Originally a B side for the three female/one male American R&B group The Orlons, 'Don't Throw Your Love Away' is a strange choice for The Searchers to cover. What do I mean? Well for one the original is a far spikier, harder edged affair than the warm pop of The Searchers, with an icy piano motif replacing the guitars. You can see why - in The Orlon's female hands the song had a purpose at the heart that becomes more ambiguous in this setting, something The Searchers try to hide by stressing the melody with a (by now trademark) jangle of guitar that softens the 'message' from one of self liberation to something akin to a pro virginity stance. You can see it best in the subtle switch of words from the more gutsy 'go out and have a ball' of the original to the tamer 'go out and have some fun' - The Orlons were encouraging their own sex to be their own person and not to get befuddled with the new fangled liberalism of the times or to waste time fretting whether the bloke's usual 'of course I'll still love you tomorrow' is truth or bulldust. The girls were warning of consequences rather than deeds, but in the hands of The Searchers its intended audience is less clear and it gives it a far more reserved, almost patronising 'we know best' air that doesn't appeal; The Orlons were party girls, but The Searchers are saying that parties are fine as long as you were a long skirt and stick to soft drinks. Ultimately, the song itself was always just a co-star rather being than strong enough to take a lead role and this is a bit of a misfire really with all the appeal of a public information film.
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