CHARTS LATEST is now on 'Hits totals' page. Welcome to the new-look extended 'Chat' page! Feb 8: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. Cliff opens this 6th show of the series with a tribute to the group 'The Archies' and a medley of their hits 'Tracy' and 'Sugar Sugar'. The Archies 'Sugar Sugar' was the 1969 number-one single of the year in the US where it spent four weeks at No.1 position during September and October. Cliff opened with this medley on his 'Cliff In Berlin' TV Special in June 1970 -a programme which thankfully survives to this day in the German archives. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Feb 8: Did you know?... that the 2 i's coffee bar in London's Old Compton Street, where Cliff played, is now the Boulevard and Dining Room and its basement is just a lobby area for the toilets. In the late 1950s, audiences crammed into the tiny room to watch acts like Cliff perform. "You'd never get away with it now, with today's health and safety rules," says Clem Cattini, drummer with The Tornados. "But it was incredible, fantastic." Feb 8: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The Cliff and The Shadows DVD remains at No.6 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today now selling for £7.98. Feb 8: It was 50 years ago... February 8th, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows play the Memorial Coliseum, Winston-Salem. North Carolina. Tony Meehan: "In the deep south, though, we came across the colour question, which created problems, as both our compere and our American road manager were black. We thought the two guys were great because they refused to let it upset them, and while he was in Norfolk, Virginia, Cliff announced that he'd never record in the States because the Musicians' Union wouldn't allow him to use his own group." Feb 8: In today's Daily Mail: ""Scientists have found a 'Peter Pan gene' that could explain why some people remain baby-faced while others become old before their time. Millions of Britons are blessed with DNA that makes them look up to eight years younger than their peers. The research - the first to definitively link genetic cjanges to ageing - could be why Cliff Richard and Paul McCartney look significantly younger than Mick Jagger, despite both being his senior. It could also pave the way for drugs that hold back the hands of time and keep hearts and brains healthy into old age." Colour photos of both Cliff and Mick in the article. Feb 8: From Penrith Press: John Rowles has climbed peaks many musicians try to ascend but he shows no sign of slowing down. He will continue this musical journey when he performs at Panthers on Saturday. Speaking with the Press from Auckland, Rowles said apart from the gig he is rapt about opening for Cliff Richard and The Shadows in New Zealand later this month. “I am opening for Cliff and The Shadows in New Plymouth,” he said. “We are friends from back in the late ‘60s, and Hank Marvin is my idol.” Rowles said he formed a band in the early 60s modelled on The Shadows. “It’s going to be great to work on the same stage again, as I did his TV special in London in the late ‘60s,” he said. Rowles’ big break came at 20 when he was discovered by Cliff Richard’s manager Peter Gormley. In 1967 Rowles went to England where he met producer Mike Leander and together they started planning his attack on the British market. His first release in England was If I Only Had Time/Now is the Hour in 1968 and it reached No.2 on the British charts, No. 6 in Australia and No. 1 in New Zealand. Feb 8: From Perth Now: Glenn Cordingley From: The Sunday Times. HEY'RE golden and they're oldies, but fans of Sir Cliff Richard were made to feel like the young ones on Saturday. Fifty years peeled away in a couple of hours as Sir Cliff, reunited with Bruce Welch, Brian Bennett and Perth's Hank Marvin, performed hit after hit -- songs from five decades charting the changing face of pop music. The Shadows and Sir Cliff, looking fit and tanned on his return to WA, will also pack out Burswood Dome this evening. An army of passionate fans snapped up every ticket available to catch their two concerts. Every seat was sold by September -- just days after they went on sale. The evening was also a special time for lead guitarist Hank Marvin, who lives in East Perth. The last time the group was together in Australia was in 1961. On the eve of last night's concert, Sir Cliff said: ``It's the final tour in this sort of format. ``We have seen The Young Ones for the very last time.' Cliff Richard and The Shadows dominated the British popular music scene in the late 1950s and early '60s, enjoying success together and apart. The Shadows toured regularly in the '70s and '80s and had Top 10 successes, often competing with Sir Cliff for the No.1 spot. Sir Cliff went on to worldwide success, scoring the most Top 10 and Top 20 hits in the UK singles chart. He remains the only UK artist to achieve a No.1 single in five consecutive decades. Fan: Totally fantastic concert. The sound was great - very loud but none of the horrible distortion you usually get, the drumming was top notch. They were all brilliant and it would be great if the shadows released an album with all their hits played as they are currently played. Cliff, Hank, Brian and Bruce all total legends! -Go Go girl of Perth: It was good all over except when Cliff, Hank and Bruce was on the acoustic guitar and sang. There was that awful echo sound coming from the mic. I can see that Cliff was a bit annoyed but kept on singing. Hopefully the other venue does not have this problem. Valery Seeber of Beverley: Went and saw them on Saturday Night they were great - the only thing that spoilt it at one time, were two people in front of me talking during the Shadows first session - how ignorant can people get - when I asked politely to stop talking they just laughed - however I they must have taken the hint ask they didn't chat any more!! Maz: A few of us went to the Burswood Dome last night (Sunday) to see this concert. It was absolutely fantastic and well worth the money that we paid. I cannot believe that Sir Cliff still has so much energy for his age. He looks terrific. Sir Cliff and the band members looked like they were having such a great time. Congratulations on such a great show. (I noticed that song was not sung though). All the best for the rest of the tour. Maestro of Burswood Amazing, thanks for the show. - You just can't beat great old time rock and roll. Feb 8: The new 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 17 to No.19 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1). Feb 7: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. Here are the full contents to the show: It's Cliff Richard Show Six. Saturday 7th February 1970 6.15 -6.50pm. Guests: John Rowles & Mary Hopkin. 1.The Joy of Living (Opening Introduction). 2.Tracy / Sugar Sugar (Cliff, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 3.The Minute You’re Gone (Cliff, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 4.Introductions/Hankovision Song No.4 (Cliff, Hank & Una). 5.Classical Gas (Hank Marvin & BBC Orchestra). 6.Cliff’s 'Whose Footprint?' Sketch (Cliff, Hank & Una). 7.Save The Last Dance For Me (Guest John Rowles and BBC Orchestra). 8.Comedy Chat (Cliff, Hank, John Rowles & Una). 9.Country Medley (Cliff, Hank & John Rowles). 10.Footprints Comedy Sketch (Cliff, Hank & Una). 11.Song for Europe No.3 I'm Gonna Fall in Love Again (Mary Hopkin and BBC Orchestra). 12.Farewells/The Joy of Living (Cliff, Hank, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Feb 7: Music DVD/Video chart Chat. The music DVD chart run for the latest Cliff and Shadows The Final Reunion DVD to date: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 5, 4 and 6. (13 weeks on the chart). Feb 7: Music DVD chart - Cliff & Shads No.6. Cliff and the Shadows The Final Reunion goes from 4 to No.6 in this week's music DVD chart. Here is the Top 10: 1.(1)Take That. 2.(2)Various artists. 3.(3)Michael Jackson. 4.(6)Anvil. 5.(5)Susan Boyle. 6.(4)CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS. 7.(7)Dream cast Les Miserables in concert. 8.(9)Pink. 9.(10)Jonas Brothers. 10.(8)The Killers. Feb 7: Cliff & The Shadows Australia/New Zealand tour. Photo's of the concert yesterday in Burswood Dome, Perth can be found by clicking on: www.orangecountyregister Feb 7: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 76.Rare B-sides 1963-1989 selling for £3.98 and 95. 50th anniversary album selling for £6.48. www.amazon.co.uk Feb 7: "My life, My way" CD-ROM. A CD-ROM of Cliff's chart-topping book My life, My way is to be released shortly on Amazon. You can pre-order for £39.50 with free delivery in the UK. www.amazon.co.uk Feb 7: It was 50 years ago... February 7th, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows play The Mosque, Richmond, Virginia. Tony Meehan: "We were soon chatting with them (co-stars) like they were old friends - it was great! The journey to Canada was long overnight haul, but well worth it when we saw the Forum, the ice hockey stadium, with 7,000 people packed into it - I reckon they were packed tighter than the ice! By the time we were due to go on I'd got through my third packet of cigarettes in four hours, but all the nerves went as were tore into "Forty days" as an opener. The crowd reaction was amazing considering we were complete unknowns to them, they nearly brought the stadium down." Feb 7: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 26 to No.27 in the Australian Top 40 music DVD chart this week. (11 weeks on the chart). Feb 7: Cliff & The Shadows Australia/New Zealand tour. Concert snippets of the first night at the Burswood Dome can be found by scrolling down on 'Chart Hits Totals' page. Feb 6: "50 years ago after Cliff (and the Drifters) left the USA top 100 with "Living Doll", the next UK hitster was to reach the American top 100 was none other than one of the other "Oh Boy" tv show stars- Marty Wilde with his song "Bad Boy" .. was "Oh Boy" broadcast in America? With Cliff's 50s recordings passing out of copyright now, I was hoping that EMI would put more of his early stuff out themselves- we got an excellent early rock'n'roll cd on his recent box set with plenty of unreleased number / takes but nothing further .. there must be some more unreleased stuff out there so why aren't EMI releasing it?? Love the site William and as always looking forward to the next Cliff releases. Cheers" - David Burrows. Feb 6: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. 40 years ago today the 6th show in the 13-part series 'It's Cliff Richard' was broadcast. Pre-recorded in colour before a live audience at BBC’s Wood Green Theatre on the Thursday evening of 5th February 1970, Cliff opens with a medley of “Tracy/ Sugar, Sugar” and his 1965 number one hit “The Minute You’re Gone”. Hank Marvin performs “Classical Gas” and special guest John Rowles joins Cliff and Hank in a country medley of “Flowers On The Wall / He’ll Have To Go/ Hey Good Lookin”. Cliff promotes his brand new 49th single release – “The Joy Of Living” and closes the show with it instead of the usual “Visions.” More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Feb 6: 'Not so Young Ones emerge from Shadows' Simon Collins, music editor, The West Australian. Dressed in khaki tank-top and shorts backstage at the Burswood Dome yesterday, perennial bachelor boy Sir Cliff Richard looked relaxed, tanned and lean. The 69-year-old pop superstar is not here for a summer holiday; Cliff and the Shadows are in Perth to kick off their 14-date Australasian tour with concerts at the Dome tomorrow and Sunday. The farewell visit celebrates more than half a century together and a back catalogue boasting 19 British number ones, such as Living Doll, The Young Ones, Bachelor Boy, Summer Holiday and the surf guitar instrumental Apache. The shows will be the first in Australia since 1961 for Cliff and the Shadows; guitarist Bruce Welch, drummer Brian Bennett and guitar legend Hank Marvin, who has lived in Perth for 24 years. "It's a special thing," Marvin said yesterday. "Not many people in this business get to 50 years and are still going strong." When Cliff announced in 2008 that he would team with his original band for a "farewell reunion" tour, he harboured doubts whether he and the Shadows could recapture vintage form. "But within the first few hours of that first rehearsal I felt that we had become a unit again, and that made it exciting," he said, surrounded by his bandmates. "Hank's on my left, Brian's behind me and Bruce is on my right - nothing's changed. It felt like 1958 again." The tour has been a big hit in Britain and Europe. But they're no longer the young ones, as Bennett - who turns 70 on Tuesday - discovered recently. "A lot of children were going on holiday with their parents and they were all singing Summer Holiday," he recalled. "I sidled over and said 'I wrote that' and the dad said 'Go away'." Feb 6: Cliff & The Shadows Australia/New Zealand tour. Cliff and The Shadows commence their Australia/New Zealand Reunion tour today with the first of two concerts at the Burswood Dome, Australia. Feb 6: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The Cliff and The Shadows DVD has gone from 3 to No.6 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today now selling for £7.98. Feb 6: It was 50 years ago... February 6th, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows play the Municipal Auditorium, Virginia. Cliff: "While I was out in the States, I was told by Colonel Parker, Elvis's dynamic manager, that President Eisenhower was a member of the Elvis Fan Club. Now I've got a real live Prince - yes, honest - Prince Farook Ahamat of Columbia, Ceylon, is a fully paid up member and I'm extremely proud and happy that my music has got out there and is liked so much - after all Ceylon is to India what the Isle of Wight is to Britain. But I can't claim a Prime Minister yet, so I suppose Elvis has the edge on me there." Feb 6: A repeat screening of An Audience With Cliff Richard on Wednesday, February 10th on ITV3, 7.55pm - 9.00pm and again at 8.55pm on Wednesday, February 10th on ITV3 Plus 1. An evening in the company of a star-studded audience and the musical legend Cliff Richard. Featuring contributions from Another Level, Elaine Paige, Vincenza La Scola, Chicken Shed and the Capital Voice Choir. Feb 6: Cliff's Lies and kisses from his "Take four" EP was played on Brian Matthews "Sounds of the Sixties" show today on BBC Radio 2. Feb 5: A repeat screening of When Piers Met Sir Cliff on Wednesday, February 10th on ITV3, 9.00pm - 10.00pm and 10.00pm on Wednesday, February 10th showing on ITV3 Plus 1. As Sir Cliff Richard celebrates his fiftieth year in the music business, he talks to Piers Morgan about his long and successful career. Piers travels to meet Britain's must enduring pop star at his luxurious Barbados home. In this revealing interview, Sir Cliff talks about religion, plastic surgery, his sexuality and marriage, as well as challenging Piers to a match on the tennis court. They also take a trip back to Cliff's old childhood home in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire where he lived as a teenage pop star. Feb 5: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 6 to No.7 in the Netherlands music DVD chart this week. (12 weeks on the chart). Feb 5: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. Cliff opened all 13 shows of the first series of 'Its Cliff Richard' with an abridged 37-second version of his new hit single release 'The Joy Of Living'. Aerial shots of Cliff driving a small red open-top beach buggy across Saunton Sands in Devon at high speed and performing a series of skids on the sand, accompanied the opening soundtrack. The footage was shot from a helicopter flown by the 22 Squadron at the R.A.F Base in Chivenor, Devon. 'It's Cliff Richard' was probably the first BBC variety series to be broadcast in colour. Until December 1969 nearly all programmes had been filmed and broadcast in black and white. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Feb 5: Did you know?... that Darren Day revealed that Cliff helped him through problems in his personal life. The 'I'm a celebrity' star publicly thanked Cliff for giving him advise when he was suffering from a drug addiction. Day has now claimed that he is back on the straight and narrow and is determined to stay clean for his wife Stephanie. Feb 5: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 1 to No.6 in the Belgium music DVD chart this week. (12 weeks on the chart). Feb 5: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 3 to No.6 in the Sweden music DVD chart this week. (12 weeks on the chart). Feb 5: Cliff: (on his fans) "They're an extremely loyal group. I don't expect fans to behave the way they do all the time! This is not unique to me, but I've become a hobby almost to them. They all come and see anything that I might do - if I'm going to speak somewhere or have a photograph taken. They're a specail breed and they're the real Cliffhangers. But, of course, one relies on the everyday people who just simply like your music, for whom you may not be a hobby but they enjoy being in your presence at a concert." Feb 5: "North Norfolk radio played "We don't talk anymore" on its lunch time program today. Tony Rivers, Cliifs ex backing singer, is also listed as being in the Cliff and Shadows tribute show in Hunstanton" - Andrew Price. Feb 5: "Just imagine! - Ozzy Osbourne performing Cliff's "Living doll" !! Wonder what that sounded like!" - Richard Bowles. Feb 5: It was 50 years ago... February 5th, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows play the Sports Arena, Hershey, Pennsylvania. Cliff: "Whatever the future holds for me and I hope one day to go back to America, I'd love to make a film out in Hollywood, I shall always come home to Britain. I've seen enough of the world to know there's no place like it and no people as kind or as full of fun. The nearest to it as far as audiences are concerned was Toronto in Canada. When we did the Frankie Avalon touring show there, it was just like being home. I guess the Canadians were pretty happy to have an English boy out there and really showed us how proud they are of the Old Country. We had a ball and I'd like to go back sometime and spend more time with them." Feb 5: Music industry news. EMI has revealed a loss of £1.75bn for the year to March 31 2009. The major’s accounts are currently with Companies House and are set to be published today. It is believed they will include £1bn in write offs. However, EMI says on its website that it is not appropriate to publish an annual review of [EMI acquisition vehicle] Maltby Capital for the 2009 financial year. It adds, “As already announced, EMI Music (the recorded music division) delivered a strong operational turnaround with EBITDA increasing from £51 million to £163 million for the year ended 31 March 2009. “EMI Music Publishing, the leading publisher of popular music, continued to deliver strong performance with EBITDA increasing from £113 million to £135 million for the year ended 31 March 2009". Feb 5: New shows of Me and my Shadows The number one Cliff Richard and The Shadows tribute show. Starring Kytsun Wolfe as "Cliff Richard", Billie Davis and the top-rated Shadows tribute band The Rapiers as The Shadows. Sunday, March 7th-Princes Theatre, Hunstanton, Norfolk 01485-532252, Wednesday, April 7th-Millfield Theatre, Edmonton, north London 0208-807 6680 and Saturday, October 9th-Thameside Theatre, Grays, Essex 0845-3005264. Feb 5: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes back up from 2 to No.1 in the Denmark music DVD chart this week. (12 weeks on the chart, 11 at No.1). Feb 4: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. The finale to this sole surviving show (31st January 1970) features a lively 7-minute rock and roll medley performed by Cliff and The Shadows. Songs in the medley are 'The Girl Can’t Help It/ Great Balls of Fire/ Lucille/ Jailhouse Rock/ Rock 'n' Roll Music/ Do You Want To Dance'. The girls from the Corona Dance School join Cliff on stage for some spirited and enthusiastic choreography. