"The Savage" is an instrumental track by British group the Shadows, released as a single in November 1961. It peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]

"The Savage"
Single by The Shadows
from the album The Young Ones
B-side"Peace Pipe"
Released10 November 1961 (1961-11-10)
Recorded25 May 1961[1]
StudioEMI Studios, London
GenreInstrumental surf
Length2:22
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Norrie Paramor
Producer(s)Norrie Paramor
The Shadows singles chronology
"Kon-Tiki"
(1961)
"The Savage"
(1961)
"Wonderful Land"
(1962)

Background and release

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"The Savage" was released as a "double-sided hit" with "Peace Pipe".[3] Both songs were written and produced by Norrie Paramor and the single was released to promote the film The Young Ones, which starred Cliff Richard.

Reviewing for Disc, Don Nicholl described "The Savage" as "a quite, twangy offering with quick, turbulent pace to it". He described "Peace Pipe" as "a more mellow melody. Flows along smoothly and is neatly played by the group".[3]

The Shadows' Hank Marvin said that "The Savage" "is undoubtedly a mediocre record and should never have been released as a single", as "it hasn't a strong enough melody for a single release. It is a run-of-the-mill number with little to recommend it". The group learned of the planned release of the single whilst they were on tour in Australia. They tried to stop it being released, but the record company said they had already pressed 100,000 copies and that it was too late.[4]

Track listings

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7": Columbia / DB 4726

  1. "The Savage" – 2:22
  2. "Peace Pipe" – 2:11

Personnel

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Charts

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Chart (1961–62) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 8
France[6] 9
UK Singles (OCC)[2] 10

References

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  1. ^ Koers, Ivo. "Instrumentation On Shadows Recordings II: The Primary Singles" (PDF). malcolmcampbell.me.uk. p. 9. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Shadows: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  3. ^ a b "Disc" (PDF). Disc. 11 November 1961. pp. 1, 8. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  4. ^ "'The Savage' was a mediocre – and bad mistake" (PDF). Disc. 6 January 1962. p. 12. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  5. ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
  6. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 28 April 1962. p. 22. Retrieved 26 November 2021.