Foot Tapper - The Shadows

Human beings have many ways to communicate, including the tap of the foot. Of course, such foot tapping can be for illicit reasons. Feet will often tap in response to music with a beat and that is the context here. A foot tapper is a song with a good beat. The name has been appropriated by The Shadows for one of their many instrumentals.  Written by Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch, this one was Number 1 in the UK in 1963. It was originally written at the request of Jacques Tati (he had seen them in Paris in 1961 and liked them) but was not used by him as Tati hit difficulties and did not release his next film until 1967. Instead, in 1963, the Shadows had a small role in the Cliff RIchard film Summer Holiday and producer Peter Yates used it for the radio music in the bus scene. It was then released as a double 'A' side with the pop standard "The Breeze and I". The whole thing is very tight and well arranged and works well. It does what it says on the tin. Brian Bennett on drums shines. It is hard not to tap your foot to it. It became well known later as the signature tune and closing theme for BBC Radio 2's Sounds of the Sixties from 1983 until 2017 when presenter Brian Matthew left.