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Feb 4: "Go to www.cliffrichardshadows.com for some exclusive behind the scenes photo's and information live from the Burswood Dome" - Mark New (Australia). Feb 4: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The Cliff and The Shadows DVD has gone back up from 6 to No.3 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today now selling for £7.98. Feb 4: Cliff: "It's wrong to generalize but I have found that most journalists have agendas and we'll never be able to stop that. When the press sometimes gets the facts together they can swing it around to their own story and nobody gets the real truth. It's a little bit frustrating but it doesn't really matter." Feb 4: On Sunday, April 11th, Raymond Froggatt, who wrote Cliff's 1969 hit Big ship, Are you only fooling me from Cliff's "Tracks'n'grooves" album, The singer from "The 31st of February Street" album and The old accordian B-side of "A brand new song" single, appears at The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire at 7.30pm. Tickets £18.50 (£15.50 concs). Tel. 01684-295074. Feb 4: It was 50 years ago... February 4th, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows play The Mosque, New Jersey. Cliff: "The trouble was that I never saw anyone from my record company (ABC/Paramount) in the whole six weeks. They should have been there. My career in America is littered with lost opportunities." Feb 4: "Just a note to say the boys are rehearsing hard and are just about ready for the Perth concert. They will be on Today Tonight tomorrow and in the West Australian Newspaper" - Mark New (Australia). Feb 4: From Houston Press: 'Get Lit: I Am Ozzy' by John Michael Osbourne By Craig Hlavaty. "After nearly a half-century in the music business, in which he helped birth heavy metal and goth-rock, Ozzy Osbourne takes his first ever crack at looking back at the past 62 years of his life for all of us to read. The charm of reading I Am Ozzy is that the language is so beautifully Ozzy and you can hear his voice clear as a bell in your head. It's as if a tape recorder was merely put in front of him. No punches are pulled, just as he always concedes his own wrongdoings and regrets. Ozzy traces his musical beginnings to performing Cliff Richard's "Living Doll" in front of his family in the mid-'50s. After that, he became hooked on rock and roll and performing." Feb 3: Did you know?... that when Ian Samwell died in March 2003, one obituary writer commented: "Without him, Cliff Richard might still be Harry Webb, retired clerk." Feb 3: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. One of the more unusual ballads performed by Cliff in this surviving 31st January 1970 show is 'Hey Girl'. Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, it was a No.10 hit for Freddie Scott in the U.S. back in 1963. Donny Osmond also recorded his version which entered the American Billboard charts in 1972. Although Cliff's performance is live, mute location film footage of Cliff rowing a boat across a still lake on a summer's day was edited into the final cut. The series boasted many such film inserts, set in various scenic locations, which were used to visually spice up Cliff's ballads and Hank's solo performances. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Feb 3: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 10 to No.9 in the Norway music DVD chart this week. (10 weeks on the chart). Feb 3: Music industry news. Sales of iPhones increased by 100% to 8.7m units in the final quarter of 2009. Feb 3: Did you know?... that Cliff's favourite sports personality is Andre Agassi. "Win or lose you know you'll get a great game, and he is a real sportsman." Feb 3: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 58.Reunion selling for £8.98. www.amazon.co.uk Feb 3: It was 50 years ago... February 3rd, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows play the Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Cliff: "I remember there was a big black tour manager and he would get on the coach and say, "Well, I think we should all give a big hand to our friends from England," and they would all applaud us. It was fantastic and I thought we were really going to make it." Feb 3: "Just a reminder of our competition to win one of 5 Cliff & The Shads posters. We have 4 in so far and need more so come and get involved for some fun. Simply take a photo of the DVD or CD and email it to me to appear on the web site. I have extended the time for entries so you all get a little longer to take those photos. For the 4 in so far check out www.cliffrichardshadows.com to see what people are doing with their photos and see if you can do as good a job as they have" - Mark New (Australia). Feb 3: Up-coming gigs for Cliff look/soundalike Ricky Aron: Saturday, February 6th-The Blake Theatre, Monmouth, South Wales, Tel.01600-719-401, Friday, February 12th-St.Johnstones Parish Centre, Ainsdale, Merseyside, Friday, February 26th-Smokey O'Connors, Morecambe, Lancaster and Saturday, February 27th-Rosegrove Unity, Burnley, Lancashire. Feb 2: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. Clips from this sole surviving show (31st January 1970) can be found on YouTube. In one of the most popular clips, Cliff dressed in black trousers and bright yellow shirt with matching cravat, performs 'Move It', flanked by the Shadows made up of Hank Marvin on lead guitar, John Rostill on bass, Brian Bennett on drums and Alan Hawkshaw on piano. Bruce Welch (the Shadows rhythm guitarist) did not appear. Cliff's animated performance is enhanced by the lively choreography from a dozen teenage girls in red mini-skirts from the 'Corona Stage School'. They appeared throughout the 13-part series backing Cliff, but they also featured solo - dancing with Una on some of Hank Marvin's instrumentals. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Feb 2: 'Peter Pan of pop a sell-out in Durban' By Billy Suter. Greater demand for tickets in Cape Town for Elton John may have led to the cancellation of the star's planned Durban concert in March, but people in KwaZulu-Natal's favourite city have shown that they are capable of scrambling for tickets for a top recording act. Proof? The March 6 concert by the Peter Pan of pop, Cliff Richard, who will perform alongside The Shadows at the Durban Arena, at the International Convention Centre, has sold out. "Ticket sales have been phenomenal as it will be the last time for fans to watch Cliff Richard and the Shadows performing together," says a tour spokesman. Cliff and The Shadows (Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch and Brian Bennett) dominated the British popular music scene in the late 1950s and early 1960s, enjoying both solo and joint success. Between them they achieved 19 No 1 hits, including Living Doll, Bachelor Boy, Summer Holiday, The Young Ones, Apache and Wonderful Land. They appeared together in the popular movies Summer Holiday and The Young Ones, from which came platinum sales and chart-topping singles and albums. The 2009/2010 Cliff and The Shadows Final Reunion World Tour began in the UK in September and Durban will be the first stop for the South African leg. Other concerts are to be held on March 9 (at Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town), March 13 (the Sun City Superbowl) and March 14 (the Coca-Cola Dome in Joburg). The tour, which has been arranged by Big Concerts, is supported by East Coast Radio, 567 Cape Talk and Talk Radio 702. "East Coast Radio is very proud to have sold out the Durban performance of Cliff Richard. He is an artist that our listeners have grown up listening to and we are now looking forward to giving them the opportunity to see him live," said the station's programme manager, Naveen Singh. Feb 2: Wellington, NZPA: John Rowles has been announced as the support act for Cliff Richard and The Shadows when they play in New Plymouth next month. Rowles, best known for his singles "Cheryl Moana Marie" and "If I Only Had Time", would perform at the Bowl of Brooklands on February 27. The concert is one of four shows for Richard and The Shadows as part of their Final Reunion tour, celebrating 50 years since their first record together. It will be the first time Richard and The Shadows have played together in New Zealand since 1961. Cliff Richard and The Shadows will also play at Auckland's Vector Arena on February 25, and two shows at Christchurch's Westpac Arena on March 1 and 2. Feb 2: Cliff: "I don't know just why I'm a success. I daren't stop to ask myself why, and if I did I would probably get the wrong answer. I just accept it gratefully and don't wonder. You can only carry on giving them what they seem to want and somehow avoid getting into a rut." Feb 2: Up-coming gigs for top Shadows tribute band The Rapiers: Saturday, February 6th-Warners Littlecote House Hotel, Hungerford, Berkshire, Tel. 01488-682509, Thursday, March 4th-"Made in Britain" show with Craig Douglas, Michael "Billy Fury" King and Steven "Cliff Richard" Halliday, Winding Wheel Theatre, Cherterfield, Derbyshire, Tel. 01246-345334, Saturday, March 6th-with Jet Harris, Thameside Theatre, Grays, Essex, Tel. 0845-3005264 and Sunday, March 7th-"Me and my Shadows" show starring Kytsun "Cliff Richard" Wolfe and Billie Davis, Princes Theatre, Hunstantion, Norfolk, Tel. 01485-532252. Feb 2: It was 50 years ago... February 2nd, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows first American tour they play the Armoury, Kentucky. Cliff: "No one could follow us after we had finished. The crowd were still screaming for more. It was difficult for the next act to go on. That happened right from the first show." Feb 2: "Just a note to say Cliff has been given a letter today from myself and our website www.cliffrichardshadows.com welcoming him to Perth and explaining what is happening at the BBQ Saturday and information on the web site. His office are already fully aware of the site and BBQ and have wished us all a great day, but in case Cliff didn't know about it he does now. Just a reminder that the first show is the biggest croud ever in Burswood dome and Burswood has a recorded message on their phones warning people of the high volume of traffic. If you intend on driving it may be wise to park at the Dome in the morning and catch a train in to ensure you get a car park" - Mark New (Australia). Feb 2: "I love reading your Cliff website every day. There is no other like it. Thanks also to Paul Rumbol for his detailed information on Cliff's 70's tv series" - Daniel Russell. Feb 2: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 2 to No.1 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. (8 weeks on the chart). Feb 1: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. This week's show from 31st January 1970 is the only one out of 39 episodes of It's Cliff Richard (1970 -1972) to have escaped the mass-wiping policy of the BBC. Only token copies were kept of many music and variety TV series, and they probably plumped for this particular edition because it featured 'The Shadows' as Cliff's special guests. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Feb 1: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is at No.6 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £9.48. Feb 1: Cliff: "My only worry is over my knees. Not that there is anything wrong with them, but it would be awful if they started to creak and stiffen and I couldn't dance any more. I'm certain it won't happen, but it's always something to think about, so I really do take good care of them. I simlpy love to go on stage and perform and dance around." Feb 1: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - March. Due for release in March this contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage and photographs from private collections. Can be pre-ordered from Amazon. RRP: £15.99. Amazon price: £9.98. www.amazon.co.uk Feb 1: On Saturday, July 31st, Shadows tribute band The Bootleg Shadows play The Playhouse Theatre, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, Tel. Box Office 01934-64-55-44. Feb 1: It was 50 years ago... February 1st, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows first American tour they play the Coliseum, Indiana. In an intense five weeks with barely a single day off, one town seemed to merge into the next, with little chance to sightsee. At least Cliff and The Shadows could tick off visits to cities that they knew to be hometowns of their idols: Norfolk, Virginia, where Gene Vincent had his roots; Kentucky, from where The Everly Brothers originated; Memphis, where Elvis lived; Lubbock, the Texas town forever associated musically with Buddy Holly. Feb 1: The new 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 18 to No.17 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1). Feb 1: Cliff Chart Site has had a total of 31,498,220 successful hits (upto January 31st 2010) since the website started back in 2002. Feb 1: Music industry news. Radio 1 is to air a weekly programme based on the Official Charts Company’s midweek sales flashes from March, in what has been described as “the biggest change to the charts in almost 60 years” by the OCC. From March 10 a programme entitled The Official Chart Update will go out on the Greg James show between 3.30pm and 4pm every Wednesday using information drawn from midweek sales flashes for singles and albums. Feb 1: In January this website had 464,485 successful hits. This is the 2nd highest monthly figure for January since the website started in 2002. It is the 19th highest monthly figure. A huge and sincere THANK YOU for your continued support. Jan 31: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. It's Cliff Richard Show Five. Saturday 31st January 1970. 6.15 -6.50pm. Guests: The Shadows & Mary Hopkin. Here are the full contents to the show: 1.The Joy of Living (Opening Introduction). 2.Move It ! (Cliff & The Shadows). 3.Introductions/Historical sketches (Cliff, Hank & Una). 4.Wonderful Land (Shadows). 5.Pet Hates sketch/Barber sketch (Cliff, Hank & Una). 6.Hey Girl (Cliff, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 7.Dancing Styles Sketch (Cliff, Hank & Una). 8.Foot Tapper (Cliff & Una Dance backed by The Shadows). 9.Hankovision Song No.3 (Cliff, Hank & Una). 10.Song for Europe No.2-Early in the Morning of your Life (Mary Hopkin). 11.Rock ‘n’ Roll Medley (Cliff & The Shadows). 12.Farewells/Do You Want To Dance -Reprise (Cliff & The Shadows). More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 31: Music DVD/Video chart Chat. The music DVD chart run for the latest Cliff and Shadows The Final Reunion DVD to date: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 5 and 4. (12 weeks on the chart). Jan 31: Music DVD chart - Cliff & Shads No.4. Cliff and the Shadows The Final Reunion goes from 5 to No.4 in this week's music DVD chart. Here is the Top 10: 1.(2)Take That. 2.(1)Various artists. 3.(3)Michael Jackson. 4.(5)CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS. 5.(4)Susan Boyle. 6.(6)Anvil. 7.(8)Dream cast Les Miserables in concert. 8.(10)The Killers. 9.(7)Pink. 10.(-)Jonas Brothers. Jan 31: Did you see?... Raul D'Oliveira, who played on Cliff's The Hit List tour, playing trumpet on Songs of Praise on BBC1-TV today from Peterborough's Kingsgate Community Church. Jan 31: There is a Cliff photo in today's People Puzzles supplement (this week's theme: Music) in "The People" newspaper today in the 'Guess who?' quiz, alongside: Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury and Jon Bon Jovi. Jan 31: Simon Goodall's single Bluebird Cafe/Someone Else is available for down load on www.amazon.co.uk ... You can purchase individual tracks or the single. Type in Simon Goodall Bluebird Cafe and it will take straight to the tracks to buy. You can also visit Simon's website: www.soundslikecliff.com Jan 31: Cliff: "The best mail I've received is from men who were dragged along to my concert and now say 'you're quite good' which is great for someone who's seen himself presented in the press as a wishy-washy Christian who really doesn't know how to do rock'n'roll. So 'quite good' will do." Jan 31: "Interesting aside concerning Alfred Marks and Cliff. Alfred starred in the film FRIGHTENED CITY (along with a young Sean Connery) from which of course the Shadows had a top ten hit with the theme written by Norrie Paramor" - John Patrick. Jan 31: "The DVD has become platinum status in Australia which means more than 15,000 untis sold !!!!!! Well done, Cliff & Shads !!!!" - Bernard Vandendreissche (Belgium). Jan 31: Cliff on Youtube singing on "Saturday Spectacular". You can view Cliff on the Saturday Spectacular 1960, introduced by Alfred Marks, singing Le Pierre and Move it on: www.youtube/user/Cliffsings1 Jan 31: It was 50 years ago... January 31st, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows first American tour they play the Olympia Stadium, Michigan. In between taking naps or eating, hour after monotonous hour on the road travelling through the night meant there was plenty of time for Cliff to chat to the other artistes, to swap stories, talk music and forge friendships. But he couldn't help noticing that the more the American audiences took a shine to him at the concerts, the less friendly the established stars of the show appeared to be towards him. Jan 31: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD is at No.26 in the Australian Top 40 music DVD chart this week. (10 weeks on the chart). Jan 30: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. 40 years ago today the 5th show in the 13-part series 'It's Cliff Richard' was broadcast. THIS IS THE ONLY SHOW (OF 39 EPISODES PRODUCED BETWEEN 1970-1972) WHICH SURVIVES IN BBC'S ARCHIVES. Pre-recorded in colour before a live audience at BBC’s Wood Green Theatre on the Thursday evening of 29th January 1970, Cliff and his special guests The Shadows perform an exuberant version of their first hit 'Move It' and close the show with a rousing rock ‘n’ roll medley. The Shadows perform in their own right on the 1962 million-seller 'Wonderful Land'. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 30: Sir Tim Rice: "I couldn't think of another artist who can parallel Cliff in the industry. To be at the top for 50 years is unheard of, but to be so down to earth with it is to his credit. With Cliff, what you see is what you get." Jan 30: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 38.Reunion selling for £8.98 and 50.Rare B-Sides 1963-1989 selling for 3.98. www.amazon.co.uk Jan 30: "Thanks to Via Vision Entertainment we have 5 Cliff posters to give away. For information on how to win simply go to www.cliffrichardshadows.com" - Mark New (Australia). Jan 30: Cliff: (on gardening) "Then when I bought a house with one and a half acres, I found myself more interested and I also discovered it was therapeutic. I would come back from a hectic tour, pull on T-shirts and shorts and head out into the garden, then I would be walking around, spot a gap and say 'a geranium would look nice in there' - then it would be off to the garden centre to get one." Jan 30: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 5 to No.6 in the Netherlands music DVD chart this week. (11 weeks on the chart). Jan 30: It was 50 years ago... January 30th, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows first American tour tour they play the North Syde Gym, Elkhart, Indiana. The Greyhound coach transporting them all was at least very different from the Green Line bus Cliff had become accustomed to boarding to gigs from his Cheshunt home in his early days. Now there was air-conditioning and better upholstered, comfortable seats that reclined. There was even a lavatory at the back of the coach to avoid stop-offs, which could steal precious minutes from what was a tight venue-to-venue schedule. Jan 29: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. In a humorous sketch from this 4th show of the series (24th January 1970) Cliff and Hank argue over who's going to star as Rudolph Valentino in this week's play 'The Sheik'. Hank is already in full-costume when he arrives late at the studio sporting a full length robe, beard and a 3 foot high turban: "Sorry I'm late but none of the buses would stop for me at Golders Green". Cliff insists that 'He' should play the sheik. "The role requires someone romantic, handsome and dashing. Plus I've gone to a great deal of personal expense. These robes were made for me in Morocco", boasts Cliff. "Oh mine's a Maxi from Marks and Sparks" retorts Hank. Cliff attempts a compromise."I've got a great idea! Why don't you play the beautiful girl? (laughter). All you need is a wig... a big sheet.. plastic surgery!" ."Alright, alright", snaps Hank looking increasingly disgruntled. "If thats how the beef cube crumbles, you play the Sheik! After all its your show. I mean you only gave me this job because you were fed up with all the begging letters." More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 29: "I'm really proud Cliff & The Shads finally made it to top of the music dvd charts in Belgium !!" - Bernard Vandendreissche (Belgium). Jan 29: Cliff: (on gardening) "I'm not sure where my love of gardening comes from - my mum used to do it when I was a child. Even when I bought a house of my own, I wasn't that interested. Gardening came into my life really quite late, when I moved to St.George's Hill in Surrey. The first house I had came with 11 acres, so you couldn't really call it a garden, it was more like grounds." More to come! Jan 29: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 2 up to No.1 in the Belgium music DVD chart this week. (11 weeks on the chart). Jan 