Wednesday 12 October 2016

Cliff Richard - CLIFF RICHARD***

Angel/Sway/I Only Came To Say Goodbye/Take Special Care/Magic Is The Moonlight/House Without Windows/Razzle Dazzle/I Don’t Wanna Love You/Its Not For Me To Say/You Belong To My Heart/ Again/Perfidia/Kiss/ Reelin’ & Rockin

Cliff's now largely overlooked album Cliff Richard was very unusual for the time, having an abstract cover without any image of the performing artist. This was particularly so for one who predominately appealed to the youth market. (UK:9)

"Cliff's eighth album was something of a mixed bag, borrowing moods (and even songs) from the recent When In Spain set, but also kicking furiously against the doomsayers who'd written him off over the past two years. Unlike some more recent offerings, this album, oozes class. The politely swinging I Don't Want To Love You and a near-country romp through You Belong To My Heart may be standard easy listening fare, and were duly condemned as such as the time. Elsewhere, during a rocking blast through Razzle Dazzle, there is the sound of Richard's voice cracking, so electric is the performance."

"The artist's eye for strong material remains as unflinching as ever, and his ability to deliver it remains undimmed. Indeed, from the doomy House Without Windows to a (surprisingly?) stirring Reelin' & Rockin', there are moments here when his voice sounds stronger than ever, as he not only makes the final transition from simple pop star to all-round family entertainer, but does so with such aplomb that only a convinced cynic could fail to applaud his grace."

"One of my more innocent childhood favourites was later revealed to me as also being a death song. I had this 1965 Cliff Richard album, with a great doo-woppy rock and roll song House Without Windows."

"Cliff Richard is much more of a ballad album, casting the singer as a pop/rock crooner backed by the Norrie Paramor Orchestra and the Mike Sammes Singers. There are a couple of good '50s-style rock & roll numbers present, and a fierce if highly sanitized version of Chuck Berry's Reelin' & Rockin', featuring a solid rock & roll band backing. These are the exceptions on an album dominated by pop numbers such as It's Not For Me To Say and Magic In The Moonlight, making for a fairly solid mix."

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