I think a big difference between Cliff in the UK and Hallyday in France is most people under 50 don’t think of Cliff as a rock and roller. There’s no reason to. “Move It” is Cliff’s only *really* famous rock and roll era song nowadays and that’s mainly because of Cliff’s decades-long campaign of bringing it up all the time. I showed my little brother a clip of Cliff performing it in 1960 and he was floored to learn Cliff came before the Beatles and was a rock and roll star. I don’t think his place in the public consciousness is particularly defined by once being a regional Elvis clone. Hell, it’s more defined by his calendars.
― houdini said, Wednesday, 25 January 2023 16:23 (one year ago) link
Most people over 50 don't think of him as a rock and roller either tbh. Having said that, and talking of predating the Beatles, this a really good live album, sound quality is fantastic, performances are great - tcould do without the Shadows' corny between songs banter though.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/513+CVqitnL._AC_SY355_.jpg
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Wednesday, 25 January 2023 16:36 (one year ago) link
Apparently it was turned for release in 1962 because there was too much screaming and noise from the audience.
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Wednesday, 25 January 2023 16:37 (one year ago) link
The Live at Kelvin Hall of its day
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Monday, 30 January 2023 07:16 (one year ago) link
We Don’t Talk Anymore strikes me as the song Todd Rundgren didn’t write. It would fit nicely on Hermit of Mink Hollow.
ah yes, i totally hear this!
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Monday, 30 January 2023 09:04 (one year ago) link
My ongoing plan at the moment is to right about
I can actually right. Trust me.
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Monday, 30 January 2023 09:07 (one year ago) link
My favourite Cliff album at the moment is his partly self-penned semi-song cycle The 31st of February Street. It was released at 1974 after a very long gap following his previous proper album and was a total flop but it acts as a necessary and nearly fully-formed prelude to his 1976 I'm Nearly Famous/Bruce Welch/Devil Woman renaissance. Ahem, (it's his Impossible Princess!)
My favourite songs are more often the drumless baroque and acoustic ones - an interesting remake of Travellin' Light with querying strings (all pointed eyebrows and memorable expressions) is really good, and on a similar note is Fireside Song. And then there's Cliff ploughing vaguely Brian Protheroe-adjacent fields:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y-wTGNajbc
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Monday, 30 January 2023 09:17 (one year ago) link
I don't think I've ever seen that album before.
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Monday, 30 January 2023 09:18 (one year ago) link
me neither! reminds me of this:
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91SbaC7qrqL._AC_SX466_.jpg
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Monday, 30 January 2023 09:23 (one year ago) link
quite liked that song btw!
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Monday, 30 January 2023 09:24 (one year ago) link
It was the end of his wilderness years and he hasn't failed to have a successful studio album since (with the partial exception of The Rock Connection) so it is very buried. Bob Stanley mentioned it to him in his Record Collector interview a few years ago which is the only time I've heard Cliff speak about it.
You’re not thought of as a songwriter, yet you wrote most of the songs on the 1974 album, The 31st Of February Street.That was produced by Dave Mackay. It was a really nice production – we did a version of Travelling Light. I played guitar on it, which I rarely do. I’m no good at playing it now. So it was a nice album. But you know, you can’t outguess the public, they know what they like. And even though you may make a very sweet album, it’s just not sweet enough sometimes. We all go through that, though. Not all of our albums happen. I should have kept playing guitar. I could probably have been a better writer had I kept playing, but I found guitar onstage a total hindrance.
That was produced by Dave Mackay. It was a really nice production – we did a version of Travelling Light. I played guitar on it, which I rarely do. I’m no good at playing it now. So it was a nice album. But you know, you can’t outguess the public, they know what they like. And even though you may make a very sweet album, it’s just not sweet enough sometimes. We all go through that, though. Not all of our albums happen. I should have kept playing guitar. I could probably have been a better writer had I kept playing, but I found guitar onstage a total hindrance.
https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/cliff-richard
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Monday, 30 January 2023 09:31 (one year ago) link