Wonderful Life – CLIFF RICHARD***

Wonderful Life/A Girl In Every Port/Walkin’/Home/A Little Imagination/On The Beach/In The Stars/We Love A Movie/Do You Remember/What’ve I Gotta Do/Theme For Young Lovers/All Kinds Of People/A Matter Of Moments/Youth & Experience

Cliff Richard's 1964 soundtrack album Wonderful Life was noticeably less successful than its two predecessors, both critically and commercially. Contains the UK No. 7 hit On The Beach and The Shadows' instrumental No. 12 hit Theme For Young Lovers. Released only eighteen months after Summer Holiday, during the period when Cliff's pre-eminent position in British popular music was overtaken by The Beatles and the other newly emerging beat groups. (UK:2)

"Another excellent album from Cliff & The Shadows. Relaxing, toe-tapping, just what you would expect from these guys. A really nice album."

"Cliff's On The Beach is a Shadows backed guitar number, excellent pre-Beatles rock and pop. The guitar work and the rhythm section truly excel." "The moment Cliff handed the baton to The Beatles."

"On The Beach is my favourite Cliff song, along with Bachelor Boy."

"Wonderful Life is a brilliant Cliff track even if the film was a bit dated even back then. The music is timeless."

"The music is flat for the most part and closer to show music than rock & roll."

"The songs, with a couple of exceptions, are especially weak."

"This time the songs aren't strong enough to cover up the cracks in the plot. True, there are a few exceptions, notably The Shadows' Theme For Young Lovers, plus On The Beach and A Matter Of Moments."