Strat' back in 1959, which he had to send to the states for and was the first one in the country. Now of course Fender produce a range of "Hank Marvin" Strats, and that Ivor Arbiter and Fender are planning a "Marvin 40th Anniversary Stratocaster" to be introduced sometime in 1998. Hank reminisces about the opportunities afforded him by his career with The Shadows and the time in London when he was run down by a Polish tourist who had been at a show in Warsaw, when with Cliff they were the first western group to play behind the "iron curtain". Hank was apparently well enough to sign his autograph for the excited tourist.
   Ben Marvin (whom Hank says he has known since he was a baby) has been busy since the 1995 tour with thr Perth based Broken Limb Theatre Company. He co-wrote "Hot Rox" (recorded on the Heartbeat album) and "Red Back" (featured on the Hank Plays Live video) with Hank. After this tour ben hopes to form a band around his original material, quite a departure from the material he plays with his "old man", we are told.
   Warren BENNETT's group Mirage released "Classical Guitar Moods" which reached number 25 in the UK charts in 1995 and his two solo albums "Pathways to Love" and "Secrets of the Heart" both continue to be best sellers in many of the New Age Charts. In 1996 Warren released "Close to the Edge" recorded with Mark Griffiths and 1997 will see Darren Day's "Summer Holiday Album" released which features arrangements and performances from Warren. He is also very active with TV and film work.
   Mathew Lettley is performing behind Hank for the first time but has supported many well known artistes, including :- Elkie Brooks, Kim Wilde, Pet Shop Boys, Vanessa May, Bob Geldof and A-ha.
   Mark has toured with Hank for several years and has written two "superb" arrangements on "Hank Plays Holly". He has been playing with his own band Plainsong and has recorded a CD with warren BENNETT.