[1][2] The band's hits include a remake of the Drifters' 1961 hit, "Sweets for My Sweet"; "Sugar and Spice" (written by their producer Tony Hatch); remakes of Jackie DeShannon's "Needles and Pins" and "When You Walk in the Room"; a cover of the Orlons' "Don't Throw Your Love Away"; and a cover of the Clovers' "Love Potion No.

The band styled themselves as "Tony and the Searchers" with Joe Kennedy (born 1941 in Liverpool, died 21 November 2023) on drums.

They negotiated a contract with the Star-Club in the St. Pauli district of Hamburg for 128 days, with three one-hour performances a night, starting in July 1962.

[7] With a slightly changed track listing, including the song "Needles and Pins", it hit #22 in the US album charts in June 1964.

Apparently Curtis disliked this song (largely a revamp of the key aspects of first hits) and refused to sing on it.

"Love Potion No.9", sung by Jackson, was a non-UK single lifted from the first LP that was a hit in the US on Kapp Records in 1965.

After scoring with their hit "Needles And Pins", bassist Tony Jackson, who was only allowed one co-lead vocal on their third album (on "Sho Know A Lot About Love"), left the band and was replaced by a Searchers' Hamburg pal, Frank Allen from Cliff Bennett and The Rebel Rousers.

As late as 1970, Marble Arch issued an edited version of It's the Searchers, the group's third album, originally released in 1964.

This departure was a major blow, as Curtis had been chief songwriter, song selector, and key high harmony voice, as well as a figurehead member and the main PR man.

In 1967, Curtis formed a new band called Roundabout with keyboard player Jon Lord and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.

As musical styles evolved, The Searchers did attempt to move with the times, recording covers of songs by The Rolling Stones ("Take It Or Leave it") and The Hollies "Have You Ever Loved Somebody", which was a minor UK chart hit though a rival cover by Paul & Barry Ryan probably robbed both parties of a bigger hit.

The group continued to tour through the 1970s, playing both the expected old hits as well as contemporary songs such as an extended live version of Neil Young's "Southern Man".

Both records garnered critical acclaim and featured some original tracks, as well as covers of songs such as Alex Chilton's "September Gurls" and John Fogerty's "Almost Saturday Night".

The first album was quickly revamped following release with a few extra tracks added, one song dropped (a cover of Bob Dylan's "Coming From The Heart"), and a new sleeve.

The albums did, however, revive the group's career, because concerts from then on alternated classic hits with the newer songs that were well received.

A Sire single, "Hearts in Her Eyes", written by Will Birch and John Wicks of The Records, and successfully updating their distinctive 12-string guitars/vocal harmonies sound, picked up some radio airplay.

[11] According to John McNally, the band was ready to head into the studio to record a third album for Sire when they were informed that, due to label reorganisation, their contract had been dropped.

In turn, in 2010 Eddie Rothe left The Searchers after becoming engaged to singer Jane McDonald,[16] and was replaced on 26 February by Scott Ottaway.

[17] The original bassist for the Searchers, Tony West (born 1938 in Liverpool), died in his sleep on 11 November 2010, aged 72 in Hightown, Merseyside.