29: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 1 to No.2 in the Denmark music DVD chart this week. (11 weeks on the chart, 10 at No.1). Jan 29: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 2 to No.3 in the Sweden music DVD chart this week. (11 weeks on the chart). Jan 29: A repeat screening of When Piers Met Sir Cliff on Wednesday, February 10th on ITV3, 21.00 - 22.00 and 22.00 on Wednesday, February 10th showing on ITV3 Plus 1. As Sir Cliff Richard celebrates his fiftieth year in the music business, he talks to Piers Morgan about his long and successful career. Piers travels to meet Britain's must enduring pop star at his luxurious Barbados home. In this revealing interview, Sir Cliff talks about religion, plastic surgery, his sexuality and marriage, as well as challenging Piers to a match on the tennis court. They also take a trip back to Cliff's old childhood home in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire where he lived as a teenage pop star. Jan 29: It was 50 years ago... January 29th, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows first American tour tour they play the Stanbaugh Auditorium, Youngstown, Ohio. Cliff would settle into a (bus) seat with all the other singers and musicians to be driven sometimes five hundred miles through the night to the next arena. They all essentially lived on the coach, and fifteen more or less continuous hours on the road was not uncommon. They would arrive at their hotel and sink thankfully into bed to sleep before being woken in time to eat and prepare for the next show. Jan 29: A repeat screening of An Audience With Cliff Richard on Wednesday, February 10th on ITV3, 19.55 - 21.00 and again at 20.55 on Wednesday, February 10th on ITV3 Plus 1. An evening in the company of a star-studded audience and the musical legend Cliff Richard. Featuring contributions from Another Level, Elaine Paige, Vincenza La Scola, Chicken Shed and the Capital Voice Choir. Jan 29: "On a visit in Cornwall this week, the trouble and strife dragged me round Poundstrecher in Camborne High Street and on a stand near the tills in the middle I found a box full of unofficial Cliff calendars for the amazing price of 69p. For some reason its a 16 month calendar Sept 2009 - Dec 2010, 16 photos from the 60's to the noughties" - Dave Davies. Jan 29: "A week to go isnt it exciting!!!! Cliffs office have kindly arranged a thankyou letter for Jon and all at 6PR for their support of Cliff and the air time he has given me on air, so something nice from his office and great to know they also tune into the show to hear whats going on. Jon and I had organised for me to be on air last night but due to the website failing we have postponed it til his next show, on the show we will be discussing the tour, tickets for the second show, Cliff's Jazz album due out later this year, a VINAL release from Cliff out in Feb 2010 and of course the web site. We will end the last push for tickets with Cliff & The Shads singing Cmon Everybody with a snippett from the wanted DVD perth section at the beginning. As for the BBQ (and 2 days early birthday BBQ lol) it looks like (Fingers crossed) that this heat wave may settle for the day and give us a nice day of weather here lets hops so, Anyone wishing to change at the BBQ and go to the concert direct are welcome to and we will have 2 private bathrooms for you to freshen up. The marquet has arrived, the chairs and tables get delivered this week, the drinks are on ice and the food picked up this coming week so it's just the case of mowing the lawn, and tidy the garden, blow up the balloons and hang the streamers and then we are ready to go for what will hopefully be a nice relaxing day before the show. Anyways thats the end of the update, the site will be back online anytime soon" - Mark New (Australia). Jan 29: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD re-enters at No.10 in the Norway music DVD chart this week. (9 weeks on the chart). Jan 28: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. In this 4th show of the series (24th January 1970) Cliff sings the 1967 Tim Hardin composition 'The Lady Came From Baltimore' accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. The ballad tells the story of a con man intent on stealing the rings and money of a rich woman but ends up falling in love with her instead. It was most famously recorded by both Joan Baez and Johnny Cash. This song was a favourite in Cliff's live act during the late 1960's and he performed it on at least three other TV shows -'Cliff at the Talk Of The Town' broadcast on BBC2 on 28th June 1968 (sadly wiped) and on 'Cliff In Berlin' and 'Cliff in Skansen' -two live concerts recorded in Germany and Sweden during June and July 1970. Fortunately both these shows still survives on film today. As can be seen, many foreign TV companies treated their old archives with a great deal more care and respect than those in Britain! More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 28: "Just a note to let you know that Cliff & The Shads will do 2 days of rehearsals in the Burswood Dome, these being and confirmed the 4th and 5th Feb. I have been told that the rehearsals are same as last time at the Dome meaning, late morning few hours break in the afternoon and another rehearsal so best time for Cliff spotting is at 10am-2pm" - Mark New (Australia). Jan 28: Cliff: (talking about tennis) "I didn't start playing until I was 40 and most players have retired at 28. I'm a much better practise player than a competition player. I'm not very good with pressure. And I get terrified when people I don't know well ask to play me. I think to myself, I know what he wants to do. he just wants to be able to tell his friends he thrashed Cliff Richard. And I don't like that. Because I just play tennis to enjoy it." Jan 28: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The Cliff and The Shadows DVD remains at No.5 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £12.98. Jan 28: It was 50 years ago... January 28th, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows first American tour tour they play the Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, Ohio. Cliff and The Shadows quickly accepted that life on the road meant they would not see nearly as much of America as they had hoped. The police in each city were anxious to avoid any possibility of rock'n'roll riots, so at the end of each show all the artistes were immediately escorted at speed from the venue to their Greyhound coach, waiting with its engine running, ready to make a quick getaway. Jan 28: Music industry news. After all the speculation and pre-hype, Apple last night finally unveiled its iPad. The touchscreen tablet device will ship to retail in 60 days and is primarily positioned as an e-reader. As expected, it has already been described by tech bloggers as a “Kindle killer”. In look and feel, it comes over like a large iPhone or iPod Touch. It also has many of the same features integrated, most notably the fact that “almost all” 140,000 apps on the Apple App Store will work straight away on the device without modification. Of course, iTunes is part of the software package, but the launch did not focus on music at all, preferring instead to look at how it runs games, imaging, text and websites. Jan 28: Virgin Media have ten pictures and reasons why we love Cliff: www.virginmedia.com/music/features/ why-we-love-cliff-richard.php Jan 27: "Cliff Rocks" vinyl LP - February. A new Cliff vinyl LP Cliff Rocks due for release in early February. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary, we are going back to the original format of vinyl. This imported LP has digitally remastered tracks as follows: Side A: Move It *(No.2 1958), High Class Baby * (No.7 1958), My Feet Hit The Ground, Livin’ Lovin’ Doll *(No.20 1959), Mean Streak *(No.10 1959), Never Mind *No.21 1959), Living Doll * (No.1 1959), Dynamite * (No.16 1959), Twenty Flight Rock, The Snake and The Bookworm, Mean Woman Blues, Blue Suede Shoes. Side B(live): Apron Strings, My Babe, Down the Line, I Got A Feeling, Baby I Don’t Care, Move It, Ready Teddy, Too Much, Don’t Bug Me Baby, That’ll Be The Day, Danny, Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On. (*) Top position in the UK singles charts. Available for £15.99 (plus post and packing) from the excellent Leo's Den (Links page). Jan 27: Cliff: "I always feel that while I can still do it, I might as well. When I first started, for instance, the people before me, the Sinatras and Crosbies, they didn't retire to make way. You had to just compete with them. So I always think that that's the way it should be, really. The new guy should be competing with the older guy. And I still have a following." Jan 27: In the Amazon 'Oldies' Top 100 chart today: 28. "The Shadows Greatest hits" (£3.98), No.32. Me and my Shadows/Listen to Cliff - Cliff Richard Stereo versions (selling for £4.98), 35."Complete Singles As and Bs: 1959-1980" - The Shadows (selling for £9.08) www.amazon.co.uk Jan 27: It was 50 years ago... January 27th, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows first American tour tour they play the Indiana Theatre, Indianapolis. Bruce Welch: "Frankie Avalon (top of the bill) was a gigantic star then, almost manufactured - a good-looking Italian boy who had all the gear. He had his eyebrows plucked and a make-up artist before he went on. He looked a million dollars - he couldn't sing, bless him, but he was huge. He had some very big hits." Avalon's hits included the teen ballads "Venus" and "Why?". Jan 27: More Cliff CD releases - Feb. There are some more new Cliff CD compilations out from the Netherlands with songs from Cliff's early years: A 3-CD set Cliff due early February. Also Ready Teddy on ZYZ Records and on the Disky label "Golden Greats and Vintage 2010 Cliff Richard due for release in February. Jan 26: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. Cliff opens this 4th show in the series (24th January 1970) with the highly enjoyable 'Hitchin’ A Ride' which was a current hit for the group 'Vanity Fare'. Released in late 1969, it reached No.16 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1970, but was an even bigger hit in the US where it reached No.5 and sold a million copies. Cliff would later revive this track as the opening number for his BBC 'Bank Holiday Special' on 31st August 1970. The 50-minute show, originally made in colour, was wiped by the BBC, but an inferior black and white telerecording made up for overseas broadcast was kindly donated back to the BBC archive. Hence Cliff's performance of this memorable song (and others) are now safely preserved on film for posterity. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 26: Universal Posters have added a new image to their catalogue and are running a Valentine's Day competition. Full details are available on: www.universalposters.com/cliff-competition Jan 26: Cliff: (talking about fans) "All of us have a hardcore of fans who support us in everything we do. It is not unique to me. But it always remains special that there are a number of fans who are prepared to save their money and spend it going to see a concert." Jan 26: New Cliff 2-CD compilation Cliff Sings in wrap-around sleeve. Digitally remastered and includes bonus tracks. Tracks CD1: Blue Suede Shoes, Snake and the Bookworm, I Gotta Know, Here Comes Summer, I'll String Along with You, Embraceable You, As Time Goes By, The Touch of Your Lips, Twenty Flight Rock, Pointed Toe Shoes, Mean Woman Blues, I'm Walking, I Don't Know Why, Little Things Mean A Lot, Somewhere Along The Way, That's My Desire. Bonus tracks on CD1: Livin' Doll, No Turning Back, Mad About You, Never Mind, Travellin' Light, Dynamite. Tracks CD2: Apron Strings, My Babe, Down The Line, I Got A Feeling, Jet Black, Baby I Don't Care, Donna, Move It, Ready Teddy, Too Much, Don't Bug Me Baby, Driftin', That'll Be The Day, Be Bop A Lula, Danny, Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On. Bonus tracks on CD2: Schoolboy Crush, High Class Baby, My Feet Hit The Ground, Livin' Lovin' Doll, Steady with You, Mean Streak. Available for £5.99 (includes UK post and packing) from the excellent Cliff and Shadows record specialists Leo's Den (Links page). Jan 26: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The Cliff and The Shadows DVD has gone back up from 10 to No.5 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £12.98. Jan 26: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 4 to No.2 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. (7 weeks on the chart). Jan 26: "Enjoying reading all the Cliff stuff on your site. I'm amazed that I always find something new and interesting every day. Keep up the good work" - Alan Johnson. Jan 26: "Thanks William - I'm enjoying your 1960 US Tour series" - Paul Rumbol. Jan 26: It was 50 years ago... January 26th, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows first American tour tour they play the Kitchner Memorial Audiotorium, Kitchner, Ontario. Bruce Welch: "Cliff went down really well with the American audiences. They really liked him too. Where Cliff scored with the audience was the fact that we were doing rock'n'roll. We were a singer with a group playing guitars, whearas the rest of them on the bill, including Frankie Avalon, were singing with a big band backing." Jan 26: Music industry news. Spotify has confirmed it will launch in the Netherlands this year. Jan 25: "David, Thanks for your further update. I’ve lived in Toronto since November 1965, so I do remember the Imperial – and it was large, over 3,000 seats. You’re right that it was multi-plexed in the early 1970s, but it has since gone through several changes and is now the Canon Theatre – a 2,300 seat live performance venue that mainly caters to musicals. Your report on Cliff’s 1962 Toronto repertoire is interesting.. The movie songs are no surprise, but the inclusion of things like Move It and Willie and the Hand Jive is. Both of those had disappeared from his UK act by then – although, of course, they did return later" - Pat Murphy (Canada). Jan 25: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. The search for the 'Song For Europe 1970' began in this 4th show of the series. In each of the six-weeks between 24th January and 28th February 1970, 19 year-old Welsh singer Mary Hopkin performed one song in Cliff's TV show. In this week's show Mary sings Song No.1: 'Three Ships'. Cliff and Mary appear on the front page of the BBC Radio Times. On the 7th March Mary returned to Cliff's show to sing all six songs in a 'Song For Europe Special' and open the postal vote to the public. Cliff revealed the winning song which had polled the largest number of votes - 'Knock Knock Who's There?' - the following week on the 14th March. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 25: "Pat, the first thing I remember is paying the princely sum of 75 cents to get into the Imperial movie theatre – that’s probably about 40 pence! I’m not sure but I think the theatre today is a multi-screen facility. But in 1962, it was one of the largest, if not the largest theatres in Canada. I was in the theatre very early, probably about 4pm and got a seat on the front row. Wonderful to be Young (The Young Ones) was playing on the screen. Once the movie finished, the boys came on for the first of two shows that they performed. The Shadows came out first and did 3 or 4 numbers; definitely Apache, the Savage, and possibly Frightened City. I can’t be sure of that. Then Bruce simply said, “Ladies and gentlemen, Cliff Richard”. Cliff did songs from the movie – The Young Ones, We Say Yeah, Got a Funny feeling, Girl in Your Arms – and definitely Move It and Willie and the Hand Jive. I think there may have been a couple more but my memory is letting me down. All in all, the live show was about 30-35 minutes or so. After the ‘live’ show ended, the movie was shown again, followed by another identical live show. The only difference was that during the second show, the Director of the film, Sydney J. Furie, was introduced in the audience – he was from Toronto. Then they showed the film again! One thing that was obvious to me was how much more polished they all were from the show I saw at Maple leaf Gardens two and a half years before. And, for my 75 cents, I saw two live Cliff and the Shadows shows plus I saw the film a couple of times as well. Not bad!" - David Colman. Jan 25: "David, Great to read your personal memories of Cliff's early Toronto visits. Can you provide some details of the act at the Imperial in 1962? I know the live show was combined with the movie on screen, but how long was the act and what numbers were included?" - Pat Murphy (Canada). Jan 25: "William, 50 Years Ago Today - January 25th 1960 - my version: As a 13 year old, I was at that concert in Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto fifty years ago today. Not only the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team, Maple leaf Gardens was THE place for any major concerts: Elvis performed one of his only three gigs outside the US there; the Beatles, the Stones, and anyone you care to name played MLG. But in the late 50s and early 60s it was mostly tours with many of the big names of the day in one concert. I went to several of these, but the one on January 25th was the one I was waiting for. I already had Cliff records sent to me by friends in England, and he was the reason I wanted to go this concert. I had a seat up in the gods for the first half but manage to sneak into the floor level for the second half of the show in which Cliff and the Shadows appeared. Many had come to see the likes of Bobby Rydell, Clyde McPhatter and the big name Frankie Avalon, but not me. Cliff came out in his white sharkskin suit and black shirt and the Shadows wore burgundy suits. Well they brought the house down! Cliff did go down on one knee, hankie in hand to make sure he didn’t get his suit pants dirty. The place went crazy when the boys were on stage and everything seemed a little flat after they left. I left Maple Leaf Gardens wondering if I would ever see them again. Well I did when, in the autumn of 1962, they played at the Imperial Theatre in Toronto for the opening of Wonderful To Be Young (The Young Ones). By this time, Cliff and The Shadows were the biggest act in Canada. And the last time I saw them? Last October 14th in Sheffield on Cliff’s 69th birthday. It all came full circle really. But it all began for me fifty years ago today" - David Colman. Jan 25: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 32.Reunion selling for £8.98, 68. Just about as good as it gets selling for £6.98 and 83. Summer holiday selling for 6.68. Jan 25: It was 50 years ago... January 25th, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows first American tour tour they play the Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto. As the tour rolled on, Cliff and The Shadows were able to gauge the reaction of American fans and tailored their all-too-brief twice-nightly performances. They replaced "My babe" with the more punchy "Dynamite" to give their short set more energy, and they tried to put on more of a show as opposed to the American artists, who seemed content to walk on and simply sing the hits the audience had paid their money to hear. Jan 25: The new 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 15 to No.18 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1). Jan 24: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. Here are the full contents to the show: It's Cliff Richard Show Four. Saturday 24th January 1970. 6.15 -6.50pm. Guests: Cheryl Kennedy & Mary Hopkin. 1.The Joy of Living (Opening Introduction). 2.With The Eyes Of A Child (Cliff, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 3.Hitchin’ A Ride (Cliff, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 4.Introductions and Comedy Sketches(Cliff, Hank, Cheryl & Una). 5.Curly Headed Red Rooster (Una & Dancers). 6.Shiek Sketch (Cliff, Hank & Una). 7.The Lady Came From Baltimore (Cliff on acoustic guitar). 8.Wake Up Little Susie (Cliff & Hank Marvin). 9.Play “The Shiek” (Cliff, Hank, Cheryl & Una). 10.Hankovision Song No. 2 (Cliff , Hank & Una). 11.Song for Europe No 1- Three Ships Sailing (Mary Hopkins and BBC Orchestra). 12.Holiday Time -Song & Dance Medley (Cliff , Hank, Cheryl & Una). 13.Farewells and Visions (Cliff, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 24: Music DVD/Video chart Chat. The music DVD chart run for the latest Cliff and Shadows The Final Reunion DVD to date: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 and 5. (11 weeks). Jan 24: Music DVD chart - Cliff & Shads No.5. Cliff and the Shadows The Final Reunion goes from 2 to No.5 in this week's music DVD chart. Here is the Top 10: 1.(-)Various Artists. 2.(1)Take That. 3.(3)Michael Jackson. 4.(5)Susan Boyle. 5.(2)CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS. 6.(8)Anvil. 7.(-)Pink. 8.