The Shadows Four (Fleetwood)

[gregk25]

If you ever wondered who produced that Great White Whale of New England 45s, please welcome: The Shadows Four. According to a hype sticker on the back of this 1965 foto they were "one of New England's most popular 'pop rock' groups". Yeah, right, though they did have their own V-neck sweaters. They were "due shortly to make their first national TV appearance". Not sure that never happened. Open to swap for the 7" *cough*

 

[greenfuzz]

I’ve got an entire CD by the Shadows 4. I interviewed one of them for 60sgaragebands.com. I don’t recall specifics but I do believe they were pretty popular locally for the time.

 

[gregk25]

And the CD has more studio recordings by them?

 

[Frantic]

I’ve got an entire CD by the Shadows 4. I interviewed one of them for 60sgaragebands.com. I don’t recall specifics but I do believe they were pretty popular locally for the time.

covers?

 

[MopTopMike]

You are at the end of the line for a copy, Gregor.
Me and my New England buddies have been searching in vain for Fleetwood 4553 for, what, 35 years now? Or 40?
We've contacted all members of course, plus relatives, friends, the manager's family, the fan club gals, people who went to see them perform...ads taken out in newspapers in the area. Nothing. My nieces and nephew have been tutored about Fleetwood 4553 and therefore know to look for this 45 whenever they visit flea markets and stop by yard sales as they live nearby.

As it was an RCA custom press, you would logically think enough copies were pressed, but since the rhythm track was absent on the surf intro side, the band rejected the pressing. Several still insist that the 45 was not released. Perhaps all copies were immediately discarded, returned & thrown away, with a scant few escaping the garbage dump. I only know of two copies in collections. This record has never been offered in any listing that I have seen since 1985 (when I began keeping copies of all auction and set sale lists). Never offered on-line. Easily within the Top 10 rarest 60s garage 45s out there (should be right behind Just Too Much, The Knightrsmen, The Hard Times on MNO and the red label Denise 45). Absolutely the rarest New England 60's 45 (of thosde known to have been pressed).

 

[greenfuzz]

The CD is 26 songs and includes the two 45 sides, home recordings, rehearsals and radio broadcast recordings. I still have the notes Bill Trainor sent me. He specifically singles out ‘Shadows In The Night’ as an original he wrote. There could be other studio recordings but I’ll have to dig deep to confirm. There are song titles that aren’t familiar to me but they could be covers. I’m sure it’s been 20 years since I’ve listened to it.

 

[gregk25]

You are at the end of the line for a copy, Gregor.
Me and my New England buddies have been searching in vain for Fleetwood 4553 for, what, 35 years now? Or 40?
We've contacted all members of course, plus relatives, friends, the manager's family, the fan club gals, people who went to see them perform...ads taken out in newspapers in the area. Nothing. My nieces and nephew have been tutored about Fleetwood 4553 and therefore know to look for this 45 whenever they visit flea markets and stop by yard sales as they live nearby.

Well aware that I'm not at the top of the line but some started queuing even later. As the line hasn't moved in decades maybe it doesnt matter where you stand. Smart move about recruiting nieces and nephews as field scouts. But even with sleuthing not providing an actual copy of the disc, what did the fan club girls tell you? Did they produce any paper goods on the band? Have a very nice Neal Ford booklet done by the two fan club runners, something similar on the Rainmakers, both bigger acts than the Shadows 4 admittedly, but even if they only did a "fan club card" it would be great to see that.

 

[bosshoss]

Never offered on-line. Easily within the Top 10 rarest 60s garage 45s out there (should be right behind Just Too Much, The Knightsmen, The Hard Times on MNO and the red label Denise 45). Absolutely the rarest New England 60's 45 (of those known to have been pressed).

Don't forget the Mymes on Ikon...I've only ever seen one copy sold (circa 2011). And the "red label Denise with the yellow label". Shown here together with the "yellow label Denise with the yellow label"...you can distinguish the red label from the yellow label by checking the width of the deadwax run-in groove area. The yellow label has a much wider run-in groove area (almost twice as wide as the red).

Funny how 6 of the 7 (very rare) 45s shown are from California.

Don't worry I didn't accidentally scuff any of the 45s for the photo.

 

[MopTopMike]

Well aware that I'm not at the top of the line but some started queuing even later. As the line hasn't moved in decades maybe it doesnt matter where you stand. Smart move about recruiting nieces and nephews as field scouts. But even with sleuthing not providing an actual copy of the disc, what did the fan club girls tell you? Did they produce any paper goods on the band? Have a very nice Neal Ford booklet done by the two fan club runners, something similar on the Rainmakers, both bigger acts than the Shadows 4 admittedly, but even if they only did a "fan club card" it would be great to see that.

I got a promo photo of the Shadows 4 from one of the fan club ladies. She had to dig around to uncover it. They said they tossed everything left over (not much, and no 45s) when they became adults, as they related to me.

The Shadows 4 were a VERY popular group, they were still performing in 1968, long after most groups had split up and disbanded. Thery had a long standing top billing at the Surf Club in Nantasket besides playing tons of dates at Harvard, Boston University, smaller clubs, adult establishements, weddings....) in their home-base vicinity of Woburn, Massachusetts. They opened for the Kingsmen at the Surf in August, 1966, an played on a few bills with the Remains, Rockin' Ramrods...

 

[MopTopMike]

Don't forget the Mymes on Ikon...I've only ever seen one copy sold (circa 2011). And the "red label Denise with the yellow label". Shown here together with the "yellow label Denise with the yellow label"...you can distinguish the red label from the yellow label by checking the width of the deadwax run-in groove area. The yellow label has a much wider run-in groove area (almost twice as wide as the red).

Funny how 6 of the 7 (very rare) 45s shown are from California.

Don't worry I didn't accidentally scuff any of the 45s for the photo.

Wow, that's an easy $65,000 value right there! ($10,000 each for the six, $5,000 for the yellow label Denise 1st version).
But we are only talking about $65,000 cash...you can always get cash....somehow, some way...but try to find just ONE of these 45s! Bravo, Mark!

 

[Frantic]

Funny how 6 of the 7 (very rare) 45s shown are from California.

the 2 ikons were recorded just 3 miles from my house. I used to live less than 1 mile from the old Ikon Studios. what a insane photo!!!

 

[Frantic]

a couple of Ikons have never neen located, The Bobbies and the Sons Of Sound. as a matter of fact we (alec and I) have never found the guys in the S.O.S.!!!

 

[bosshoss]

7 others I have found to be very elusive - no photos of these unfortunately!
The Sands - Open Your Eyes
Peabody Hermitage - Something So
*End Result - Never Ask Again
Zoo - Gonna Miss Me
Jazzmasters - Walkin'
Blue & The Gray - Don't Send Me No Flowers
It's Them - Baby I Still Want Your Lovin'

But most of them are more than one known copy (excepting * )