Search - Shakers :: Por Favor

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! It's the Uruguayan Beatles!

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 02/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's often difficult to remember just how all-encompassing the Beatles influence was. How the release of the film "A Hard Days Night" instantly revolutionized teenagers and their bands all over the world. Stories of groups like the Byrds emerging from the movie theater with new found direction are well known, and the impact of the British Invasion on other parts of the world (Europe, Japan, Australia) is fairly well established, as well.But South America is different. One would be hard-pressed to name a band of international fame that sprouted from the original Beatles seed. Unless, of course, you happen to have a copy (original or much bootlegged) of The Shakers 1966 US LP release, "Break It All," or by some quirk picked up one of their original LPs from EMI Argentina, or the early 90s CD collection from EMI Brazil. All rather obscure on US soil.Luckily, Alec Palao's new compilation paints a well-rendered picture of Los Shakers brilliant story in words, pictures, and most importantly, music. As with so many American bands, Los Shakers found instant direction with the release of "A Hard Day's Night." And amazingly, given their distance from the mainstream, they may most faithfully recreate and integrate the elements that made the mid-period Beatles so... Beatle-y. Music, haircuts, collarless suits and Shakermania included.This new collection includes twelve tracks from Los Shakers debut LP, each a letter-perfect homage to the sound of a Hard Days Night, Beatles For Sale, and Help. Particularly impressive is that while the heart and soul of these songs are derivative of Liverpool pop, the overall effect is a unique group sound. These songs don't sound like the Beatles - they sound like Los Shakers, and in turn, Los Shakers sound like a band who studied the Beatles records very, very carefully.The included interview with singer/guitarist Osvaldo Fatturoso suggests that the band virtually ignored the non-Beatle portion of the British wave. This may be true, but there are certainly elements of the Hollies in their harmonies, as well as the Dave Clark Five's driving beat in their rhythms. Perhaps they gathered this all second hand through the Beatles.Beyond the first album's tracks, the compilation shows the band to have followed a remarkably similar arc to that of the Beatles. Mid-period tracks from their second LP, "Shakers For You" are increasingly complex, with dollops of Revolver/Magic Mystery Tour-era psychedelia (including backwards guitars) and Byrds-styled vocals. Bassist Roberto "Pellin" Capobianco plays some especially McCartney-esque riffs. Their third and final LP, "La Conferencia Secreta Del Toto's Bar," shows conceptual influence from "Sgt. Pepper" and musical influences of their native South America (including apparently, neuvo tango master, Astor Piazzolla). Amazingly, the mid and late-period tracks are just as pleasing in their evocation of mid and late-period Beatles as the early tracks in capturing the joy of merseybeat.Liner notes and packaging are typically top-notch (check-out the extensive series of 60s Bay Area music compilations under the "Nuggets from the Golden State" title for more of Alec Palao's work), including new interview material, photographs, and reproductions of original releases. The only real disappointment is what's missing. In particular, the liner notes speak of several notable singles that are not included on the disc (e.g., "The single 'Never, Never' marked a turning point for the band as it had an overt bossa nova/samba feel, and was very much in their own style" "Towards the end of 1967 Los Shakers were continuing to absorb more influences from the outside and further expanding upon the indigenous Latin rhythm and melody styles in their music in latter-day singles like 'Adorable Lola'.").Also missing are the numerous cover versions Los Shakers recorded as singles, including a several Beatles tunes that EMI had them record for release before the Beatles own versions hit the stands. The lack of tracks from the 1966 Audio Fidelity release, "Break it All," will be disconcerting for those who first heard Los Shakers through the original or a bootleg reissue (especially so, given that the re-recordings featured Osvaldo singing lead in place of a sore-throated Hugo on many tracks).But given the market and the space on a single disc, choices had to be made. What's here is prime material; all original compositions (and all in English!) and a fair representation of their three LPs and original singles. Bear Family - won't you please produce an all-inclusive Los Shakers box?"

But where's the Spanish-language stuff???

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 01/14/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As Beatles imitators go, Uruguay's Los Shakers were an unparalleled band. Four kids from Montivedeo who absolutely worshipped the Fab Four, Los Shakers had the good fortune to sign with EMI's Odeon label in 1964, at the peak of Beatlemania. This not only meant that they could put out singles and tour throughout South America, they also got first dibs on covering Beatles songs -- and getting their cover version out *before* the original version English version got to market in Latin American! Although The Shakers were hands above their local competitors, their music has been near impossible to find for decades (a friend of mine once made a trek to Uruguay in the 1980s and looked for Shakers albums, only to be told they'd been out of print for years...) This sparkling collection generously provides over thirty of the Shakers' best original songs, most of which are were sung in off-kilter English. Old-time fans (all twenty of us) will be mildly disappointed that this current CD doesn't include any of their kitschy cover tunes, but the self-penned material has plenty of loveably blatant Beatles-isms on its own. Still, let's hope that a second album's worth of Spanish-language cover tunes is also in the works."

SHAKERS, POR FAVOR? GRACIAS!

Vincent G. Macek | Decatur, Georgia USA | 04/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Shakers were called 'The Beatles del Rio de la Plata', but that's not giving them their due. They're closer to that point where the Beatles, Hollies and Zombies intersect, but that's not giving them their due either. Coming from musical backgrounds covering classical, tango and swing, they had the facility to appropriate the Beatles sound from 'Hard Days Night' thru 'Sgt. Pepper' and create their own brilliant original stuff.I was a kid in South America in the mid-60s and their first album was a soundtrack for me - but apart from an odd single or two afterward it was all I'd heard from them. Finding this anthology was like finding a 35-year old Christmas present under the couch! English was apparently the official language for pop groups of the time and they give it their best, but pronunciation and conjugation make deciphering lyrics a chore that requires repeated listening (really not a chore). The first LP's sound is dismissed in the liner as a 'reverberating non-production' but it evokes the smoky underground dance club of my dreams and suits the feel of the songs perfectly. Cuts from their second album are as bold and clever as anything put out in 1966. Their last album's cuts are alternately mirthful and grand - wish I'd heard more, especially their more indigenous numbers. The extensive liner notes are a nice plus, but they make me restless to find the cuts not included here, as well as their later, post-Shaker releases. A cover or two would've been nice too - after the fact, I vote for their take on Del Shannon's "Keep Searching".If you're a fan of that period of pure pop from '64 to '68, buy this disk; you'll have a good time. And the more folks on hand to decode their lyrics, the better."