(-)Dream cast Les Miserables in concert. 9.(4)John Barrowman. 10.(-)The Killers. Jan 24: Cliff: (on poverty, living in one room in Surrey, when his family first moved to England from India) "It's icons apart when I think of my humble background, but it's good to have the memory. To remember what it was like in the past stops you taking everything for granted. It's important to have a memory of what it was like, and still is for an awful lot of people. They can all come out of it, as I came out of mine, but I like being able to remember so clearly what it was like in those early days." Jan 24: Cliff's The Bellman's speech from Mike Batt's The Hunting of the Snark was played on Elaine Paige on Sunday today on BBC Radio 2. Jan 24: "With under 2 weeks to go just a friendly reminder about the BBQ on the day of the concert, If you are still coming to it please drop me a email and if you would like to come but havent registered please email me also. Thanks" - Mark New (Australia) (www.cliffrichardshadows.com) Jan 24: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 26 to No.37 in the Australian Top 40 music DVD chart this week. (9 weeks on the chart). Jan 24: It was 50 years ago... January 24th, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows first American tour tour they play the Armoury, Pennsylvania. Cliff closed the shows with the Jerry Lee Lewis classic "Whole lotta shakin' goin' on". This generally brought the crowd to their feet and screams from some of the girls, but way short of the decibels from girls at his British gigs. Jan 23: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. 40 years ago today the 4th show in the 13-part 'It's Cliff Richard' series was broadcast. Pre-recorded in colour before a live audience at BBC’s Wood Green Theatre on the Thursday evening of 22nd January 1970, Cliff sings “Hitchin’ A Ride” (a current hit for 'Vanity Fare') and for the second time in this series sings his 1969 hit single “With The Eyes of A Child.” Cliff and Hank remember the Everly Brothers with “Wake Up Little Susie” and Cliff, Hank, Una and guest star Cheryl Kennedy star in the comedy play “The Sheik”. Cliff closes with his signature tune “Visions”. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 23: Cliff'S High class baby was played on Geoff Barker's excellent Rock'n'roll Party on BBC West and South West today. Jan 23: Bruce Welch: (talking about Cliff) "He's convinced when he makes a single that he's competing with Westlife or Robbie Williams, people forty years younger than him. But he's very contented inside. He does exactly what he wants, and works when he wants." Jan 23: More Cliff CD releases - Feb. There are some more new Cliff CD compilations out from the Netherlands with songs from Cliff's early years: A 3-CD set Cliff due early February. Also Ready Teddy on ZYZ Records and on the Disky label "Golden Greats and Vintage 2010 Cliff Richard due for release in February. Jan 23: It was 50 years ago... January 23rd, 1960. On Cliff Richard and The Shadows first American tour tour they play the Community War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, New York. Cliff wore his gleaming sharkskin suit every night, and he was so desperate to keep it clean that he kept a white handerchief in his pocket, which he pulled out and surreptitiously placed on the stage so he could drop dramatically to one knee during his final barnstorming number without the trouser leg getting dirty. Jan 23: Cliff and Sarah Brightman's All I ask of you is included on the CD album The very best of Lloyd Webber collection selling for £4.98 at: www.amazon.co.uk Jan 23: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 6 to No.5 in the Netherlands music DVD chart this week. (10 weeks on the chart). Jan 22: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. This week's comedy play (17th January) is 'Ned Kelly'. Hank Marvin plays the infamous Australian outlaw who imprisons and gags Fiona (Judith Durham) the daughter of a British Army General. But it is Fiona's unsuspecting boyfriend Fortesque (played by Cliff in a bearskin with a bad lisp!) who walks straight into the ambush and whose arrival sends housemaid Una weak at the knees. "Oh Fortesque you're so brave. I'd like to reward you with a kiss. But my lips are numb!" cries Fiona. " Oh you can borrow mine, it'll be a pleasure" pleads Una. The gallant Fortesque springs into action: "Take my hand Fiona and the three of us will be off!" Una's eyes light up. "The three of us?". "Yes!" replies Cliff. "A bird in the hand is worth three in ambush!" In a final twist, Ned Kelly reveals his love for Fiona, and he only took her hostage to seek the General's permission for her hand in marriage. "He'll never let her marry an outlaw" protests Fortesque. "But if I marry her, I'll be an inlaw!" retorts Ned. Rejected Una is close to tears as she sidles up to the camara for the familiar punchline chanted in unison by all the audience...."Guess who's the gooseberry again?" More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 22: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 26. Just about as good as it gets selling for £6.98, 29.Reunion selling for £8.98, 60. The early years selling for 4.98 and 74. And they said it wouldn't last (8 CD box-set and 7"single) selling for £81.98. Jan 22: "Just to say that my wife and I have seen Gordon Giltrap a few times in concert and he is a superb guitar player. If he comes round you way, I recommend going to see him" - Andy Spencer. Jan 22: "It's good to have a website that is always so up-to-date and giving us Cliff fans the news as soon as you get it. Top marks to you!" - Robert Machin. Jan 22: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes back up from 7 to No.2 in the Belgium music DVD chart this week. (10 weeks on the chart). Jan 22: One of the UK's premier guitarists Gordon Giltrap has some re-issues released by Ebsel. Troubadour + Live at Ventnor Winter Gardens 2008 DVD. Originally released in 1998, "Troubadour" is Gordon's own favourite album and includes three songs that he played in the musical Heathcliff, the first of which features Cliff Richard. The bonus DVD is the first-release of a concert at the Ventnonr Winter Gardens in May 2008, which features many of Gordon's best-known pieces. Aside from his illuminating and amusing between-song anecdotes, the 130 minute-long DVD features a lengthy bonus interview from January 2009. EDSX 3007 (CD+DVD). Also Music for the Small Screen+The Solo Album (1995) features a selection of Gordon's commissions for the BBC and ITV. "The Solo Album" (1992) features Gordon tackling pieces old and new without accompaniment. ED20 2073 (2 CD). Available from: www.amazon.co.uk Jan 22: Music industry news. The IFPI’s Digital Music Report 2010 has revealed that digital now accounts for 27% of label income. Global digital music trade revenues were valued at $4.2bn (£2.6bn) in 2009, an increase of 12% from 2008. Overall, digital sales have grown 940% since 2004. Against this, however, the total recorded music business fell 30% over the same period. Digital album sales grew 20% last year. They now account for 20% of all digital sales in the US (and 40% of label revenue) and 15% of sales in the UK. Jan 22: "Of all those new compilation albums I would recommend JUST AS GOOD AS IT GETS all Cliff songs from the years 58 and 59 are on it and the quality is good plus bonus songs from films plus a nice booklet. It's really worth buying it" - Bernard Vandendreissche (Belgium). Jan 22: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD stays firm at No.1 in the Denmark music DVD chart this week. (10 weeks on the chart and all at No.1!) Jan 22: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 4 to No.2 in the Sweden music DVD chart this week. (10 weeks on the chart). Jan 22: "Reunited" - album sales. In the official UK 'Extended Top 200 albums' last week Cliff and The Shadows Reunited album went from 134 to No.200. (17 weeks in the Top 200 album chart). It sold 1,006 copies to take its cumulative total to 213,978. WELL DONE CLIFF AND THE SHADOWS. Jan 22: It was 50 years ago... January 22nd, 1960. Cliff Richard and The Shadows first American tour kicks off today at The Forum, Montreal. Cliff, backed by The Shadows, opens his act with "Forty Days" followed by "My babe". The other songs featured in his set were "A voice in the wilderness", "Living doll" and "Whole lotta shakin' goin' on". Later in the show "My babe" was dropped and "Dynamite" substituted since it was discovered to be a favourite with American audiences. Jan 22: "Today at the dome there is work going on setting up the seating plan for Cliff & The Shads, Air lock is open and 2 forklifts and several staff moving things around in the arena in preperation for the concert" - Mark New (Australia). Jan 22: From Globe & Mail: “While our elected leaders rock out to the latest chart anthems, the world’s most notorious dictators – with little need to display a human side to their populations – seem uninterested in new acts, and prefer to kick back with the crooners,” Nick Collins writes for The Daily Telegraph. He reports some surprising music matchups to have emerged in recent years: Robert Mugabe, the president of Zimbabwe, allegedly complained when he heard Bob Marley would perform at the country’s independence festivities in 1980, saying he would prefer “the perennially wholesome Cliff Richard.” Jan 21: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. Throughout the series a lovelorn Una Stubbs would vie for the affections of Cliff, but lose out to each of the leading ladies who were guests that week - Cheryl Kennedy, Dahlia Lavi, Judith Durham, Sheila White and Cilla Black. The often-repeated punch line in sketches for the heartbroken Una was: "Guess who's the gooseberry again?"- with the audience joining in and then sighing loudly in sympathy at her unrequited love. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 21: Specialists in rock and pop memorabilia J.W.S.Collectables have the Cliff 1976 album I'm nearly famous, signed by Cliff, for sale at £60. If interested, Tel. 01482-509785. Jan 21: "Great to see the advert for the concert back on TV during the tennis" - Mark New (Australia). Jan 21: In the February issue of the excellent music magazine Record Collector No.372 out now, there is a feature by Rob Bradford on DJ Mike Read's record collection, which went up for auction in November. A box containing various Cliff Richard items, including Cliff box sets, vinyl, EPs and LPs, black and white and colour photographs, sold for a bargain price of £600. Jan 21: Bruce Welch: (talking about Cliff) "There's never been anybody like him, and there never will be. He's a massive star and all he's known is success. He's still out there performing, he's still hungry for success, and he still wants to be top of the tree. He has an enormous ego. An ego that drives him forward in anything he's doing." More to come! Jan 21: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The Cliff and The Shadows DVD has gone from 9 to No.10 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £12.98. Jan 21: It was 50 years ago... January 21st, 1960. Cliff appears on the Pat Boone Show on American TV singing "Living doll". Pat Boone introduces Cliff as 'Britain's most important singing and record star - a young British lad - terribly young, terribly rich, who makes his television debut. Welcome Cliff Richard!' Following a short chat Cliff and Pat then duet on "Pretty little blue eyes". After the show Pat Boone says, 'Cliff should have a long and impressive show business career.' One of the production team on the show says, 'I'd call Cliff a younger Pat Boone.' Jan 21: Cliff: "The real secret of my success is that I've not had to follow myself. You know how it happens. You have two number ones on the trot, and if your third record isn't a number one people say that your career has ended. Instead I've had lots of number threes and number twos. When you have a number one people then say: "I knew it was coming all along." Jan 21: The new 2-CD compilation The Early Years, out now, contains 41 early Cliff tracks. Available to pre-order from Amazon. You can also get Just about as good as it gets CD and Essential early recordings CD. Price for all three CDs: £19.56. www.amazon.co.uk Jan 20: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. One of the comedy highlights of this 1st series was the 'Hankovision Song Contest' in which Hank Marvin held his own alternate version of the Eurovision Song Contest. Beginning in this week's show (17th January) Hank performed one of his own madcap compositions on acoustic guitar each week while Cliff sat squirming with embarrassment beside him. Hank sang such oddities as 'Moustaches I Doodle', 'Frozen Foods', 'M.A.R.V.I.N.', 'My Grandfather's Clock', 'The Peasants Lament' and 'The Hooter Song' over a six-week period. Its popularity led to some viewers writing in to the BBC voting for their favourite Hank ditty, and Cliff revealed the winning number in Show 11 on the 14th March 1970. A star stuck Hank addressed his adoring audience: "May I thank you for the wonderful response to the Hankovision Song Contest. I can only say that I was deeply touched by the breathtaking and unbelievable number of votes that the BBC received - Four!". "Well four's not many is it?" retorted Cliff. "Ahh well, that's all the stamps I could afford!." More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 20: Cliff's The young ones played on the excellent GOLD radio MW98 today. Jan 20: It was 50 years ago... January, 1960. Just before Cliff was due to fly out for the American tour, he arrived at Tito Burn's offices around lunchtime to show everyone the outfit he planned to wear for his performances - a white sharkskin suit, black shirt, white tie, black socks and white shoes. Cliff's personsal secretary Pat McDonald: " With almost one voice Tito, Ann Davidson - the receptionist - and I exclaimed: "Ghastly!" When he put on the full rig, we almost had to shade our eyes to avoid being dazzled. When the light fell on him he shone like the headlamps of a motorcar. We thought it was all far too rock'n'roll, almost going back to the days when Cliff wore sideburns and, with some justice, was accused of aping Presley. But Cliff wouldn't listen to us. He argued that the gear was absolutely right for American audiences and that it was no good going over there and looking like a wallflower. You had to be flamboyant, he said, flamboyant and exciting. he was right, of course." Jan 20: "Well my sources have told me today that Cliff is here now in Perth and they are finalising their tour and all promotional activity. So all I can say is WELCOME TO PERTH CLIFF!!" - Mark New (Australia). Jan 20: "Enjoying reading your Cliff site daily. As always, lots of news and interesting snippets. Good series on Cliff's tv series. Certainly brings it all back" - John Castle. Jan 19: Cliff: "If people are still prepared to come out and see me, and if I can still hold a melody, and only I would know this, then I'd be very happy to continue to entertain." Jan 19: Another new 2-CD Cliff compilation Cliff Sings. Disc 1: Cliff Sings Blue Suede Shoes, The Snake And The Bookworm, I Gotta Know, Here Comes Summer, I'll String Along With You, Embraceable You, As Time Goes By, The Touch Of Your Lips, Twenty Flight Rock, Pointed Toe Shoes, Mean Woman Blues, I'm Walking, I Don't Know Why, Little Things Mean A Lot, Somewhere Along The Way, That's My Desire, Livin' Doll, No Turning Back, Mad About You, Never Mind, Travellin' Light, Dynamite. Disc 2: Cliff Apron Strings, My Babe, Down The Line, I Got A Feeling, Jet Black (Instrumental), Baby I Don't Care, Donna, Move It, Ready Teddy, Too Much, Don't Bug Me Baby, Driftin' (Instrumental), That'll Be The Day, Be-Bop-A-Lula, Danny (the Drifters), Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On, Schoolboy Crush, High Class Baby, My Feet Hit The Ground, Livin' Lovin' Doll, Steady With You, Mean Streak. RRP: £6.99. Available for £3.99 (with free delivery) from: www.play.com Jan 19: Music industry news. The 02 has retained it's crown as the world's most popular music venue, with the Manchester Evening News Arena coming second in the 2009 rankings. Pollstar figures reveal that The 02 sold 2,349,252 tickets last year, more than Im ahead of the MEN Arena and beating its own personal record by 30%. Jan 19: It was 50 years ago... January, 1960. The American tour is advertised as having 'the biggest stars of 1960', and features not only Cliff Richard and The Shadows but top US teen idols Frankie Avalon, Clyde McPhatter and Sammy Turner and voval group The Clovers. Jan 19: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 6 to No.4 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. Jan 18: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. One of the rarer ballads performed by Cliff in this 3rd show from 17th January 1970, is 'Words'- a song written, sung and released by the Bee Gees in early 1968. Barry Gibb revealed in 1996 that it was originally intended for Cliff Richard, but he never got round to recording it as he wasn't making an album at the time. Rather than wasting the song, The Bee Gees decided to record it themselves. Cliff however did sing in live on stage in 1970. He also performed it on his 'Cliff In Berlin' TV Special recorded on 18th/19th June 1970 -a programme which thankfully survives to this day on film in the ZDF archives in Germany. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 18: Did you know?... that Ian Samwell, who wrote "Move it", "High class baby" and "Dynamite" for Cliff, went on to enjoy a distinguished career in the music business, both as songwriter and producer, working with a whole host of major stars, including: Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, Al Jarreau, John Sebastian and The Grateful Dead. He also launched The Small Faces by co-writing their 1965 debut hit "Whatcha gonna do about it?" Jan 18: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD is down to No.9 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £12.98. Jan 18: It was 50 years ago... January 18th, 1960. Despite a car crash on January 7th, involving two members of the Shadows, Hank Marvin and Jet Harris, Cliff and the group fly to the United States for 38 days and including shows in Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, San Antonio and Houston. Jan 18: Cliff: "The twelfth of never" was a Johnny Mathis song and again it was Norrie (Paramor) who suggested I record it. I just thought it was an absolutely fantastic song. It was natural for me as an artist to want to get into things which were really quite different. I feel if I hadn't done those, I could never have recorded "Miss you nights"... It's a whole different style of singing." Jan 18: Music industry news. HMV is to turn six of its temporary “pop-up” stores into permanent outlets, after a 20% rise in music turnover helped the retailer to its third straight Christmas of record sales. HMV last week reported results for the five-week Christmas period, which included a 14.6% sales increase at its UK and Ireland stores, driven by the success of the 10 temporary outlets it opened in the run-up to Christmas. 2009 was the third year in a row that Christmas trading has increased at HMV, with like-for-like sales at its UK and Ireland stores up 2.2%. Jan 18: The new 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 14 to No.15 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1). Jan 17: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. Here are the full contents to the show: It's Cliff Richard Show Three. Saturday 17th January 1970. 6.15 -6.50pm. Guest: Judith Durham. 1.The Joy of Living (Opening Introduction). 2.One Fine Day (Cliff, Hank, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 3.Words (Cliff, Hank The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 4.Introductions/Hankovision Song No.1 (Cliff, Hank & Una). 5.Maggie’s Samba (Hank Marvin with Una, Dancers). 6.Holiday Comedy Sketches (Cliff, Hank, Judith and Una), 7.The Light Is Dark Enough (Judith Durham & BBC Orchestra). 8.Cliff’s Favourite Films- Comedy Sketches (Cliff, Hank & Una). 9.Play; Ned Kelly (Cliff, Hank, Judith and Una). 10.Soul Deep (Cliff, Hank, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 11.Famous Musicals (Song and Dance Medley) (Cliff , Hank, Judith and Una). 12.Farewells and Visions (Cliff, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 17: Music DVD/Video chart Chat. The music DVD chart run for the latest Cliff and Shadows The Final Reunion DVD to date: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 and 2. (10 weeks). Jan 17: Music DVD chart - Cliff & Shads No.2. Cliff and the Shadows The Final Reunion stays firm at No.2 in this week's music DVD chart. Here is the Top 10: 1.(1)Take That. 2.(2)CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS. 3.(3)Michael Jackson. 4.(4)John Barrowman. 5.(6)Susan Boyle. 