The Shadows - Jigsaw (1967) LP

"Jigsaw" is the sixth studio album by the celebrated British band The Shadows, released in July 1967 by EMI (Columbia).

In the context of the band's history, this release is notable for being their first album to consist exclusively of instrumental tracks (on previous albums, the musicians occasionally added their own vocals).

The album was recorded at the height of the "Summer of Love" and the psychedelic revolution of 1967. While the world was listening to The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," The Shadows remained true to their signature clean guitar style, which sometimes led the press and some young people to consider them old-fashioned. However, the spirit of the times has crept in: for example, bassist John Rostill occasionally uses a distorted fuzz bass, a pioneering instrument for the band.

The album Jigsaw is a hidden gem in the late discography of the classic 1960s The Shadows. The musicians demonstrated a supreme level of teamwork and instrumental mastery, proving that even without vocals, they can hold the listener's attention, masterfully translating the vocal hits of others into the language of guitar strings.