Frank Allen (born Francis Renaud McNeice; 14 December 1943) is an English bass guitarist and singer, who was a long-time member of The Searchers.
Frank Allen | |
|---|---|
 Allen performing with The Searchers in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Francis Renaud McNeice |
| Born | 14 December 1943 Harlington, Hillingdon Middlesex, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Bass, vocals |
| Years active | 1961-present |
| Formerly of | Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, The Searchers |
Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
editAllen's career started aged fifteen in 1958, playing guitar in his own band called The Skyways at local venues such as The Clay Pigeon in Eastcote.[1] Frank started playing bass guitar with Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers during the early 1960s. Allen joined Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers as rhythm guitarist in 1961 He first asked to join as rhythm guitarist, but was turned down as they didn't need a new member; but shortly after, the Rousers were to do a radio performance, and Allen was asked to do a one-time performance with them as a rhythm guitarist. After the radio appearance, Frank managed to persuade Cliff Bennett into letting him join in as a full time member.
He eventually changed over to bass guitar in early 1962, following the departure of Ben Jordan.[2] As a member of the Rebel Rousers, he played on six of their singles, released from July 1961 to March 1964, and contributing to their 1964 Extended Play.
The Searchers
editWhen Tony Jackson left the Searchers in August 1964, Allen was asked to join the group. They then recorded "When You Walk in the Room", with Mike Pender and Frank Allen singing a dual lead line.[3] He remained with them until they played their final gig in March 2019, when the Searchers retired the band.[4] The Searchers announced a 2023 tour, in which Allen will be performing in.
Allen wrote a book of touring recollections called Travelling Man in 1999.[5] His definitive and detailed biography of the Searchers entitled The Searchers And Me - A History of the Legendary Sixties Hitmakers was published in April 2009.[6]
Personal life
editAllen was born in Hayes, Middlesex, England, and currently lives in West London.
Influences
editAllen was heavily influenced by American rock and roll artists of the 1950s:[7]
The only mentors were the early rock and roll stars. It was Elvis and the Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly and people like that, Little Richard, Fats Domino. In the main, Elvis changed everything for me. Lonnie Donegan of course in England. I suppose Lonnie to a very great extent because, although skiffle was a very short-lived fad and it was a very simple, very crude style of music, it allowed anyone who could play anything on a guitar at all to believe they can get up on stage and do something without any great amount of talent. Three chords and you were away, you could play with your friends and you could all hide each other’s faults.
Discography
editSingles
edit- July 1961: "You've Got What I Like" / "I'm in Love With You"
- October 1961: "That's What I Said" / "When I Get Paid"
- March 1962: "Poor Joe" / "Hurtin' Inside"
- July 1963: "Everybody Loves A Lover" / "My Old Stand By"
- November 1963: "You Really Got A Hold on Me" / "Alright"
- March 1964: "Got My Mojo Working" / "Beautiful Dreamer"
EPs
edit- 1964 'She said Yeah'/ 'Doctor Feelgood' / 'You Make Me Happy' / 'Stupidity'
With The Searchers
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Studio albums
edit| Album details | Year |
|---|---|
It's the Searchers
|
1964 |
Sounds Like Searchers
|
1965 |
Take Me for What I'm Worth
| |
Second Take
|
1972 |
Searchers
|
1979 |
Play For Today
|
1981 |
Hungry Hearts
|
1988 |
Singles
edit| Title (A-side) | B-side | Year |
|---|---|---|
| "When You Walk in the Room"
(originally recorded by Jackie DeShannon) |
"I'll Be Missing You" | 1964 |
| "Love Potion No. 9"
(originally recorded by The Clovers) |
"Hi-Heel Sneakers" | |
| "What Have They Done to the Rain"
(originally recorded by Malvina Reynolds) |
"This Feeling Inside" | |
| "Magic Potion"
(originally recorded by Lou Johnson) Note: Australia only |
"Everything You Do" | 1965 |
| "Bumble Bee"
(originally recorded by LaVern Baker) |
"Everything You Do" (US first pressings)
"A Tear Fell" (US later pressings) | |
| "I Don't Want to Go On Without You"
(originally recorded by The Drifters) |
"A Tear Fell" | |
| "Goodbye My Love"
(originally recorded by Jimmy Hughes) (US single shown as "Goodbye My Lover Goodbye") |
"Till I Met You" | |
| "Verzeih' My Love"
("Goodbye My Love" in German) |
"Wenn ich dich seh'"
("When You Walk In The Room" in German) | |
| "He's Got No Love" | "So Far Away" | |
| "When I Get Home"
(originally recorded by Bobby Darin) |
"I'm Never Coming Back" | |
| "Don't You Know Why" | "You Can't Lie to a Liar" | |
| "Take Me for What I'm Worth"
(originally recorded by P. F. Sloan) |
"Too Many Miles" | |
| "Take It or Leave It"
(originally recorded by The Rolling Stones) |
"Don't Hide It Away" | 1966 |
| "Have You Ever Loved Somebody?"
(originally recorded by The Hollies) |
"It's Just the Way (Love Will Come and Go)" | |
| "Popcorn Double Feature" | "Lovers" | 1967 |
| "Western Union"
(originally recorded by The Five Americans) |
"I'll Cry Tomorrow" | |
| "Second Hand Dealer" | "Crazy Dreams" | |
| "Umbrella Man" | "Over the Weekend" | 1968 |
| "Somebody Shot the Lollipop Man"
(Released under the pseudonym "Pasha") |
"Pussy Willow Dragon" | 1969 |
| "Shoot 'Em Up Baby"
(originally recorded by Andy Kim) |
"Suzanna" | |
| "Kinky Kathy Abernathy" | "Suzanna" | |
| "Desdemona" | "The World Is Waiting for Tomorrow" | 1971 |
| "Love Is Everywhere" | "And a Button" | |
| "Sing Singer Sing" | "Come On Back to Me" | 1972 |
| "Needles and Pins" (re-recording) | "When You Walk in the Room"/
"Come On Back to Me" | |
| "Solitaire"
(originally recorded by Neil Sedaka) |
"Spicks and Specks" | 1973 |
| "Vahevala"
(originally recorded by Loggins & Messina) |
"Madman" | |
| "Hearts in Her Eyes"
(given to the group by The Records) |
"Don't Hang On" | 1979 |
| "It's Too Late" | "This Kind of Love Affair" (UK)
"Don't Hang On" (US) | |
| "Love's Melody"
(originally recorded by Ducks Deluxe) |
"Changing" (UK)
"Little Bit of Heaven" (US) |
1981 |
| "Another Night" | "Back to the War" | |
| "I Don't Want to Be the One" | "Hollywood" | 1982 |
EPs
edit| Title | Year |
|---|---|
When You Walk In The Room
|
1965 |
Bumble Bee
| |
Searchers '65
| |
Four By Four
| |
Take Me For What I'm Worth
|
1966 |
References
edit- ^ "Frank Allen remembers The Clay Pigeon Ruislip". ruisliponline.com the OLD FRONTPAGE site. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "The Searchers - interview with bassist Frank Allen". www.craigmorrison.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ "INTERVIEW: Frank Allen | Welcome to UK Music Reviews". Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ Campbell, Craig. "It's end of an era for legendary band The Searchers as they play their final gigs". Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ "Travelling Man". www.goodreads.com.
- ^ "THE SEARCHERS AND ME - Record Collector Magazine". recordcollectormag.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ "The Searchers - interview with bassist Frank Allen". www.craigmorrison.com. Retrieved 28 April 2023.