6.(10)Spandau Ballet. 7.(9)The Nolans. 8.(-)Anvil. 9.(-)Mettallica. 10.(-)Michael Ball. Jan 17: "Just to show you how close the tour now is, from this week the Burswood Dome is booked for Cliff & The Shadows thru until midnght 7th Feb. 18 Days to go only until Cliff & The Shads rock Perth" - Mark New (Australia). Jan 17: Cliff: (after the Beatles hit the scene) "By this time I was thinking of having a career that was more than just as a rock'n'roll singer. In my mind there was no reason why I shouldn't stay around. I had gone past the deathly five-year period. I knew I wasn't going to be suddenly disappearing. So to do "Constantly" and other ballads like "The twelfth of never" was a natural progression in my career." Jan 17: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 25 to No.26 in the Australian Top 40 music DVD chart this week. Jan 17: It was 50 years ago... January 17th, 1960. Cliff tops the bill on Sunday Night at the London Palladium, which also stars The Platters and shatters previous viewing records when 19.5 million viewers in 6,853,000 homes become the biggest audience for a light entertainment show in the history of British TV. Jan 17: "Paul is certainly bringing back lots of memories of me watching Cliff on Saturday nights on BBC1. I used to like it when Cliff sang some of the big hits of the day by other artists. He did some really good versions" - Jason Lawrence. Jan 16: Cliff on Youtube singing "La Gonave". You can view Cliff singing La Gonave be visiting: www.youtube/user/Cliffsings1 Jan 16: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. 40 years ago today the 3rd show in the 13-part series 'It's Cliff Richard' was broadcast. Pre-recorded in colour before a live audience at BBC’s Wood Green Theatre on the Thursday evening of 15th January 1970, Cliff opens with The Chiffons 'One Fine Day' and the Bee Gees hit 'Words'. Hank Marvin performs 'Maggie’s Samba' and Cliff, Hank and Una star in their own comical version of the play ‘Ned Kelly'. Cliff and Hank deliver a rousing version of the 'The Box Tops' 1969 hit 'Soul Deep'. The show finale is a tribute to musical films, with Hank and Judith Durham singing 'Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better') and Cliff impersonating Maurice Chevaliar on 'Thank Heavens For Little Girls'. The entire cast unite for a knees-up on 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' from 'Mary Poppins. Special guest Judith Durham, the former lead singer with 'The Seekers' sings 'The Light Is Dark Enough'. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 16: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD stays firm at No.1 in the Demark music DVD chart this week. (9 weeks on the chart and all at No.1!) Jan 16: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD stays firm at No.4 in the Sweden music DVD chart this week. (9 weeks on the chart). Jan 16: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 5 to No.6 in the Netherlands music DVD chart this week. (9 weeks on the chart). Jan 16: It was 50 years ago... January 1960. A voice in the wilderness, released this week in 1960, was co-written by Paramor and Lewis and was included on the Expresso Bongo EP. The song was never particularly one of Cliff's favourite songs and he rarely included it in his concert repertoire. Cliff was genuinely surprised when it came in ranked number eighteen in a BBC Radio 2 poll of their ultimate Top Twenty Cliff records in the summer of 2006. Jan 16: Did you know?... that the Cliff and Shadows Reunion tour had an official attendance of 4,857 at the Cardiff Arena (Tuesday, October 20th) with a gross figure of £291,420. Figures supplied by Live Nation. Jan 16: On Pick of the pops today January 16th on Radio 2, 1.00pm-3.00pm, Dale Winton plays the hits from the chart this week in 1970. They include: Rolf Harris, Elvis Presley, Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, The Cufflinks, The Archies, Blue Mink, The Dave Clark Five, The Marmalade, Badfinger, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Arrival and Cliff Richard with "With the eyes of a child". Jan 15: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. Viewers endeared themselves to the regular gang on Cliff's show. That included not only stalwarts like Hank Marvin and Una Stubbs, but also the dozen teenage girl dancers from the 'Corona Stage School' who, under the direction of choreographer Nita Howard, livened up Cliff's musical numbers with their bright costumes and lively dance routines. Also appearing weekly were Cliff's backing vocal girl group 'The Breakaways' and Norrie Paramor leading the BBC Orchestra. As the shows were recorded live, the BBC camaras sometimes panned to the audience (Crackerjack style) in the Wood Green Theatre to capture their enthusiastic reactions and applause. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 15: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 6 to No.7 in the Belgium music DVD chart this week. (9 weeks on the chart). Jan 15: "Hi William, Article on 3.News.co. NZ’s website mentioning Cliff. 'Kiwi sponsors of Haitian children anxiously await news' By Simon Shepherd. "A surprising number of New Zealand families have links to Haiti through their sponsorship of a child in the poverty stricken country. Now those families are all waiting to hear whether those children have survived. Children orphaned, injured and abandoned provide some of the most heartbreaking images of this disaster. A world away is Auckland’s North Shore, but even here Haiti has long been a part of one family Child sponsor Elizabeth Gailer said “After I heard how poor they were, I thought I would start sponsoring a girl over there and I had Sinita.” It was her musical hero Cliff Richard singing about Haiti's poor and then coming to Auckland that made up her mind. Looking at letters and photos with Simon 22 years later the family is still sponsoring Haitian children, ten year old boys Ruben and Shilton. Mrs Gailer said the letters they receive from their sponsored children are reassuring: “When you read some of these letters they are so thankful, every letter is thank you for supporting him so much they don’t know what they would do without it you know.” The boys live in the city of Leogane, it's close to the capital port au prince and even closer to the quakes epicentre. Mrs Gailer said she feels helpless. “It’s horrible because you don’t know if they are stuck under something, there’s nothing you can do but pray for them.” The Gailers are one of 682 families who are waiting for news, all of them sponsor Haitian children through tear fund New Zealand. Jon Horne from Tear Fund New Zealand say there is little they can do to aid contact. “At this stage we can’t tell them a lot because communication is so poor. We are hoping to have some communication up shortly.” Tear fund expects to get satellite phones working soon. For Elizabeth Gailer, she'll be thankful if tomorrow brings any news about her boys." - Claire Mellican. Jan 15: Bruce Welch: "I'm sure it irks Cliff that he's never really cracked America. Many times they wanted Cliff to go and spend six months in America, because that's how you break America - you have to do the rounds of radio, TV, and concerts. America's so massive that you can be a star in New York and nobody's heard of you in Los Angeles. But Cliff didn't care to go and spend that amount of time. He said it, and he meant it." Jan 15: It was 50 years ago... January 15th, 1960. "A voice in the wilderness" is released. Keith Fordyce reviews the record and says, "It's a great pity that an artist of Cliff's calibre should be burdened with a song that many people will find a bit distasteful." Jan 15: Did you know?... that the Cliff and Shadows Reunion tour had an official attendance of 14,713 at the Manchester Arena with a gross figure of £882,780. Figures supplied by Live Nation. Jan 15: "Love reading all the interesting Cliff news and snippets on your site daily. I always found out something I didn't know before I looked! Keep up the good work" - Lisa Kelly. Jan 14: "It's a quiet time for Cliff so it is pleasing to see him get a mention in newspapers and magazines. A 'London Evening Standard' reporter was surprised to hear Billy Connolly (who is currently on tour) mention on stage that he likes our Cliff. Thursday's 'London Metro' reports that the O2 is the number one venue in the world and mentions that Cliff and the Shadows were one of the top acts to perform there in 2009. I saw a copy of the Home Office's in house magazine 'Inside Track' and there are quotes from London staff who were asked what was the best thing about the 'noughties'. Maria McCormick (who looks fortyish - apologies if I got that wrong, Maria) says quote "Cliff Richard celebrating 50 years in the pop industry! I've seen him in concert every year since I was 13" unquote" - Walter daCosta. Jan 14: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. In early January 1970 producer Michael Hurll spoke about Cliff's forthcoming TV series in the Radio Times; "Its just Cliff and his friends. There will be a guest star each week, and later in the series Mary Hopkin joins in to present potential Eurovision Song Contest entries, week by week. All the ingredients are being thrown in - ballads, medleys, dance routines, and a regular performance by the 'Cliff Richard Repertory Company'." More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 14: "As we are all aware a tragic earthquake has hit Haiti. Cliff has made many trips to Haiti and even recorded a song about it. We ask all Cliff fans to help by donating to the official world vision appeal. Links to the appeal are on www.cliffrichardshadows.com and as a special thankyou for your help you can hear Cliff's song about Haiti called "La Gonave" on the main page of the web site" - Mark New (Australia). Jan 14: Did you know?... why Cliff uses ear-pieces during a concert. Cliff: "The ear pieces I use on-stage allow me to hear both the band and my own voice at the same time and I can get the balance that I need without damaging the sound for you the audience. In the past when we've used stage speakers, their volume is so much that my microphone has picked up the sound of my foldback. The ear pieces have allowed us to have a much better sound out front, and it is easier for me." Jan 14: Music industry news. Apple has delivered more than 3bn downloads from its App Store since it opened in July 2008. It passed the 2bn mark in September and an average of 10m apps are now being downloaded a day. Jan 14: Cliff: "Elvis Presley was my idol, but there must have been something missing in his life to go the way he did - a sad, sick man." Jan 14: Did you know?... that the Cliff and Shadows Reunion tour had an official attendance of 21,934 at the Wembley Arena with a gross figure of £1,316,020. Figures supplied by Live Nation. Jan 14: "Cliff is about to end his holidays and fly to the UK for one night only before heading to Perth for rehersals and the Australian leg of the tour. No doubt he will be jet lagged doing two long plane trips to get to us here in OZ but he will have plenty of time to relax before the concert. At least he is only spending one cold night in the UK, he is flying out with Roger his PA"- Mark New (Australia). Jan 14: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 7 to No.8 in the Norway music DVD chart this week. (8 weeks on the chart). Jan 14: The new 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, came in at No.9 in the 2009 Top 40 UK album compilation chart. Dreamboats and Petticoats 2, which includes The Shadows "Sleepwalk" and "Atlantis" and the title track by Jason Donovan, with guitar by Hank Marvin, was at No.19. Jan 13: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. In this week's show (10th January 1970) Hank is miffed at not being mentioned in the New Year's Honours List. Things go from bad to worse when, after spending 3-hours in make-up for a black and white minstrel medley, Cliff tells Hank he's cancelled it. Cliff doesn't understand why Hank is so fussed -until he opens his jacket which reveals his body has been blackened up too! This week's comedy play stars Dahlia Lavi as the infamous First World War spy Mata Hari, who with her German cohort (played by Hank in an outrageous German accent) seeks to steal the briefcase of an English Captain (Cliff) containing confidential papers. Una plays the housemaid who unbeknownst to all is secretly acting as a double-agent. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 13: In this week's OK magazine issue 708, Cliff's Tennis Foundation event of December 2009 has half a page of photos on page 143. Jan 13: Did you know?... that Cliff has an ongoing ambition. Cliff: "A number '1' album success in America. They do play my songs but don't know me as a person." Jan 13: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 5 to No.6 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. Jan 13: Did you know?... that Cliff's father Rodger spent £2 of his hard-earned money on a guitar. Rodger had once played banjo in a jazz band and he set about introducing his son to the most rudimentary of chord progressions. "He taught me my first three chords," said Cliff. "I started playing G, C and D7 and learned how to strum." Jan 13: Cliff on Youtube singing "Heartbreak hotel". You can view Cliff singing the Elvis hit Heartbreak hotel be visiting: www.youtube/user/Cliffsings1 Jan 13: Bruce Welch: "We got into writing songs really early when we were (very) young. An influence for me was Buddy Holly, who wrote his own stuff, unlike Elvis. That's why Hank and I wanted to be like Buddy, who'd churn out these little two-minute songs with three chords, which were perfect for me. From 1959 we were writing album tracks and B-sides for Cliff." Jan 13: The new 2-CD compilation The Early Years, out now, contains 41 early Cliff tracks. Available to pre-order from Amazon. You can also get Just about as good as it gets CD and Essential early recordings CD. Price for all three CDs: £19.56. www.amazon.co.uk Jan 12: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. In the 2nd show of the series, broadcast on 10th January 1970, Cliff, Hank, Una and guest Dahlia Lavi pay tribute to the passing decade with 'The Super Sixties' -a medley of songs and quickfire sketches similar in format to Cliff's 'What Do You Know (We've Got A Show)'. Hank Marvin impersonates Rolf Harris, Ken Dodd and Tiny Tim singing 'Tip Toe Through The Tulips'. Una covers Mary Hopkin's 'Those Were The Days' and Cliff and Dahlia sing 'Goodness Gracious Me' - a song which he would resurrect with Una for Cliff's August Bank Holiday 1970 BBC Special later in the year. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 12: Cliff: (on fame) "When I was nineteen or twenty and used to get asked whether money and fame had changed me, I used to say: "No, not at all." (Years later) "What I meant was, I don't think it spoiled me or corrupted me in any way. But now, when I look back, it's changed absolutely everything. Not just for me but my whole family. When you're a child and sitting on your mum's knee, you say: "One day I'm going to buy you a house" Well, I did!" Jan 12: On Pick of the pops on Saturday, January 16th on Radio 2, 1.00pm-3.00pm, Dale Winton plays the hits from the chart this week in 1970. They include: Rolf Harris, Elvis Presley, Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, The Cufflinks, The Archies, Blue Mink, The Dave Clark Five, The Marmalade, Badfinger, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Arrival and Cliff Richard with "With the eyes of a child". Jan 12: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD is at No.5 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £12.98. Jan 12: "Good reading about the Cliff tv series. Can't believe it is now 40 years ago! Memories of Saturdays spent sitting close to the tv screen waiting for Cliff and the dancers to come on. What a shame didn't have video recorders then. Could have taped them all!" - Debbie Woods. Jan 12: Hank Marvin: "He'd (Cliff) just come into the hit parade, and we thought: maybe he's just another singer; he's got this natural dignity thing, but not much more. Well, we got made up and turned up for the first show. And then Cliff came in wearing a pink suit, pink tie, shirt, socks. It looked fantastic. We went on stage and tore the place apart." Jan 11: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. In this week's show (10th January 1970) Cliff performs the Burt Bacharach/ Hal David ballad 'This Guy’s In Love With You' - a song he never recorded in any other studio. Originally a hit for trumpeter Herb Alpert, it remained at No.1 in the US Charts for 4 weeks during June 1968. Many of Cliff's songs in his BBC series -especially the ballads - were spiced up with specially-shot mute film footage (featuring a contemplative Cliff in some scenic location) which was edited into the final film to add visual interest for viewers. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 11: In the Amazon 'Oldies' Top 100 chart today: No.7. Cliff at Christmas - Cliff Richard (£4.98), 10. "50 Golden greats" - The Shadows (selling for £4.98), 34. "The Shadows Greatest hits" (£3.98). www.amazon.co.uk Jan 11: Did you know?... that Elfrida Eden, the aristocratic eighteen-year-old niece of former Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden, proved that Cliff's appeal was far from limited to secretaries in the typing pool by drooling: "I think Cliff's action is incredible. My mother doesn't approve, but give me Oh Boy! every time instead of all that debbery nonsense." Jan 11: Cliff "Just about as good as it gets" 2-CD - Out now. The double CD Just about as good as it gets is released today. Full track listing on Jan. 9th posting. Available for £7.99 from: www.amazon.co.uk Jan 11: "It's great news that the Cliff and Shadows album has done so well and continues to sell into 2010. A 'reunion' success all round!" - Phil Russell. Jan 11: Cliff: "Looking back on some of the film footage of my early career, I sometimes cringe. In those days I used to stand in front of a mirror and practise twitching my lips. One reason I never used to smile was that peculiar small tooth, which I tried to hide by glowering." Jan 11: The new 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 13 to No.14 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1). Jan 11: Cliff & Shadows "Reunited" album - sales. The Cliff and The Shadows album Reunited sold 1,663 copies in the official UK album chart last week. The album has now sold 212,972 copies. WELL DONE CLIFF AND THE SHADOWS! Jan 11: In the official UK 'Extended Top 200 albums' last week Cliff and The Shadows Reunited album went up from 138 to No.134. (16 weeks in the Top 200 album chart). Jan 10: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. Here are the full contents to the show: 'It's Cliff Richard Show Two. Saturday 10th January 1970 6.15 -6.50pm. Guest: Dahlia Lavi. 1.The Joy of Living (Opening Introduction). 2.Good Times, Better Times (Cliff, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 3.Twist And Shout (Cliff, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 4.Introductions/ Comedy Sketches (Cliff, Hank & Una). 5.Old Love Song Play On (Dahlia Lavi and BBC Orchestra). 6.PLAY: Mata Hari (Cliff, Hank, Dahlia & Una). 7.This Guy’s In Love With You (Cliff, Hank, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 8.Cliff Reminisces About 1960’s (Cliff). 9.The Super Sixties - Song & Dance Medley (Cliff, Hank, Dahlia & Una). 10.Farewells and Visions (Cliff, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). More to come! (Paul Rumbol.www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 10: Music DVD/Video chart Chat. The music DVD chart run for the latest Cliff and Shadows The Final Reunion DVD to date: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 and 2. (9 weeks). Jan 10: Music DVD chart - Cliff & Shads No.2. Cliff and the Shadows The Final Reunion stays firm at No.2 in this week's music DVD chart. Here is the Top 10: 1.(1)Take That. 2.(2)CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS. 3.(8)Michael Jackson. 4.(5)John Barrowman. 5.(3)Il Divo. 6.(4)Susan Boyle. 7.(10)George Michael. 8.(9)The Killers. 9.(6)The Nolans. 10.