The Searchers discography

In their native Great Britain, between 1963 and 2019, the English rock band The Searchers released 8 studio albums, 9 extended plays (EPs) and 30 singles.[1] However, the band's international discography is complicated, due to different versions of their albums sometimes being released in other countries, particularly in the US. In some cases, the US version would be an entirely different album with different cover photos and tracks (collections of material from various UK releases).[2]

The Searchers discography
Studio albums9 (core albums)
EPs10
Live albums3
Singles42
Collector's Editions8
Box sets2

The early "core" albums and singles released from 1963 to 1967 were originally on Pye Records in the United Kingdom, and Kapp Records in the United States. Later, they released records on Liberty, RCA, Sire and PRT Records. Their last studio album Hungry Hearts was released only in Germany on Coconut Records. The Searchers did not release any official live album in the UK (although there were several low-cost concert albums or live collector's CDs). Philips Records recorded their performance in 1963 at the German Star-Club, Hamburg. These songs were later released in many variations especially in Germany and the US. Many UK album tracks were also released as a singles in different countries and sometimes became hits (e. i. "Love Potion No. 9", "Ain't That Just Like Me", "Bumble Bee", "I Don't Want to Go On Without You" etc.). Additionally, they released three SPs with German language versions of their hits and one EP in French.[3]

The Searchers' discography was originally released on the vinyl format, with full-length long plays (LPs), shorter EPs (mostly 4 songs) and singles (2 songs). Over the years, the collection has also been released on many compact discs (CDs).

Albums

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Searchers album releases varied significantly between the UK and the US; even those with the same or similar names had different contents. In addition, very many compilation and repackaging releases have been made over the years.

Year Album details Chart Positions Notes
UK
[4]
GER
[5]
1963 Meet The Searchers 2 20
  • alternative US release: Meet The Searchers / Needles and Pins (compilation of the band's recent UK LPs and SPs)
Sweets For My Sweet – The Searchers At The Star-Club Hamburg NR 11
  • live recordings from the Star-Club
  • Origin: Germany
  • US release: Hear! Hear!
Sugar and Spice
  • Released: 16 October 1963
  • Label: Pye Records (NPL 18089)
  • Format: LP
5 30
1964 It's the Searchers
  • Released: May 1964
  • Label: Pye Records (NPL 18092)
  • Format: LP
4
  • alternative US release: This Is Us
1965 Sounds Like Searchers
  • Released: 19 March 1965
  • Label: Pye Records (NPL 18111)
  • Format: LP
8 28
  • US release: The New Searchers LP (Chris, John, Mike, Frank)
  • German release: The Searchers (Vogue LDVS 17035)
Take Me for What I'm Worth
  • Released: November 1965
  • Label: Pye Records (NPL 18120 / NSPL 18120)
  • Format: LP
  • alternative US release: The Searchers No. 4
1972 Second Take
  • Released: November 1972
  • Label: RCA Victor (SF 8298)
  • Format: LP
  • consists of re-recordings of earlier hits
  • US release: Needles & Pins
1979 Searchers
  • Released: October 1979
  • Label: Sire Records (SRK 6082)
  • Format: LP
1981 Play For Today
  • Released: April 1981
  • Label: Sire Records (SRK 3523)
  • Format: LP
  • International release: Love's Melodies
1988 Hungry Hearts
  • Released: 1988
  • Label: Coconut Records (LP 209459/ CD 259459)
  • Format: LP, CD
NR
  • Origin: Germany
"—" denotes a release that did not chart, "NR" means not released in the UK

US Albums

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Searchers album releases varied significantly between the UK and the US; even those with the same or similar names had different contents.

Year Album details Peak chart positions Notes
US
[6]
1964 Meet The Searchers / Needles and Pins
  • Released: March 1964
  • Label: Kapp Records (KL-1363 / KS-3363)
  • Format: LP
22
  • compilation of the band's recent UK LPs and SPs
Hear! Hear!
  • Released: July 1964
  • Label: Mercury Records (MG 20914 / SR 60914)
  • Format: LP
120
  • recorded live at the Star Club, Hamburg, Germany
This Is Us
  • Released: August 1964
  • Label: Kapp Records (KL 1409 / KS 3409)
  • Format: LP
97
The Searchers Meet the Rattles
  • Released: 1964
  • Label: Mercury Records (MG 20994 / SR 60994)
  • Format: LP
  • recorded live at The Star Club, Hamburg, Germany
  • half of the album is performed by a German band The Rattles
1965 The New Searchers LP (Chris, John, Mike, Frank)
  • Released: March 1965
  • Label: Kapp Records (KL 1412 / KS 3412)
  • Format: LP
112
The Searchers No. 4
  • Released: October 1965
  • Label: Kapp Records (KL 1449 / KS 3449)
  • Format: LP
149
1966 Take Me for What I'm Worth
  • Released: 1966
  • Label: Kapp Records (KL 1477 / KS 3477)
  • Format: LP
  • 7 of 12 songs were included on the previous album
1974 Needles & Pins
  • Released: 6 July 1974
  • Label: RCA Records (INTS 1480)
  • Format: LP
  • consists of re-recordings of earlier hits
1979 The Searchers 191
1981 Love's Melodies
  • Released: March 1981
  • Label: Sire Records (SRK 3523)
  • Format: LP
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Compilation albums

