I first heard a section of ‘Wonderful Land’ by the Shadows when an album of their greatest hits was advertised on TV back in the 1970s. It was the usual thing - a nice LP on EMI records with a gold cover and the picture of some shadows cast by a light against three guitar necks! The voice over said ‘With all the hits including ‘Apache’ and ‘Wonderful Land!’. I made my mother buy me that album.
In 1978 when I was 10 years old I also got my mother to take me to see ‘The Shadows’ when they played the De Monfort Hall in Leicester. As my mother was a very big fan of Cliff Richard and her annual treat was to go and see him (with me and my brother in tow) play the same venue she didn’t mind seeing the band as they were always to be associated with the great Cliff R in her mind.
I remember them playing a song called ‘Love Deluxe’ which was their entry to the Eurovison Song Contest that year and we bought a copy in the foyer but for me the highlight of the night was hearing Hank and Bruce play ‘Wonderful Land’ which is a truly great piece of music.
I also remember Mike Oldfield doing an equally exciting version but this is the original and best and brings back happy memories of seeing ‘The Shadows’ on a summer night in 1978.
Now listen to the boys play guitar….
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