(10)Spandau Ballet. Jan 10: On Ideal World TV channel (Freeview 22) today The Cliff Richard Gift Set, 5.00pm-6.00pm, the 8-CD box-set And they said it wouldn't last, which contains 52 page book, 10" "Schoolboy crush/Move it" vinyl and gold plated commemorative coin. £99.99 (UK post and packing £5.99). You can order direct: Tel. 08717-123-456 or visit: www.idealworld.tv Jan 10: Another screening today of Top Gear on Dave TV channel repeated at 3.00pm on Dave and again at 4.00pm on Dave Ja Vu. Cliff Richard lifts the lid off the BMW 6 Series cabriolet and Jeremy finds out if the true spirit of the VW Golf GTI is back. Cliff Richard is the 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car'. Jan 10: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 26 to No.25 in the Australian Top 40 music DVD chart this week. Jan 10: In the official UK 'Extended Top 200 albums' last week Cliff and The Shadows Reunited album was at No.138. Jan 10: Cliff: "My great fantasy was to have a photograph taken where I did have the Elvis look, the lip curled, the hair looking good and smouldering eyes. I wanted to look like him. Then I realised you can't have a good individual specific career as somebody else because they've already done it." Jan 10: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - March. Due for release in March this contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage and photographs from private collections. Can be pre-ordered from Amazon. RRP: £15.99. Amazon price: £9.98. www.amazon.co.uk Jan 9: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. 40 years ago today the 2nd show of the 13-part 'It's Cliff Richard' series was broadcast. Pre-recorded in colour before a live audience at BBC’s Wood Green Theatre on the Thursday evening of 8th January 1970, Cliff sings his 1969 hit “Good Times (Better Times)” and a cover of the Beatles “Twist And Shout.” He also performs his own inimitable version of the Burt Bacharach/ Hal David ballad “This Guy’s In Love With You.” Cliff finishes with the haunting ballad “Visions”. Guest star is Dahlia Lavi, an Israeli actress, singer and model whose most famous role is probably as 'The Detainer/007' in the film Casino Royale (1967). She would return for a 2nd guest appearance on Cliff's show on 14th February. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 9: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD stays firm at No.1 in the Denmark music DVD chart this week. 8 weeks on chart and all at No.1! Jan 9: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 8 to No.4 in the Swedish music DVD chart this week. Jan 9: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 9 to No.5 in the Netherlands music DVD chart this week. Jan 9: Another screening today of ...Sings Elvis, 9.30pm-10.30pm, on BBC 4 TV (Freeview 9, Freesat 107, Sky 116, Virgin 107). BBC archive performances of artists covering songs by Elvis Presley. Cliff Richard, Tom Jones, Paul McCartney and John Cale pay tribute. Jan 9: Bruce Welch: (Two years later Fender gave Hank and Bruce matching Strats) "It's the old story. When you're struggling to make it, you can't afford one, and then when you're famous, they give you one!" Jan 9: "Oustanding performance of HEARTBREAK HOTEL last night by CLIFF on the tribute to Elvis programme. Never seen that version before. On another tribute recently Cliff's regular backing singers were seen with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page recreating some old Elvis classics. Its good to have you back giving us the latest news" - John Patrick. Jan 9: Cliff "Just about as good as it gets" 2-CD - Jan.11th. The double CD Just about as good as it gets is released Monday, January 11th. Here is the track listing for CD 2: Apron strings, My babe, Down the line, I got a feeling, Jet Black (instrumental The Drifters), Baby I don't care, Donna, Move it, Ready Teddy, Too much, Don't bug me baby, Driftin' (instrumental The Drifters), That'll be the day, Be-bop-a-lula (featuring The Drifters), Danny, Whole lotta shakin' goin' on, TV Hop, Rockin' Robin, High school confidential, Early in the morning, King Creole, I'll try, Somebody touched me, Three cool cats (with Marty Wilde and Dickie Pride), Early in the morning (with Marty Wilde), As time goes by, I'll string along with you, I don't know why (I just do), Somewhere along the way, Embraceable you, That's my desire, Little things mean a lot, The touch of your lips. This 2-CD set is available for £7.99 from: www.amazon.co.uk Jan 9: Cliff "Just about as good as it gets" 2-CD - Jan.11th. The double CD Just about as good as it gets is released Monday, January 11th. Here is the track listing for CD 1: Livin' lovin' doll, Apron strings, Move it, Twenty flight rock, Dynamite, Living doll, The snake and the bookworm, Never mind, Here comes summer, I gotta know, My feet hit the ground, Bongo blues (instrumental The Shadows), Travellin' light, I'm walkin', High class baby, Mean streak, Steady with you, Pointed toe shoes, Mad about you, Mean woman blues, A voice in the wilderness, Chinchilla (instrumental The Drifters), Blue suede shoes, No turning back, Love, Schoolboy crush, Living doll (from soundtrack of film "Serious charge"), Twenty flight rock (stereo), Pointed toe shoes (stereo), The snake and the bookworm (alternate stereo version), Here comes summer (stereo), I gotta know (alternate stereo version), Mean woman blues (stereo), I'm walkin' (stereo)/Blue suede shoes (stereo). Available for £7.99 from: www.amazon.co.uk Jan 9: Repeat of Top Gear screened at 10.00-11.00 tomorrow Sunday, January 10th on Dave TV channel repeated at 11.00 on Sunday, January 10th on Dave Ja Vu, 15.00 on Sunday, January 10th on Dave and again at 16.00 on Sunday, January 10th on Dave Ja Vu. Cliff Richard lifts the lid off the BMW 6 Series cabriolet and Jeremy finds out if the true spirit of the VW Golf GTI is back. Cliff Richard is the 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car'. Jan 8: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. The opening show on 3rd January 1970 featured the first of the weekly comedy plays 'Rose Marie'. Based on the 1920's Broadway musical, Cliff explained this would be a non-musical version: "I was quite willing to try and sing like Nelson Eddy, but we couldn't get Hank to sound like Jeanette MacDonald." Fans quickly grew to love the weekly plays. The humour was corny but highly enjoyable and the gags came thick and fast. Guest star Cheryl Kennedy played the title lead with Una as the love-starved charlady who takes a shine to the dashing Canadian Mountie (Cliff) on the trail of Rose Marie's villainous brother. "I will hold someone hostage" warns Cliff. " Good I'll volunteer" says Una, forcing herself into his arms. "I think I'll hold on to you until he surrenders" Cliff threatens. "But what if I surrender first" retorts Una. In the final scene when arch-villain Hank Marvin makes his escape, Cliff calls for assistance from 'Toronto'- his faithful Indian friend. "You mean Tonto don't you?" giggles Una. "No I don't. This is the Canadian version!" More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 8: Cliff's Congratulations was played in Rovers Return in "Coronation Street" today. Jan 8: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD stays firm at No.6 in the Belgium (Flemish) music DVD chart this week. 8 weeks in the Top 10. Jan 8: Today Thunderbirds are go! sci-fi adventure film, which includes Cliff Richard and The Shadows as puppets, is screened on Film 4 TV (Freeview 15, Freesat 300, Sky 315, Virgin 444) 4.25pm-6.25pm. Jan 8: Bruce Welch: "Cliff sent off for the guitar for Hank. It was 140 guineas and, of course, he was the only one who could afford it - we were on £20 a week. So Cliff imported the first Fender Strat into this country. It was flamingo pink and it contributed greatly to the sound of The Shadows. So Cliff was the fairy godmother, or godfather - one of the two!" More to come! Jan 8: On Pick of the pops tomorrow Saturday, January 9th on Radio 2, 1.00pm-3.00pm, Dale Winton plays the hits from the chart this week in 1965. They include: The Beatles, Georgie Fame, Petula Clark, Twinkle, Val Doonican, Gene Pitney, Sandie Shaw, PJ.Proby, Cliff Richard with "I could easily fall", The Moody Blues, The Searchers, Gerry and The Pacemakers and Sounds Orchestral. Jan 8: Cliff "Essential Early Recordings" 2-CD - Jan. The double CD Essential Early Recordings contains Cliff's most popular hit singles. Here is the full track listing: CD1: Living Doll, High Class Baby, Livin Lovin Doll, Steady With You, My Feet Hit the Ground, Apron Strings, My Babe, Down The Line, I Got A Feeling, Jet Black (Drifters), Baby I Don’t Care, Donna, Move It, Ready Teddy, Too Much, Don’t Bug Me Baby, Driftin’ (the Drifters), That’ll Be The Day, Be Bop A Lula, Danny, Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ on. CD2: Travellin’ Light, Dynamite, Mean Streak, Never Mind, Schoolboy Crush, Blue Suede Shoes, Snake and the Bookworm, I Gotta Know, Here Comes Summer, I’ll String Along with You, Embraceable You, As Time Goes By, The Touch of Your Lips, 20 Flight Rock, Pointed Toe Shoes, Mean Woman Blues, I’m Walkin, I Don’t Know Why, Little Things Mean a Lot, Somewhere Along The Way, That’s My Desire. Available for £5.99 from Cliff and Shadows record specialists Leo's Den (Links page). Jan 8: Cliff & Shadows South African tour - Extra Date. Another date has been added to the Cliff and the Shadows South Africa "Reunion" tour - Wednesday 10 March at Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town. Tickets are now on sale. Venue/ticket box office listed on 'Chart hits totals' page. Jan 7: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 6 to No.5 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. Jan 7: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 4 to No.7 in the Norway music DVD chart this week. Jan 7: Cliff: (talking about Jack Good filming "Oh Boy!") "He made a camera cut on every single bar - a camera shot up the nostrils of the guitarist, on the fingers of the saxophonist, on the haircut of the keyboard player, on the dog that sat on Cherry Wainer's organ. Watching it, you'd think: "This is impossible. It's unbelievable!" That's how good it was." Jan 7: Tomorrow Friday, January 8th ...Sings Elvis, 10.00pm-11.00pm, on BBC 4 TV (Freeview 9, Freesat 107, Sky 116, Virgin 107), BBC archive performances of artists covering songs by Elvis Presley, in celebration of the day that would have been his 75th-birthday. Cliff Richard, Tom Jones, Paul McCartney and John Cale pay tribute. Jan 7: Best-selling albums of 2009 - "Reunited" No.68. In the Official 'End-of-year albums of 2009' list, Cliff and The Shadows Reunited came No.68 selling 211,500 copies. WELL DONE CLIFF AND THE SHADOWS! Jan 7: Cliff "The Early Years" 2-CD - Jan. The double CD The Early years is a combination of last year’s Cliff CD “Move It” (now deleted) and The Shadows “At Their Best”. Here is the full track listing: CD 1: High School Confidential, Move It, Early In The Morning, Rockin’ Robin, High Class Baby, King Creole, I’ll Try, Somebody Touched Me, Tv Hop, Schoolboy Crush, My Feet Hit The Ground. CD 2: Apache Intro, Riders In The Sky, The Frightened City, Kon Tiki, Dance On, Nivram, Lady Of The Morning, Guitar Tango, Sleepwalk, Shazam, Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, The Rise And Fall Of Flingel Bunt, Atlantis, Foot Tapper, The Day I Met Marie, Summer Holiday, Little B, Wonderful Land, FBI, Apache. Available for £5.99 from Cliff and Shadows record specialists Leo's Den (Links page). Jan 7: "Best wishes for the New Year and glad to see you appear to be back to full strength updating your great website with all the news and some wonderful gems as usual" - Ralph Gowling. Jan 7: Cliff & Shadows "Final Reunion" No.3 Top Music DVD 2009. From Billboard: "Take That Lead U.K. Music DVD Sales Surge By Andre Paine, London. U.K. pop act Take That's "The Circus - Live" (Universal) was the biggest music DVD release of 2009 in Britain, moving 574,000 copies according to the Official Charts Company. Overall, music video sales ended the year up 14.1% compared to 2008. Michael Jackson's "Moonwalker" (Warner) was at No.2 in 2009 with sales of 305,000, followed by The Final Reunion (2Entertain) by Cliff Richard and the Shadows at No.3, which moved 217,000 units. "The Killers Live From The Royal Albert Hall" (Universal) was at No.4, followed by Il Divo's "An Evening With Il Divo - Live In Barcelona" (Sony Music) at No.5. New figures from the British Video Association (BVA) using data from the Official Charts Company show December unit sales for video home entertainment up 1.8% on the same time in 2008". WELL DONE CLIFF AND THE SHADOWS! Jan 7: Bruce Welch: "We found out it was a Fender Stratocaster and that Ricky Nelson's guitarist also played a Fender. So Cliff sent off to California for the Fender catalogue and when it arrived we all went through this little catalogue and on the centre pages there were these guitars that looked like spaceships, including one that was pink with a gold-plated maple neck." More to come! Jan 7: Music industry news. Figures released today by the BPI - showing a modest decline in albums sales - may conceal the true state of the market as a result of the 53-week chart year in 2009. The organisation reports that combined album sales were down 3.5% (including “unmatched” digital sales, in accordance with BPI rules) overall in 2009 to 128.9m. The small decrease was largely thanks to a “healthy stream of key releases” including albums from Susan Boyle, Lady Gaga, Michael Buble, Kings of Leon, Black Eyed Peas, JLS, Robbie Williams and Paolo Nutini. Jan 7: Did you know?... that the Cliff and Shadows Reunion tour had an official attendance of 9,531 at the Newcastle Arena with a gross figure of £571,860. Figures supplied by Live Nation. Jan 7: "Happy New Year to all Cliff fans viewing the Cliff Chart Site. I check in every day, several times a day and love it. Thanks William. What is is now? Eight/nine years of the site. Keep up the good work" - Graham Young. Jan 7: "Great to see the site back up to date with all the latest news on Cliff...Here's to a fantastic 2010" - Simon Goodall. Jan 7: Three Cliff CD releases. The new 2-CD The Early Years, released Monday, January 4th, which contains 41 early Cliff tracks, the 2-CD Just about as good as it gets and the 2-CD Essential early recordings are available at £5.99 each (free UK postage and packing) from the excellent Cliff Richard and Shadows record specialists Leo's Den (Links page). Jan 6: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. In the 3rd January 1970 debut show Cliff performs the gospel song 'Oh Happy Day' which was a big hit both in the UK and the US in 1969 for the Edwin Hawkins Singers (a huge choir of black choristers). Cliff is backed by the resident backing girl trio 'The Breakaways'. He would revive this number again for his 'Cliff in Scandinavia' TV special (recorded in August 1970) which fortunately still survives on film today. A copy of the show was found in Sweden's TV archives and returned to the BBC as they had wiped their own copy. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 6: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD remains at No.3 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £12.98. Jan 6: On Sunday, April 11th, 2010 Raymond Froggatt, who wrote Cliff's 1969 hit Big ship, appears at The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire at 7.30pm. Tickets £18.50 (£15.50 concs). Tel. 01684-295074. Jan 6: Bruce Welch: "We were sitting around going through various albums by Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps, Ricky Nelson and Buddy Holly and when we saw the sleeve cover of Buddy holding this fabulous guitar we said: "We've got to have one of those." No-one had seen one before and, to us, who had been playing acoustic guitars, this one looked like a spaceship, especially to me, as I was still playing the guitar I had at school. In fact, I've got pictures of me at the London Palladium playing that £5 guitar I'd had at school." More to come! Jan 6: From The Portugal news: "Associacao Madrugada is very pleased to announce that Sir Cliff Richard has agreed to become its first patron. The charity is currently planning its next stage of fundraising activities and development including Madrugada Day to be held on Saturday, June 12th. "Having the Algarve's most famous British personality on our side will do much to raise our profile at all levels" states Associated president Alison Blair." Jan 6: Did you know?... that the Cliff and Shadows Reunion tour had an official attendance of 14,725 at the Manchester MEN Arena with a gross figure of £883,500. Figures supplied by Live Nation. Jan 5: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. The series owed much of its popularity to the lively,infectious, if sometimes slightly irreverent humour between Cliff, Hank and Una. A comedy sketch from the debut 3rd January show typifies this humour. Hank woos an attractive Chinese girl (played by Cheryl Kennedy) but his advances are met with a swift rebuttal when she slaps him around the face. "Velly Solly", retorts the girl, "No Panky, Hanky!". Adjusting his glasses Eric Morecambe style, Hank delivers the punchline: "Well that's my first new year's resolution decided. I'm giving up Wine, Women and Wong!" More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 5: Bruce Welch: "As a producer you find the material, book the muscians, do the sessions, get all the performances - if it's a hit it's the artist, if it's a flop it's the producer's fault. I thought "Honky tonk angel" was a good song, and a few years ago, when EMI put out a box set of Cliff's singles, I played "Honky tonk angel" and listened to it for the first time for nearly three years. Then I rang Cliff and said: "Have you listened to Honky tonk angel? What a great record it is, what a great vocal performance from you, the backing vocals, all of it." He said: "Yes you're right, it's a great record." Jan 5: "Thanks William for a continued great Cliff website and thanks to Paul for his interesting new series on Cliff's TV shows in the early 70's. I look forward to reading more" - Craig Bailey. Jan 5: Did you know?... that the Cliff and Shadows Reunion tour had an official attendance of 22,413 at the Sheffield Arena with a gross figure of £1,344,780. Figures supplied by Live Nation. Jan 5: New Year set to hand "Living doll" to public domain. The urgency for the British government to push for term extension in Europe again was underlined at the start of the New Year as a raft of of early rock'n'roll songs fell out of copyright in the UK. Cliff Richard's first hit "Move it", released in 1958, is already in the public domain. It will be joined this by another couple of Cliff hits - Living doll (penned by Lionel Bart) and Travellin' light, recorded by Cliff and the Drifters in 1959 and produced by the legendary Norrie Paramor. Other 50s hit songs include: Brand new cadillac (Vince Taylor), What do you want to make those eyes at me for (Emile Ford), What do you want (Adam Faith) and Does your chewing gum lose it's flavour (Lonnie Donegan). Jan 5: The new 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 6 to No.13 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1). Jan 4: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970. There were three series of It's Cliff Richard which each ran for 13 weeks from January-March in 1970, 1971 and 1972. Their fate makes grim reading. Of those 39-recorded shows just one token show from the 1st series (from 31st January 1970) survives in the BBC archives. The tapes containing the other 38 shows were unceremoniously wiped and are presumed lost forever. Off-air audio recordings are now the the only surviving evidence of this ‘lost’ and oft overlooked chapter in Cliff’s illustrious career. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk) Jan 4: Reminder that today a repeat of the first Pop Brittania documentary series on pop music, 8.00pm-9.00pm, on Blighty TV channel (Sky 534, Virgin 206). Examining the history of pop music which follows its progression from the postwar years to the 1960s. Includes Johnny Ray, Lonnie Donegan, Tommy Steele, Acker Bilk, Cliff Richard and Terry Dene. Jan 4: In the Amazon 'Oldies' Top 100 chart today: 12. "The Shadows Greatest hits" (£3.98), No.14. Cliff at Christmas - Cliff Richard (£4.98), 22. "50 Golden greats" - The Shadows (selling for £5.38), 27. "Complete singles As & Bs 1959-1980" - The Shadows (£9.08), 33. Wired for sound - Cliff Richard (£4.98) and 47. Now you see me, now you don't - Cliff Richard (£4.98). www.amazon.co.uk Jan 4: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD goes from 23 to No.26 in the Australian music DVD chart this week. Jan 4: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - March 2010. Due for release in March 2010 this contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage and photographs from private collections. Can be pre-ordered from Amazon. RRP:£15.99. Amazon price: £9.98. www.amazon.co.uk Jan 4: Album chart - sales. While the singles market is at an all-time high album sales are in decline, with sales off 47.13% week-on-week at 3,159,293. That is their lowest level for seven weeks, and 11.54% below same-week sales of 3,571,236 a year ago. Jan 3: Music DVD/Video chart Chat. The music DVD chart run for the latest Cliff and Shadows The Final Reunion DVD to date: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 and 2. (8 weeks). Jan 3: Music DVD chart - Cliff & Shads No.2. Cliff and the Shadows The Final Reunion stays firm at No.2 in this week's music DVD chart. Here is the Top 10: 1.