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There are about 150 Searchers compilation albums that have been released in many countries.[7] Some contained early 1960s songs that did not appear on previous albums. This list is selective.
Year Album details Peak chart positions Notes
UK
[4]
1965 The Searchers' Smash Hits
  • The first UK compilation of the band's recent LPs and SPs
  • LP made Top 10 in Finland (No.7)[8]
1967 The Searchers' Smash Hits, Vol. 2
  • Label: Marble Arch (MAL 640)
  • Format: LP
  • The compilation of the band's recent UK LPs and SPs
1971 Needles & Pins
  • The compilation is made of songs from the 1960s (hits and LP tracks)
1972 The Golden Hour Of The Searchers
  • Label: Golden Hour (GH 541)
  • Format: LP
  • The compilation is made of songs from the 1960s
1973 The Golden Hour Of The Searchers, Vol. 2
  • Label: Golden Hour (GH 564)
  • Format: LP
  • The compilation is made of songs from the 1960s
1977 The Searchers File
  • Label: Pye Records (6641 925)
  • Format: 2 LP
  • Double LP compilation is made of songs from the 1960s
  • Liner notes by Peter Jones
1979 Sweets For My Sweet – The Searchers At The Star-Club Hamburg
  • Label: Star-Club Records (FILD 002)
  • Format: 2 LP
  • German double LP album is the first with the complete Searchers' Star-Club recordings (1963)
  • Incl. additional songs by the Star Combo, The Rattles and Sounds Incorporated
  • Album had the same title and similar front cover art as the Philips album from 1963
1980 When You Walk In The Room
  • Label: Pye Records (NSPL 18617)
  • Format: LP
  • The compilation is made of songs from the 1960s (hits and LP tracks)
1983 Spotlight On The Searchers
  • Double LP compilation is made of songs from the 1960s
  • Liner notes by Peter Jones
1987 Silver Searchers
  • Label: PRT Records (NRT 2 / CDNRT 2)
  • Format: 2 LP / CD
  • Subtitle: A Commemorative Release to Celebrate 25 Years Of The Searchers
Hits Collection
  • Label: PRT Records (PYL 4002 / PYC 4002)
  • Format: LP / CD
  • The compilation contained A-sides from the 1960s
1989 The EP Collection
  • The compilation contained EP tracks from the 1960s
1990 The Ultimate Collection
  • Double LP compilation is made of songs from the 1960s
1990 The Complete Collection
  • Label: Castle Communications (CCSCD 303)
  • Format: CD
  • CD compilation is made of songs from the 1960s
  • Liner notes written by the band's bass player Frank Allen
1992 The EP Collection, Vol. 2
  • Label: See For Miles Records (SEE CD 359)
  • Format: CD
  • The second compilation featured EP tracks from the 1960s
1998 The Definitive Collection
  • Label: Castle Communications (CCS CD 826)
  • Format: 2 CD
  • CD 1 contains songs from the 1960s
  • CD 2 contains the first album Meet The Searchers
2000 The Pye Anthology 1963-1967
  • Label: Sequel Records (NEECD 381)
  • Format: 2 CD
  • The compilation is made of songs from the 1960s (50 tracks)
2003 1963-2003: 40th Anniversary Collection
  • The compilation is made of songs from the Pye, Liberty, RCA and Sire labels
2004 The Definitive Pye Collection
  • Label: Castle Music (CMEDD 726)
  • Format: 3 CD
  • Complete Pye Records catalogue on 3CDs
  • Liner notes – David Wells
2008 The Very Best Of The Searchers 11
  • Well-promoted "greatest hits" collection made charts in the UK
  • Certification: SILVER[9]
2019 The Farewell Album / The Greatest Hits & More
  • Label: BMG (BMGCAT302DCD)
  • Format: 2 CD
35
  • released after the band announced that they would be retiring
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

