The Searchers | Have You Ever Loved Somebody | (Pye) 1966

“Have You Ever Loved Somebody” / “It’s Just The Way (Love Will Come And Go)” (Pye 7N. 17170) September 1966

The Searchers | Have You Ever Loved Somebody | (Pye) 1966 | Distinctively Searcher-ish sound, but the song is by no means their strongest. But the vocal blend, the decisive beat, and the professional sounds are very strong. Teen slanted lyrics.
Flip: is slower, almost folksey. (Record Mirror, 10/09/66)

CHRIS-THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE AS: Searchers and Ryans battle!

OUCH! A terrific battle is about to begin between those hit parade stalwarts the Searchers and relative new boys Paul and Barry Ryan. Why? Because this week ex-Searcher Chris Curtis is rush-releasing Hollies song “Have You Ever Loved Somebody” by the twins . . the same number his old group has done.

So once again it seems a “cover version controversy” is about to rage. Similar to that which revolved around the Manfreds and one Jonathan King over Dylan’s “Just Like A Woman.” And different in that Chris Curtis was leader of the Searchers before quitting to produce records.

But although it looks on the face of it to be something of a dirty trick on behalf of Mr Curtis—this isn’t the case.

HOLLIES SONG

Says Chris: “The Hollies gave me this song for Paul and Barry when we were on ‘Ready, Steady, Go!’ together. They thought then it would be a good song for the boys, and I recorded them soon after. It’s only recently that I was aware the Searchers had done the same song.”

But Searcher Frank Allen wasn’t so happy: “It’s terribly unfortunate,” he admitted. “And as usual the Ryans will get all the plugs for it. I’d like to think we stand a chance, and I’d like to be able to say: “May the best one win,’ but I don’t know now.”

However, despite their virtual flop with the Stones’ “Aftermath” song “Take It Or Leave It,” the Searchers aren’t that worried.

“It would be nice to have big hits again, but we’ve not been as brought down by the lack of them as much as perhaps we should be,” he added.

“I’m convinced we’re able to work almost for ever. We had a big enough name in the past to be able to live on it now.”

So let battle commence! The Searchers’ version, says Frank, is faster than anything they’ve ever done before and they’re all well satisfied with the outcome. And according to Chris Curtis — who surprised pop by dragging in bagpipes on the Ryans‘ last smash—the new one has no such gimmicks but will be just as surprising. (Disc & Music Echo, 17/09/66)