(1)Take That. 2.(2)CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS. 3.(3)Il Divo. 4.(5)Susan Boyle. 5.(13)John Barrowman. 6.(9)The Nolans. 7.(7)Michael Jackson. 8.(6)The Killers. 9.(11)Spandau Ballet. 10.(4)George Michael. Jan 3: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website reviews the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard, which aired 40 years ago in January 1970. Here are the contents to that first show: It's Cliff Richard Show One. Saturday 3rd January 1970. 6.15 -6.50pm. Guest: Cheryl Kennedy. 1.The Joy of Living-Opening Introduction. 2.Shout-Cliff, Hank, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra. 3.With The Eyes Of A Child-Cliff, Hank, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra. 4.Introductions/Comedy Sketches-Hank, Una and Cheryl Kennedy. 5.Chelsea Boot-Hank Marvin with Una & Dancers. 6.PLAY: Rose Marie-Cliff, Cheryl, Hank & Una. 7.Throw Down A Line-Cliff, Hank, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra. 8.Comedy Medical Sketches-Cliff, Cheryl, Hank & Una. 9.Oh Happy Day-Cliff, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra. 10.Go Where I Send Thee-Cliff, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra. 11.Visions-Cliff, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk). Jan 3: "Just a reminder again that the second show at the Burswood Dome in Perth on the 7th Feb have the tickets now for $75. Great seats available, close to stage and all the action. Lets get this show sold out" - Mark New (Australia). Jan 3: "Catching up on your website. Thanks for all the Cliff info. over the years and here's to many more years of Cliff chart site" - Mike Allen. Jan 3: Up-coming gigs for top Shadows tribute band The Rapiers: Thursday, January 28th-"Made in Britain" show with Craig Douglas, Michael "Billy Fury" King and Steven "Cliff Richard" Halliday, Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, Tel. 08700-131030, Friday, January 29th-"Made in Britain" show, Pavillion Theatre, Exmouth, Devon, Tel. 01395-222477, Saturday, February 6th-Warners Littlecote House Hotel, Hungerford, Berkshire, Tel. 01488-682509, Thursday, March 4th-"Made in Britain" show, Winding Wheel Theatre, Cherterfield, Derbyshire, Tel. 01246-345334, Saturday, March 6th-with Jet Harris, Thameside Theatre, Grays, Essex, Tel. 0845-3005264 and Sunday, March 7th-"Me and my Shadows" show starring Kytsun "Cliff Richard" Wolfe and Billie Davis, Princes Theatre, Hunstantion, Norfolk, Tel. 01485-532252. Jan 2: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series. Starts today: Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website reviews the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard, which aired 40 years ago today on Saturday 3rd January 1970. Light entertainment on the BBC during the early 1970's was a cosy 'family affair' and no Saturday evening was complete without an appearance by 'Doctor Who', 'Morecambe and Wise' or Cliff Richard to entertain the nation. Cliff's output on television at this time was prolific. He starred in three series of 'It's Cliff Richard for the BBC that aired from early January to late March in each of the years 1970, 1971 and 1972. Cliff’s regular guests throughout the series were Hank Marvin and Una Stubbs. Their on-screen chemistry and humour was an instant hit. The series became extremely successful in Britain attracting weekly audiences of more than 15 million viewers as the nation warmed to its family oriented mix of wholesome comedy and good music. In this first show of the first series, pre-recorded in colour before a live audience at BBC’s Wood Green Theatre, Cliff sings two of his contemporary hits from 1969 - “With The Eyes Of A Child” and the superb “Throw Down A Line”. He also sings a cover of Lulu’s “Shout” which had featured on the “Don’t Stop Me Now” album from 1967. He brings the show to a rousing finale with two spiritual numbers –“Oh happy day” and “Children Go Where I Send Thee”. Cliff finishes with the haunting ballad “Visions”. Viewers quickly adopted it as their favourite and sent the BBC letters of dismay if he omitted it from any of his shows. The song became such a Cliff trademark that he closed the subsequent 1971 and 1972 “It’s Cliff Richard” series with it too. More to come! Jan 2: "A prosperous New Year 2010! I wish you especially a good health. Thank you for the good work with your website. We enjoy it everyday" - Mireille Gruwier (Antwerp). Jan 2: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD is at No.1 in the Denmark music DVD chart this week. 7 weeks at No.1. Jan 2: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD has gone from 8 to No.6 in the Belgium music DVD chart this week. Jan 2: In today's Weekend magazine photos of: Olivia Newton-John, Elton John, Sarah Brightman, Van Morrison and Katherine Jenkins. 'Who's the odd one out?' Answer: All had hit duets with Cliff Richard, except for Katherine Jenkins. Jan 2: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - March 2010. Due for release in March 2010 this contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage and photographs from private collections. Can be pre-ordered from Amazon. RRP:£15.99. Amazon price: £9.98. www.amazon.co.uk Jan 2: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD remains at No.3 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £12.98. Jan 2: "Thank you for another year of jam-packed Cliff information. There is always something interesting to read on your site and long may it continue. To you and all Cliff fans a very happy 2010" - Nigel Freeman. Jan 1: "Hi All, www.cliffrichardshadows.com main page has been updated with the video of the last ever performance in the UK of Cliff and the Shadows. To watch it just goto the site and watch the video that will automatically play on the home page. Hope you all had a safe and happy night and welcome to 2010" - Mark New (Australia). Jan 1: "Happy New Year! Thanks for another challenging quiz. You always manage to find a 'killer' question (Q5), but it was great fun nevertheless" - Eric Allard. Jan 1: It was 50 years ago... January 1st, 1959. Cliff, Lonnie Donegan, Marty Wilde and Russ Conway outstrip all their American counterparts (including Elvis) by taking the top four places in the N.M.E. end-of-year points table. Jan 1: "It was a great fun quiz and I will look forward to receiving it" - Margaret Baker (Competition winner). Jan 1: "I wish you all the very best in all aspects of your life during 2010 and very much look forward to another year made richer by regular readings of your truly marvellous website which gives all the up-to-date information on Cliff as well as interesting facts and observations of fans. Keep up the good work in this New Year and keep on Cliffin’ in 2010, William!!" - Claire Mellican. Jan 1: Cliff Quiz. The draw has taken place and we have a winner. Here are this year's Christmas Cliff answers: 1.Arthur Askey. 2.Rod Stewart. 3. The Jordanaires. 4."Empty chairs". 5.broody. 6.Stuart Colman. 7."Congratulations". A great response to the Quiz. The first all-correct answers drawn and the winner is: MARGARET BAKER Margaret wins Cliff & the Shadows The Final Reunion DVD. Thanks to all who entered this year. WELL DONE MARGARET! Jan 1: Cliff Chart Site - new Cliff series. There will be a new series on Cliff starting very shortly ... only on this website! Jan 1: Cliff and the Shadows Reunited album came No.25 in the French Belgium Best-sellers album list of 2009. Jan 1: Repeat of Top Gear screened at 10.00-11.00 on Sunday, January 10th on Dave TV channel repeated at 11.00 on Sunday, January 10th on Dave Ja Vu, 15.00 on Sunday, January 10th on Dave and again at 16.00 on Sunday, January 10th on Dave Ja Vu. Cliff Richard lifts the lid off the BMW 6 Series cabriolet and Jeremy finds out if the true spirit of the VW Golf GTI is back. Cliff Richard is the 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car'. Jan 1: On Pick of the pops on Saturday, January 9th on Radio 2, 1.00pm-3.00pm, Dale Winton plays the hits from the chart this week in 1965. They include: The Beatles, Georgie Fame, Petula Clark, Twinkle, Val Doonican, Gene Pitney, Sandie Shaw, PJ.Proby, Cliff Richard with "I could easily fall", The Moody Blues, The Searchers, Gerry and The Pacemakers and Sounds Orchestral. Jan 1: Cliff Chart Site has had a total of 31,033,735 successful hits (upto December 31st 2009) since the website started back in 2002. Jan 1: On Friday, January 8th ...Sings Elvis, 10.00pm-11.00p, on BBC 4 TV (Freeview 9, Freesat 107, Sky 116, Virgin 107), BBC archive performances of artists covering songs by Elvis Presley, in celebration of the day that would have been his 75th-birthday. Cliff Richard, Tom Jones, Paul McCartney and John Cale pay tribute. Jan 1: In December this website had 473,153 successful hits. This is the 4th highest monthly figure for December since the website started in 2002. It is the 17th highest monthly figure. A huge and sincere THANK YOU for your continued support. Dec 31: Cliff Quiz up-date. A great response to this year's Christmas Cliff Quiz. Entries to date received from: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, New Zealand, UK, USA. Draw takes place tomorrow. Have you sent your entries in yet? Dec 31: Repeat of An Audience With Cliff Richard at 23.05 - 00.10 today Thursday, December 31st, New Year's Eve, 00:05 on Friday 1st January, New Year's Day on ITV3 Plus 1, 07.05 on Friday 1st January on ITV3 and 08.05 on Friday 1st January on ITV3 Plus 1. An evening in the company of a star-studded audience and the musical legend Cliff Richard. Featuring contributions from Another Level, Elaine Paige, Vincenza La Scola, Chicken Shed and the Capital Voice Choir. Dec 31: Mid-week album chart. In the official mid-week album chart upto close of sales on Wednesday here is the Top 10: 1.(4)Lady Gaga. 2.(1)Susan Boyle. 3.(15)Paolo Nutini. 4.(1)Michael Buble. 5.(7)Black Eyed Peas. 6.(26)Florence & The Machine. 7.(35)Muse. 8.(9)Will Young. 9.(5)JLS. 10.(8)Snow Patrol. Outside Top 10: 25.(-)Andre Rieu. Cliff and The Shadows Reunited album is currently at No.65 in the 'Official Top 100 best-selling albums of 2009' list, to date. Dec 31: Did you see?... Cliff's film musical Summer holiday was at No.47 in The 100 greatest musicals on More 4 TV today. Cliff chatted about the film. Cliff singing "Summer holiday" and "Bachelor boy" clips were shown. Dec 31: Did you see?... Cliff talking about Elvis on The 100 greatest musicals on More 4 TV today. Clip of the Elvis film "Jailhouse rock" shown. Dec 31: In today's Daily Mail on Letters page: 'Bachelor buoyant' by WH. "The past year has seen quite a few pop reunions - the Nolans, Spandau Ballet, Kajagoogoo etc. but one reunion has outshone them all. Cliff Richard and the Shadows reunited to perform 22 sell-out UK arena dates and 14 European dates. They tour Australia, New Zealand and South Africa early next year. Their single, Singing The Blues, was Cliff's 135th hit single and his 124th Top 40 hit. The album Reunited hit No.4 and went Double Gold, selling more than 200,000 copies, and the DVD of the tour, The Final Reunion, reached No.1 in the music DVD chart. That's a successful reunion, by anyone's reckoning." Dec 31: Cliff Quiz. Here is the final question, Question Seven: Which song had 56 versions in various languages hurriedly released around the world? This is the final question in this year's Cliff Quiz. When you have all your answers ready, send them to e-mail on 'Links' page. The draw takes place tomorrow, New Year's Day. The first all-correct answers drawn sees that person win Cliff and The Shadows The Final Reunion concert DVD. Send your entries in now!! Good luck! Dec 31: "Well the end of 2009 is not far away and as we step into 2010 may I wish you all a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR. May all your dreams come true in 2010 and I look forward in seeing most of you at the concert at Burswood" - Mark New (Australia). Dec 31: "I've studied once again the website http://www.cliffmas.co.uk/ and saw the signed Reunited album by Cliff, so there is probably no doubt about CLIFF's comment... I find it really funny... it must be wonderful for people, like his friends for instance, who get the chance to chat with him... I like his sense of humor and his ability to juggle with words... in his own biography he mentions that he misses not having studied... but I think he's really good with words. What do you think as a compatriot...?... I only can judge as stranger. I have to say that CLIFF cares much about talking slowly English when he's abroad, it's so easy to follow. When I listen to him on British TV, it's too quick, sometimes I miss some parts of a discussion, I'm glad when I can watch it again on youtube which makes it easier when I can listen again" - Liliane Ackermann (Luxembourg). Dec 31: Jet Harris - M.B.E. Ex-Shadows bass guitarist Jet Harris has been awarded a M.B.E. (Member of British Empire) in the New Year Honour's List announced today. WELL DONE JET! Dec 30: Cliff: (on acting on stage) "I I really enjoyed working with actors, because it's so completely different for me as a concert artist. When you're singing to a crowd you sing to them, your reaction is to them. In a show you have to ignore the audience to a great extent because you're acting with your fellow actors. It's a whole different way of looking at things." Dec 30: "Enjoying your Christmas Cliff quiz. The one I had trouble with - that question five, I found in a very recent book on Cliff. So now, I feel sure I have all right. Of course, there is still tomorrow's question to come!" - Lloyd Roberts. Dec 30: On Saturday, July 31st, 2010 Shadows tribute band The Bootleg Shadows play The Playhouse Theatre, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, Tel. Box Office 01934-64-55-44. Dec 30: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD stays firm at No.6 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. Dec 30: Westlife counted down the Top 40 Greatest Christmas songs ever as voted by viewers of VH1, VIVA and listeners to Capital 95.8 on VH1 today. Cliff figured at No.3 with Mistletoe and Wine and No.11 with Saviour's Day The Top 3: 1. The Pogues-"Fairytale Of New York". 2. Mariah Carey-"All I Want For Christmas". 3. Cliff-"Mistletoe and Wine". Dec 30: Mid-week album chart. In the official mid-week album chart upto close of sales on Tuesday here is the Top 10: 1.(4)Lady Gaga. 2.(1)Susan Boyle. 3.(15)Paolo Nutini. 4.(1)Michael Buble. 5.(7)Black Eyed Peas. 6.(26)Florence & The Machine. 7.(5)JLS. 8.(35)Muse. 9.(9)Will Young. 10.(10)Cheryl Cole. Outside Top 10: 22.(-)Andre Rieu. Dec 30: Cliff Quiz. Here is Question Six: Who produced the Cliff and The Young Ones version of "Living doll"? Dec 30: Music industry news. Just when digital music players such as iPods were heralding the death of the CD, up pops news that cassettes, of all things, are making a comeback. Internet retailer Amazon received so many requests for a taped version of an album called "Words for you" - where actors including Joanna Lumley read poetry by the likes of William Wordsworth and John Betjeman over classical music - that Island Records released 4,000 cassettes versions, which promptly sold out. A host of record companies are considering releasing some of their titles on cassette, too. Dec 29: Cliff Quiz up-date. Some of you have sent in your answers to date. Most looking spot on while some struggling with question five. All I can say is...the answer really is in the quote/question!! Dec 29: Simon Goodall's single Bluebird Cafe/Someone Else is available for down load on www.amazon.co.uk ... You can purchase individual tracks or the single. Type in Simon Goodall Bluebird Cafe and it will take straight to the tracks to buy. You can also visit Simon's website: www.soundslikecliff.com Dec 29: Three Cliff CD releases - Jan. 2010. The new 2-CD The Early Years, released on Monday, January 4th, which contains 41 early Cliff tracks, the 2-CD Just about as good as it gets and the 2-CD Essential early recordings are available at £5.99 each (free UK postage and packing) from the excellent Cliff Richard and Shadows record specialists Leo's Den (Links page). Dec 29: Music industry news. There was a record rise in the number of shoppers to hit the high street on Sunday as the sales season kicked off in earnest. Experian, the research firm, said the number of bargain hunters soared by 17.9% compared with the same time last year. Richard Dodd, a spokesman for the British Retail Consortium said: "It's been the strongest Christmas sales we have seen for a number of years - if not ever." Dec 29: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD is at No.3 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £12.98. Dec 29: Cliff Quiz. Here is Question Five: What is the missing word from this Cliff quote? "I've never felt ...... or wanted to be a father." (missing word 6 letters). Dec 29: Tomorrow Wednesday, December 30th 50 Years of Cliff and the Shadows is broadcast, 6.00pm-7.00pm, on BBC Radio Oxford 107.9FM. You can listen on-line at: www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiooxford Dec 29: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - March 2010. Due for release in March 2010 this contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage and photographs from private collections. Can be pre-ordered from Amazon. RRP:£15.99. Amazon price: £9.98. www.amazon.co.uk Dec 28: Cliff's Summer holiday played on The Great British Songbook of the 60s on BBC Radio 2 today. Dec 28: Music industry news. PRS for Music has put Status Quo at the top of their list of hardest-working bands. According to the society, the veteran rockers performed to more than a quarter of a million fans this year, taking in nearly 30 venues on the journey. The reformed Cliff Richard and the Shadows were placed second with Take That in third. Coldplay and US band Kings of Leon also made the list. Dec 28: Reminder that today on BBC Radio Two The Great British Songbook Of The 60s, 2.00-5.00pm. Tony Blackburn and sixties pop star Cilla Black look at the Great British Songbook of the 60s. Over three hours, Tony and Cilla take a trip down memory lane as they play the best British songs from this decade, including suggestions from Radio 2 listeners. With a playlist that includes the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Cliff Richard and Dusty Springfield, they reflect the work of some of Britain's greatest songwriters and share their own memories from the 60s. Dec 28: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD has dropped to No.5 in the Sweden music DVD chart this week. Dec 28: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD has gone from 16 to No.23 in the Australian music DVD Top 40 chart this week. Dec 28: "Hi William. Good to see you’re back again, and the Cliff-quiz is always one of the highlights of the year! So far I think I have managed to find the answers. Best wishes for a Happy New Year" - Mogens Troelsen (Denmark). Dec 28: "Really enjoying your annual Cliff Christmas quiz. Looking good at the moment, but knowing you, there will be one stinker that usually really foxes me. That's what makes it so much (excruciating!) fun!" - Robert Green. Dec 28: Cliff & Shadows "Reunited" album sales. After 14 weeks on the UK Top 75 Album chart, the album has sold 208,614 copies. Dec 28: Cliff Quiz. Here is Question Four: What was the B-side to Cliff's "Living in harmony" single? Dec 28: The new 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 7 to No.6 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1). Dec 28: Music DVD/Video chart Chat. The music DVD chart run for the latest Cliff and Shadows The Final Reunion DVD to date: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2 and 2. (7 weeks). Dec 28: Music DVD chart - Cliff & Shads No.2. Cliff and the Shadows The Final Reunion stays firm at No.2 in this week's music DVD chart. Here is the Top 10: 1.(1)Take That. 2.(2)CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS. 3.(4)Il Divo. 4.(3)George Michael. 5.(5)Susan Boyle. 6.(6)The Killers. 7.(7)Micheal Jackson. 8.(5)Daniel O'Donnell. 9.(15)The Nolans. 10.(9)Pink. Dec 27: Cliff: "For them to say to us, "One day you'll be able to overdub" or "One day a song will be recorded in three different countries but the three singers needn't even meet up" ... all that technology, it was too much like fantasy. Move It we did about three or four takes and that was it. We couldn't have possibly in '59 envisaged what magic there was lying ahead of us and I relish it because my favourite part of my career is recording." Dec 27: Album chart Chat. The album chart run for the latest Cliff and Shadows Reunited album to date: 6, 7, 4, 12, 13, 26, 33, 35, 50, 51, 39, 50, 53 and 59. Dec 27: Album chart Chat. The 14 week album chart run of Cliff and The Shadows Reunited (2009, No.4) now exceeds the 13 week album chart run of Cliff's The whole story (2000, No.6). Dec 27: "Reunited" - today No.59. In its fourteenth week the new Cliff and the Shadows album Reunited has gone from 53 to No.59 in the Official UK Top 75 albums chart today. Dec 27: In the Amazon 'Oldies' Top 100 chart today: 10. "50 Golden greats" - The Shadows (selling for £5.38), 11. 