Wednesday March 3, 2021 “Needles & Pins” The Searchers

Today is Mike Pender's birthday, and you are thinking who, why?

Pender is one of the singers with the Liverpool band The Searchers, named for some reason after the John Wayne movie of the same name.  They were the second British band to chart a record in the U.S.after the Beatles at the beginning of the British Invasion, the musical one that is.

 Today’s song, “Needles & Pins” was co-written by Sonny Bono, the Sonny portion of Sonny & Cher and althoughJackie DeShannon was the first to record “Needles & Pins” and she only had a minor hit with it prior to The Searchers version which was a top ten hit.  The song was also recorded by The Ramones, Del Shannon, Gene Clark (The Byrds), Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks among others.

 The Searchers version is notable for their pronunciation of “still they begin..aaa, needles and pins...aaaaa” along with a squeaky bass drum pedal during the recording which reportedly can be heard at the beginning of the song.

Also as a point of information, although the guitar work sounds like they are playing a twelve string it is actually just a six string that was double tracked to give it that effect. TMI?

 Pender formed a separate group in the 80s with Brian Poole (The Tremeloes), Clem Curtis (The Foundations), Tony Crane (The Merseybeats) and Reg Presley (The Troggs) who, because of their ages were affectionately known as the ‘Travelling Wrinklies’, a pun on the Travelling Willburys.

 Stay safe and well...and still they begin...aaa, needles and pins...aaaa.  Just so hard not to do that.

I saw her today, I saw her face, it was a face I loved, and I knew

I had to run away, and get down on my knees and pray that they'd go away

But still they'd begin, needles and pins

Because of all my pride, the tears I gotta hide

 Hey I thought I was smart, I'd won her heart

Didn't think I'd do, but now I see

She's worse to him than me, let her go ahead

Take his love instead, and one day she will see

Just how to say please, and get down on her knees

Hey that's how it begins, she'll feel those needles and pins

A-hurtin' her, a-hurtin' her

 Why can't I stop and tell myself I'm wrong, I'm wrong, so wrong

Why can't I stand up and tell myself I'm strong

Because I saw her today, I saw her face, it was a face I loved, and I knew

I had to run away, and get down on my knees and pray that they'd go away

But still they'd begin needles and pins

Because of all my pride, the tears I gotta hide

 Oh needles and pins, needles and pins, needles and pins