http://en.m.wiki.x.io/wiki/The_Searchers_discography#/editor/3

Collectors editions

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There are some Searchers CD compilation albums with previously unreleased materials.
Year Album details Peak chart positions Notes
UK
[4]
1987 The Searchers Play The System – Rarities, Oddities & Flipsides
  • Label: PRT Records (6.266982)
  • Format: LP / CD
  • Contained B-sides and rarities from the 1960s
1990 German, French + Rare Recordings
  • German compilation of the band's rare recordings
  • Incl. songs in German and French or Liberty recordings
  • Compiled by Wilfried Zinzow
1992 The Searchers 30th Anniversary Collection 1962-1992
  • 3 CD contains hits, album tracks, live songs, solo recordings
  • Incl. previously unreleased materials (e.g. unfinished album from 1983)
  • Booklet featured sleeve note by the band's guitarist John McNally
1999 Second Take – The Complete RCA/UK Recordings
  • Label: Taragon Records (TARCD-1055)
  • Format: CD
  • Complete recordings made for RCA label in the 1970s
  • Incl. previously unreleased songs
2001 The Swedish Radio Sessions
  • Label: Castle Music / Sanctuary Records (CMRCD394)
  • Format: CD
  • Three live radio shows from Sweden 1964 (2x) and 1967
  • Recorded At Konserthuset, Stockholm and Radiohuset
2002 The Iron Door Sessions
  • Label: Castle Music (CMBCD 485)
  • Format: CD
  • Historic release, previously unreleased first recordings of the Searchers
  • Mastered from the rare acetate
2004 BBC Sessions
  • Label: Castle Music / Sanctuary Records (CMEDD)
  • Format: 2 CD
  • Live recordings from BBC (1964-1967)
2017 Another Night: The Sire Recordings 1979-1981
  • Complete recordings made for Sire label in the 1970s and 1980s
  • Incl. previously unreleased songs and alternate mixes
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Box sets

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Year Album details Peak chart positions Notes
UK
[4]
2012 Hearts In Their Eyes - Celebrating 50 Years Of Harmony & Jangle
  • 120 tracks
  • Incl. hits, album tracks, rarities, live songs, solo recordings, unreleased tracks
  • Compiled by Roger Dopson
  • 62-page booklet with credits, opinions and history fixed in box
2019 When You Walk In The Room: The Complete Pye Recordings 1963-67
  • Label: Sanctuary / Grapefruit Records (CRSEGBOX055)
  • Format: 6 CD
  • 180 tracks
  • Complete Pye recordings from the 1960s
  • Incl. mono & stereo versions
  • Liner notes – David Wells
  • 32-page booklet
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Private pressing

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As CD making processes have become more available and cheaper, the band released several concert CDs marked as "Private pressing" (not to be confused with CD-R). Albums were produced purely for sale at Searchers shows.
  • 1998 – Live!
  • 2000 – Live II
  • 2003 – Live III
  • 2005 – On Stage
  • 2008 – The Definitive Searchers Live in Concert
  • 2010 – Still Searching
  • 2012 – Tracks Of Our Years

