THE SEARCHERS -- 30TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION (Sequel /UK, Collectibles/US): The Searchers have always been one of my favorite British Invasion groups, partly because their sound is so similar in structure to the Beatles. This three-disc set, which has been out for a while, has 84 tracks in all, almost everything you'd ever want. Disc 1 has the singles tracks, disc 2 album and EP tracks, disc 3 the rarities. It's this disc that's the most enticing. It has live tracks from the BBC, a few outtakes, foreign language tracks (how about "Needles and Pins" in German?), solo tracks, plus five tracks from an unreleased 1982 album. If it's foreign language tracks you're interested in, grab "The Searchers: The German, French and Rare Recordings" CD on the British Repertoire label, which includes a few more foreign tracks and a Searchers medley. A friend in Britain tells me the Searchers still can be heard there on occasion. Unfortunately, though, they rarely make it to the West Coast of the U.S. Still, they were one of the best things to follow the Beatles to America and it's nice to be able to hear their music sounding so good. (Dec. '95)