My wife Maria has always carried a torch for Cliff Richard. He was her first heart-throb when she was 10. And then I came along.
She has long ago stopped swooning over me; maybe I should change my deodorant (maybe I should use one), but she swooned over Cliff again when she saw him on television performing a song from his new album – The Fabulous Rock ’n’ Roll Songbook. This is his 100th album apparently. How’s that for longevity, One Direction?
Personally, I was never a big fan of Cliff. My tastes were for Elvis, Chuck Berry, the Stones, Beatles and Lennon. But give him his due, he did make that classic rock ’n’ roll single Move It in 1958 and he has gone back to basics for his latest album on which he performs 15 classic rock songs. And yes, after watching him on TV, Maria bought the CD.
He says the choice of songs is a tribute to the greats of the past who inspired and influenced him, such as Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly.
Most of those legends had the whiff of danger about them that showed in their performances. Cliff has never been dangerous. He has always been and remains the sanitised – if not sainted – face of rock and roll.
Nothing wrong in that. Music can accommodate every kind of artist.
Unfortunately, it’s the songs themselves that sometimes don’t hit the right note. Those early lyrics were a combination of youthful innocence and innuendo. Rip It Up and Such A Night don’t seem right for a 73-year-old. And telling Little Susie to wake up because they’re in trouble deep hits a bum note.
But his voice is just the same and the recordings were made in Nashville with a terrific backing band. It’s great dance music and the songs are bound to tug at the memories of anyone of a certain age. Cliff’s legion of fans will love it; Maria did. Whoops, she’s swooned again.