Singles

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Year Title (A-side) B-side Chart Positions U.K. Album U.S. Album
UK
[10]
US
[11]
AUS
[12]
CAN
[13][14]
NOR
[15]
SWE
[16]
GER
[17]
NED
[18]
IRE
[19]
FIN
[8]
1963 "Sweets for My Sweet"
(originally recorded by The Drifters)
"It's All Been a Dream" 1 28 8 5 44 1 A: Meet The Searchers
B: Non-album track
A: Hear! Hear!
B: Non-album track
"Sweet Nothin's"
(originally recorded by Brenda Lee)
"What'd I Say" 48 Non-album tracks A: The Searchers Meet The Rattles
B: Non-album track
"Sugar and Spice"
(original version/first release)
"Saints and Searchers" 2 44 57 11 6 Sugar and Spice Non-album tracks
1964 "Needles and Pins"
(originally recorded by Jackie DeShannon)
"Saturday Night Out"
(UK and US 2nd pressings)
"Ain't That Just Like Me"
(US original pressings)
1 13 4 14 8 6 8 1 31 A: It's The Searchers
UK & US. 2nd B: Non-album track.
US original B: Sugar and Spice.
Meet The Searchers
"Süß ist sie"
("Sugar And Spice" in German)
"Liebe"
("Money" in German)
NR NR unreleased (Germany only) unreleased (Germany only)
"Tausend Nadelstiche"
("Needles and Pins" in German)
"Farmer John"
(in German)
NR NR unreleased (Germany only) unreleased (Germany only)
"Ain't That Just Like Me"
(originally recorded by The Coasters)
"Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya"
61 19 A: Sugar and Spice
B: Meet The Searchers
Meet The Searchers
"Don't Throw Your Love Away"
(originally recorded by The Orlons)
"I Pretend I'm with You" 1 16 14 3 3 37 1 24 A: It's The Searchers
B: Non-album track
This Is Us
"Someday We're Gonna Love Again"
(originally recorded by Barbara Lewis)
"No One Else Could Love Me" 11 34 48 19 A: The Searchers' Smash Hits
B: Non-album track
Non-album tracks
"When You Walk in the Room"
(originally recorded by Jackie DeShannon)
"I'll Be Missing You" 3 35 2 21 20 4 A: Searchers' Smash Hits Vol. 2
B: Non-album track
Non-album tracks
"Love Potion No. 9"
(originally recorded by The Clovers)
"Hi-Heel Sneakers" NR 3 20 6 23 A: Meet the Searchers
B: It's The Searchers
This Is Us
"What Have They Done to the Rain"
(originally recorded by Malvina Reynolds)
"This Feeling Inside" 13 29 27 2 13 25 A: The Searchers' Smash Hits
B: Searchers' Smash Hits Vol. 2
A: The New Searchers LP
B: Non-album track
1965 "Magic Potion"
(originally recorded by Lou Johnson)
Note: Australia only
"Everything You Do" NR NR 95 Sounds Like Searchers The New Searchers LP
"Bumble Bee"
(originally recorded by LaVern Baker)
"Everything You Do" (US first pressings)
"A Tear Fell" (US later pressings)
NR 21 13 7 20 23 Sounds Like Searchers The New Searchers LP
"I Don't Want to Go On Without You"
(originally recorded by The Drifters)
"A Tear Fell" NR NR 17 Sounds Like Searchers The New Searchers LP
"Goodbye My Love"
(originally recorded by Jimmy Hughes)
(US single shown as "Goodbye My Lover Goodbye")
"Till I Met You" 4 52 25 12 16 7 7 A: Searchers' Smash Hits Vol. 2
B: The Searchers' Smash Hits
No. 4
"Verzeih' My Love"
("Goodbye My Love" in German)
"Wenn ich dich seh'"
("When You Walk In The Room" in German)
NR NR unreleased (Germany only) unreleased (Germany only)
"He's Got No Love" "So Far Away" 12 79 17 14 A: The Searchers' Smash Hits
B: Non-album track
Take Me For What I'm Worth
"When I Get Home"
(originally recorded by Bobby Darin)
"I'm Never Coming Back" 35 Non-album tracks
"Don't You Know Why" "You Can't Lie to a Liar" NR Take Me for What I'm Worth
"Take Me for What I'm Worth"
(originally recorded by P. F. Sloan)
"Too Many Miles" 20 76 41 14 25
1966 "Take It or Leave It"
(originally recorded by The Rolling Stones)
"Don't Hide It Away" 31 8 16 5 A: Searchers' Smash Hits Vol. 2
B: Non-album tracks
Non-album tracks
"Have You Ever Loved Somebody?"
(originally recorded by The Hollies)
"It's Just the Way (Love Will Come and Go)" 48 94 85 48
1967 "Popcorn, Double Feature"[20] "Lovers" 55[A] Non-album tracks
"Western Union"
(originally recorded by The Five Americans)
"I'll Cry Tomorrow" 55[A] NR 19
"Second Hand Dealer" "Crazy Dreams"
1968 "Umbrella Man" "Over the Weekend" NR
1969 "Somebody Shot the Lollipop Man"
(Released under the pseudonym "Pasha")
"Pussy Willow Dragon" NR
"Shoot 'Em Up Baby"
(originally recorded by Andy Kim)
"Suzanna" NR
"Kinky Kathy Abernathy" "Suzanna" NR
1971 "Desdemona" "The World Is Waiting for Tomorrow" 94 A: Second Take
B: Non-album track
"Love Is Everywhere" "And a Button" Non-album tracks
1972 "Sing Singer Sing" "Come On Back to Me" NR A: Non-album track
B: Second Take
"Needles and Pins" (re-recording) "When You Walk in the Room"/
"Come On Back to Me"
NR Second Take
1973 "Solitaire"
(originally recorded by Neil Sedaka)
"Spicks and Specks" NR
"Vahevala"
(originally recorded by Loggins & Messina)
"Madman" NR Non-album tracks
1979 "Hearts in Her Eyes"
(given to the group by The Records)
"Don't Hang On" NR The Searchers
"It's Too Late" "This Kind of Love Affair" (UK)
"Don't Hang On" (US)
1981 "Love's Melody"
(originally recorded by Ducks Deluxe)
"Changing" (UK)
"Little Bit of Heaven" (US)
A & US B: Love's Melodies
UK B: Non-album track
"Another Night" "Back to the War" NR A: Love's Melodies
B: Non-album track
1982 "I Don't Want to Be the One" "Hollywood" NR Non-album tracks

An extended play (EPs) contains more tracks than a single (usually 4 in the 1960s) but is usually distinct from an album (LP). It was sold in a special picture sleeve. The British discography is shown (plus one Searchers' EP released only in France with songs sung in French).

Year Title Peak chart positions Track list
UK Chart[21]
1963 Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya 1
  • "Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya"
  • "Farmer John"
  • "Love Potion Number Nine"
  • "Alright"
Sweets For My Sweet
  • Label: Pye Records (NEP 24183)
5
  • "Sweets For My Sweet"
  • "It's All Been A Dream"
  • "Since You Broke My Heart"
  • "Money"
1964 Hungry For Love
  • Label: Pye Records (NEP 24184)
4
  • "Hungry For Love"
  • "Don't Cha Know"
  • "Oh My Lover"
  • "Ain't That Just Like Me"
Les Searchers Chantent En Français NR
  • "C’est Arrivé Comme Ça" ("Don't Throw Your Love Away" in French)
  • "C’est De Notre Age" ("Sugar And Spice" in French)
  • "Mais C’etait Un Rêve" ("It's All Been A Dream" in French)
  • "Ils La Chantaient Il Y A Longtemps" ("Saints And Searchers" in French)
The Searchers Play The System
  • Label: Pye Records (NEP 24201)
4
1965 When You Walk In The Room
  • Label: Pye Records (NEP 24204)
12
  • "When You Walk In The Room"
  • "I'll Be Missing You"
  • "Some Day We're Gonna Love Again"
  • "No One Else Could Love Me"
Bumble Bee
  • Label: Pye Records (NEP 24218)
1
  • "Bumble Bee"
  • "Everything You Do"
  • "Magic Potion"
  • "If I Could Find Someone"
Searchers '65
  • Label: Pye Records (NEP 24222)
15
  • "What Have They Done To The Rain"
  • "This Feeling Inside"
  • "Goodbye My Love"
  • "'Till I Met You"
Four By Four
  • Label: Pye Records (NEP 24228)
  • "Till You Say You'll Be Mine"
  • "I Don't Want To Go On Without You"
  • "Everybody Come And Clap Your Hands"
  • "You Wanna Make Her Happy"
1966 Take Me For What I'm Worth
  • Label: Pye Records (NEP 24263)
  • "Take Me For What I'm Worth"
  • "Too Many Miles"
  • "Take It Or Leave It"
  • "Don't Hide It Away"
"—" denotes a release that did not chart, "NR" means not released in the UK.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".

References

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  1. ^ "UK Charts & Discography/". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  2. ^ "The Searchers AllMusic". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  3. ^ "The Searchers discography/". Discog.com. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "Artist Chart History: Searchers". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Official German Charts/". Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Billboard Chart History: Searchers". Billboard Top 200. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Discos". Discog.com. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  8. ^ a b Pennanen, Timo (2006). Top 1000. Finland: Avain. ISBN 9789523042780.
  9. ^ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  10. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 486. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  11. ^ "The Searchers Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.[dead link]
  12. ^ "The Searchers Australian Chart History". Australian Music Report. 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  13. ^ "CHUM results". Archived from the original on 2006-07-20.
  14. ^ "RPM search results". Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013.
  15. ^ "VG-lista – The Searchers". Lista.vg.no. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
  16. ^ Hallberg, Eric (1993). Kvällstoppen i P3 (1st ed.). Sweden: Drift Musik. ISBN 91-630-2140-4.
  17. ^ "Official German Charts/". Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Dutch Top 40". Top40Hitdossier.nl. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  19. ^ "The Searchers Irish Singles". IRMA 2006 - 2008. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  20. ^ "Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum • View topic - Searchers, Byrds and Dusty Springfield". www.rickresource.com. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
  21. ^ The Searchers 30th Anniversary Collection 1962-1992 (CD liner notes), Sequel Records, 1992.
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