40 Golden greats - Cliff Richard (£6.98), 12. "The Shadows Greatest hits" (£3.98), No.26. Cliff at Christmas - Cliff Richard (£4.98), "At their very best" - The Shadows (3.48). www.amazon.co.uk Dec 27: Cliff Quiz. Here is Question Three: Which vocal group backed Cliff at his recording session in Nashville in 1965? Dec 27: Music industry news. The BPI has issued a new report showing that illegal P2P filesharing in the UK is not declining. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that non-P2P methods of sharing are increasing. Dec 26: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD is at No.1 for the sixth week in the Denmark music DVD chart this week. Dec 26: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD has gone from 4 to No.9 in the Netherlands music DVD Top 30 chart this week. Dec 26: On Friday, January 8th ...Sings Elvis, 10.00pm-11.00p, on BBC 4 TV (Freeview 9, Freesat 107, Sky 116, Virgin 107), BBC archive performances of artists covering songs by Elvis Presley, in celebration of the day that would have been his 75th-birthday. Cliff Richard, Tom Jones, Paul McCartney and John Cale pay tribute. Dec 26: On Monday, January 4th a repeat of the first Pop Brittania documentary series on pop music, 8.00pm-9.00pm, on Blighty TV channel (Sky 534, Virgin 206). Examining the history of pop music which follows its progression from the postwar years to the 1960s. Includes Johnny Ray, Lonnie Donegan, Tommy Steele, Acker Bilk, Cliff Richard and Terry Dene. Dec 26: Cliff Quiz. Here is Question Two: In the 1972/1973 N.M.E. Poll Results, Cliff lost his 'British Male Singer' title to whom? Dec 26: On Wednesday, December 30th 50 Years of Cliff and the Shadows is broadcast, 6.00pm-7.00pm, on BBC Radio Oxford 107.9FM. You can listen on-line at: www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiooxford Dec 26: On Pick of the pops today Boxing Day on Radio 2, 1.00pm-3.00pm, Dale Winton plays the hits from the chart this week in 1962. They include: Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard with "The next time", The Shadows, Duane Eddy, Frank Ifield, Brenda Lee, Rolf Harris, The Tornadoes, Susan Maughan, Chris Montez, Stan Getz and Charlie Boyd and Ray Charles. In the second hour, Dale plays the hits from the chart this week in 1981. They include: Human Laugue, Cliff Richard with "Daddy's home", Abba, Adam and The Ants, Bucks Fizz, Madness, Godley and Creme, Status Quo, Dollar, Jon and Vangelis, Rod Stewart and The Police. Dec 26: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD has gone from 3 to No.6 in the Belgium music DVD chart this week. Dec 25: Cliff: (What do you think the Cliff of 1959 make of the current business now?) "He would have thought, "This is impossible." When you think we stood around our microphones and played live and if somebody went wrong it was just a pain in the backside to have to do it again." More to come! Dec 25: A new 2-CD The Early Years is released on Monday, January 4th. Contains 41 early Cliff tracks. Available to pre-order from Amazon. You can also get Just about as good as it gets CD and Essential early recordings CD. Price for all three CDs: £19.56. www.amazon.co.uk Dec 25: Repeat screening of Gloria's Greats on Saturday, December 26th, on Bio Channel, 12:00 - 13:00. Gloria Hunniford drops in for a chat with enduring singer and close pal Cliff Richard. Will he reveal any secrets or just strike up a tune? Dec 25: Cliff Quiz. Full details yesterday. Starts today. Here is Question One: In Cliff's "Aladdin and his wonderful lamp" pantomime, who played Widow Twankey? Dec 25: Today Friday, December 25th, Christmas Day, Cliff Richard in conversation is broadcast (after The Queen's Christmas message), 3.05pm-4.00pm, on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, 104.7FM, MW1413 or listen on-line at: www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiogloucestershire There have been several adverts for it. Dec 25: "William, Happy Christmas to you and Moya. Love" - Rod and Marg Trott. Dec 25: HAPPY CHRISTMAS Dec 24: Cliff: (Would you have expected your career to last?) "We were having the most wonderful time and didn't think beyond the next recording session or the next tour we were going to do. I remember I talked about this The Shadows when five years had gone by and we thought, "Oh, at least we're not overnight sensations, we've actually made it" and then 10 years went by I got stuck by the fact that if you get to 10 years then potentially longevity is in your grasp. It's been hard work. Maybe I'm making it sound easy but you can't have longevity unless you're prepared to work at it, too." More to come! Dec 24: Cliff's Mistletoe and wine was played in the background in a scene in the Woolpack in "Emmerdale" on ITV-1 TV today. Dec 24: CLIFF QUIZ. Starting Christmas Day, there will be seven Cliff questions, one every day upto and including December 31st. Colate your answers and send in as soon as you have all the correct answers and send in to this site. In the New Year SOMEONE will win Cliff and The Shadows chart-topping DVD The Final Reunion. The first all-corrct entry drawn on January 1st wins. As usual, there are questions on Cliff that will niggle at you, irritate you and have you scratching your head over the holiday period. Not your average Cliff Quiz! So, are you up for it? Dec 24: "Hi Everyone, I'd just like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I am going to my cousin's house, about a mile away, just as well as there is no transport. No snow here, we did have a slight dusting a few days ago but it has been very cold. Happy Cliffmas!" - Joan Batten. Dec 24: Merry Cliffmas! (30 minutes) is screened on VH1 UK at 21.00 today Thursday 24th December and 11.30 on Friday 25th December. It's about this time of year that Sir Cliff Richard returns from his summer holiday to heap another Christmas single on a not-so-unsuspecting public. We pay homage to a proper crimbo star. Dec 24: "William, I wish you a merry Christmas" - Carmen Couvreur (Belgium). Dec 24: "Just playing 'Cliff at Christmas', which is getting me in the Christmas mood. Like to say thank you William for all the Cliff news you have supplied throughout 2009. I always learn something from looking into your site. Have a good one!" - Carl Griggs. Dec 24: Cliff's The young ones played on the excellent GOLD radio MW98 today. They have a competition to win Cliff and the Shadows Reunited album. Check out: www.mygold.com Dec 24: Mid-week album chart. In the official mid-week album chart upto close of sales on Wednesday here is the Top 10: 1.(2)Michael Buble. 2.(1)Susan Boyle. 3.(3)Black Eyed Peas. 4.(4)Lady Gaga. 5.(5)JLS. 6.(10)Take That. 7.(6)Robbie Williams. 8.(7)Snow Patrol. 9.(11)Will Young. 10.(14)Cheryl Cole. Cliff and The Shadows Reunited album is currently at No.66 in the 'Official Top 100 best-selling albums of 2009' list, to date. Dec 24: "Merry Christmas and may your wishes come true in 2010. I hope your health problems belong to the past now...and I wish you continuously success with your fantastic website... With the hope to see you again, can't wait to see Cliff on stage again!" - Liliane Ackermann (Luxembourg). Dec 24: "Have a great Christmas and hope 2010 will see you in better health. Just read that Bob Heatlie who wrote Merry Xmas Everyone for Shaky sent a Xmas song to Cliff a while back but sadly it never got to him. Hope CR hasn't missed a whopper there? Keep up the great CLIFFMAS work" - John Patrick. Dec 24: "Wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year of 2010 with Joy and Love!" - Annie Kong (New Jersey). Dec 24: "William, I wish and your Family a Happy Xmas and a Healthy New Year" - Rina Noordegraaf (The Netherlands). Dec 24: "Thank you William for your wonderful Cliff website. Have a very Merry Christmas and here's to lots more Cliff news in 2010" - Andrew Hicks. Dec 24: Music industry news. Zavvi is set for a shock return to the high street next year, following in the footsteps of HMV by setting up temporary stores to sell entertainment products. Dec 23: Cliff: "I remember reading a memo I wasn't supposed to read and it was somebody in EMI, no names mentioned, and it just said, "Sell more, less budget" and I'm thnking, "This doesn't make sense because unless you invest you can't make any money." I'm talking about 20 years ago so this started way back. Of course you support your album, but when you have to fork out money to make videos and all that and have to take a share of all the advertising you think, "Why am I bothering? I could do this all myself, have my own label and pay for it myself." More to come! Dec 23: On The Nolans: In the mood for dancing on ITV-1 today clips of the group on Cliff's BBC-TV show, including their TV debut. Several Cliff clips shown as he paid tribute to them. Dec 23: Did you know?... that the Cliff and Shadows Reunion tour had an official attendance of 30,172 at the 02, London with a gross figure of £1,810,220. Figures supplied by Live Nation. Dec 23: In the Amazon 'Oldies' Top 100 chart today: 11. "The Shadows Greatest hits" (£3.98), No.17. Cliff at Christmas - Cliff Richard (selling for £4.98), 22. "20 Golden greats" - The Shadows (4.48), No.24. "50 Golden greats" - The Shadows (£5.38). 29. 40 Golden greats - Cliff Richard (£6.98), Songs from Heathcliff - Cliff Richard (2.74), 44. Yesterday, today, forever - Cliff Richard (£14.85). www.amazon.co.uk Dec 23: Today Wednesday, December 23rd The Nolans: In the mood for dancing, ITV1-TV, 8.00pm-9.00pm, looks back over their 30-year career. There's footage of the sisters preparing to perform together after a hiatus of 25 years and of their career and personal highs and lows. There are also contributions from celebrity fans including Cliff Richard. Dec 23: "William, I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2010. Thanks for all your work in 2009" - Guus Zwaan (The Netherlands). Dec 23: "Seasons greetings to all Cliff fans viewing this site worldwide. Here's to seeing and hearing Cliff in 2010!" - Sean Warner. Dec 23: Mid-week album chart. In the official mid-week album chart upto close of sales on Tuesday here is the Top 10: 1.(2)Michael Buble. 2.(1)Susan Boyle. 3.(3)Black Eyed Peas. 4.(4)Lady Gaga. 5.(5)JLS. 6.(10)Take That. 7.(6)Robbie Williams. 8.(7)Snow Patrol. 9.(11)Will Young. 10.(14)Cheryl Cole. Cliff and The Shadows Reunited album (2009, No.4 peak) set for it's 14th week on the Top 75 album chart this week, which will better the 13-week chart-run of Cliff's The whole story (2000, No.6 peak). Dec 23: Cliff's Cliff at Christmas album is at No.39 in the Amazon Christmas Top Sellers list today selling for £6.07. Dec 23: Merry Cliffmas! (30 minutes) is screened on VH1 UK at 09.00 on Wednesday 23rd December, 16:30 on Wednesday 23rd December, 21.00 on Thursday 24th December and 11.30 on Friday 25th December. It's about this time of year that Sir Cliff Richard returns from his summer holiday to heap another Christmas single on a not-so-unsuspecting public. We pay homage to a proper crimbo star. Dec 23: "Glad to hear you are on the mend. Enjoy the Christmas break" - Gill and Bernard Connolly. Dec 23: "Thank you so much for all your hard work. Hope that you are feeling so much better. Happy Christmas" - Rosemary Brown. Dec 23: Cliff's Little town played on "The Ken Bruce Show" on BBC 2 today. Dec 23: "I wish all visitors to the great Cliff chart site a very Happy Christmas. All the very best to you William, your family and all Cliff fans everywhere" - Matt Thomas. Dec 23: "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone. Thanks William for this fantastic website. Great to hear that 'Reunited' reached double gold just before Christmas. Congratulations to Cliff and The Shadows from Germany" - Ulrike Krüger (Germany). Dec 22: Did you know?... that the Cliff Christmas song that he believes should have been number one was Little town. Cliff: "That was the classic of all the Christmas songs I've ever done." Dec 22: Cliff: "I don't know how to gauge it other than the whole tempo of life has changed, people's attitudes to music changed, people's attitudes to other people changed. All of that has to be taken into consideration. My only gripe is that whereas there was a time when we made the records and they sold them, now it seems to me we are called upon to sell the records as well as make them." More to come! Dec 22: "Well done lads indeed. Brilliant news just before Christmas. 200k and rising! No one deserves it more, that's for sure" - Mark Harrison. Dec 22: "That is terrific news to hear that Cliff and the Shadows 'Reunited' album has officially passed the 200,000 mark. What a great success to round off their 50th anniversary year" - Terry Phillips. Dec 22: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - March 2010. Due for release in March 2010 this contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage and photographs from private collections. Can be pre-ordered from Amazon. RRP:£15.99. Amazon price: £9.98. www.amazon.co.uk Dec 22: Cliff & Shadows "REUNITED" is a DOUBLE GOLD DISC! The latest Cliff and the Shadows album Reunited is officially confirmed today as selling over 200,000 copies. Whilst there is not an actual 'award' for this amount, Double Gold is regularly quoted by record companies, the music industry, media news and the artists themselves. WELL DONE CLIFF AND THE SHADOWS! Dec 22: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD has gone from 5 to No.6 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. Dec 22: On today's Alan Titchmarch Show on ITV1 -TV, 3.00pm-4.00pm, highlights of the past five years, Roy Hudd mentioned that he was surprised to hear that Cliff Richard had been in showbiz for 50 years. They were both at Butlins, while Roy was in one room entertaining, Cliff was in the rock'n'roll ballroom. Roy quipped: "I look so much younger than him!" Dec 22: In the Official Top 20 Christmas Best-sellers 2000s list, here is the Top 10: 1."Do they know it's Christmas" - Band Aid 20. 2. "Christmas Time (Don't let the bells end)" - The Darkness. 3. "Fairytale of New York" - The Pogues. 4. "All I want for Christmas is you" - Mariah Carey. 5. "Proper Crimbo" - Bo Selecta. 6."What hurts the most/Last Christmas" - Cascada. 7. "Last Christmas" - Wham. 8. "Happy Xmas (War is over)" - The Idols. 9. "I believe in Christmas" - The Tweenies. 10. "Snow (Hey Oh) - Red Hot Chilli Peppers. 17. SANTA'S LIST - Cliff Richard. Dec 22: Up-coming gig for Cliff look/soundalike Ricky Aron: Saturday, December 26th-The Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries, Scotland. Dec 22: "A very Happy Christmas to everyone who logs onto Cliff chart site every day, like I do. Never miss all the news and always up to date. Enjoy the Christmas celebrations!" - Mike Jones. Dec 22: "William, thank you so much for your help with BLUEBIRD CAFÉ. It really is a great help getting the ball rolling!! Hope your still on the mend!!! Plenty of vit C and love from Moya!!!! Look after yourself, stay warm" - Rod Trott. Dec 22: Cliff's Official 2010 Calendar - out now. Cliff's Official Calendar is at No.44 in the Amazon.com Top 100 'Best-sellers' Calendar chart today selling for £4.75 which includes free delivery. www.amazon.com Dec 22: Cliff's Lucky lips played on the excellent GOLD radio MW98 today. Dec 22: Mid-week album chart. In the official mid-week album chart upto close of sales on Monday here is the Top 10: 1.(2)Michael Buble. 2.(1)Susan Boyle. 3.(4)Lady Gaga. 4.(3)Black Eyed Peas. 5.(10)Take That. 6.(5)JLS. 7.(6)Robbie Williams. 8.(7)Snow Patrol. 9.(11)Will Young. 10.(14)Cheryl Cole. It is a two-way battle between Michael Buble’s "Crazy Love" (Reprise) and current chart topper, Susan Boyle’s "I Dreamed A Dream" (Syco). "Crazy Love" is currently ahead, but by a margin of just 5,000 copies in what is a strong week for album sales. Dec 22: In the Amazon 'Oldies' Top 100 chart today: No.8. Cliff at Christmas - Cliff Richard (selling for £6.07), 9. "The Shadows Greatest hits" (£4.98), 11. "Complete Shadows As & Bs - 1959-1980" (£8.78) and No.13. "50 Golden greats" - The Shadows (£5.38). www.amazon.co.uk Dec 22: "I would like to wish all Cliff fans at this special time of year a very Merry Christmas. Thanks William for a great site and warm wishes for your speedy recovery. It's good to have you back" - Susan Harman. Dec 22: "This lady and her Christmas song were featured on South-East Today yesterday evening. Here is the link to the entry on You Tube and the lyrics to the song: http://www.cliffmas.co.uk" - Claire Mellican. Dec 22: Portsmouth News: "It's Hanks very much as Shadows legend donates guitar to Kirsty charity. A GUITAR signed by guitar legend Hank Marvin is to be sold to raise cash for charity. The guitarist, of Cliff Richard's backing band, The Shadows, is synonymous with the Fender Stratocaster - so much so that rock's favoured guitar firm has even named some after him. Fender donated one of the expensive guitars to Tom McDonald, whose 16 year-old daughter Kirsty, from Leigh Park, died of a heart attack in 2002. He set up a charity in her memory which raises awareness of the need for organ donations and gives presents to children in hospital." Dec 21: Cliff: "I think they (artists) probably make more demands on record companies. I'm never quite sure how to balance it out because the record industry has become about lawyers and accountants and not necessarily music people. Whether they were the MD of a company or the guys who went out and sold the records, they were heavily into music." More to come! Dec 21: A new 2-CD The Early Years is released on Monday, January 4th. Contains 41 early Cliff tracks. Available to pre-order from Amazon. You can also get Just about as good as it gets CD and Essential early recordings CD. Price for all three CDs: £19.56. www.amazon.co.uk Dec 21: On today's Alan Titchmarch Show on ITV1 -TV, 3.00pm-4.00pm, highlights of the year including Cliff Richard. Dec 21: Cliff & Shadows "Reunited" album sales. After 13 weeks on the UK Top 75 Album chart, the album has sold 196,845 copies. Dec 21: "The Final Reunion DVD will now be released in Canada on January 19, 2010 and is available for pre-order from Amazon.ca for $15.49" - David Colman. Dec 21: Repeat of An Audience With Cliff Richard at 23.05 - 00.10 on Thursday, December 31st, New Year's Eve, 00:05 on Friday 1st January, New Year's Day on ITV3 Plus 1, 07.05 on Friday 1st January on ITV3 and 08.05 on Friday 1st January on ITV3 Plus 1. An evening in the company of a star-studded audience and the musical legend Cliff Richard. Featuring contributions from Another Level, Elaine Paige, Vincenza La Scola, Chicken Shed and the Capital Voice Choir. Dec 21: On Friday, December 25th, Christmas Day, Cliff Richard in conversation is broadcast (after The Queen's Christmas message), 3.05pm-4.00pm, on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, 104.7FM, MW1413 or listen on-line at: www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiogloucestershire Dec 21: Cliff's Cliff at Christmas album is at No.36 in the Amazon Christmas Top Sellers list today selling for £4.98. Dec 21: "I would like to wish William, Cliff Chart Site and all Cliff fans around the world, a very Happy Christmas" - Liz Marshall. Dec 21: "Have a fantastic Christmastime sharing all the good and the peace with your family and friends!" - Bernard Vandendriessche (Belgium). Dec 21: Cliff's Mistletoe and wine is back up to No.281 in the iTunes.apple.com chart today. Dec 21: UK album chart - sales. Last week in the Official UK album chart, overall, despite appalling weather, album sales climbed for the fourth week in a row, improving 17.5% to a new 2009 high of 6,820,881. That’s 6.51% below same week 2008 sales of 7,295,980. Dec 21: Merry Cliffmas! (30 minutes) is screened on VH1 UK at 11.00 Tuesday 22nd December and repeated 09.00 on Wednesday 23rd December, 16:30 on Wednesday 23rd December, 21.00 on Thursday 24th December and 11.30 on Friday 25th December. It's about this time of year that Sir Cliff Richard returns from his summer holiday to heap another Christmas single on a not-so-unsuspecting public. We pay homage to a proper crimbo star. Dec 21: The new 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 6 to No.7 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1). Dec 21: Music DVD/Video chart Chat. The music DVD chart run for the latest Cliff and Shadows The Final Reunion DVD to date: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2 and 2. Dec 21: Music DVD chart - Cliff & Shads No.2. Cliff and the Shadows The Final Reunion stays firm at No.2 in this week's music DVD chart. Here is the Top 10: 1.(1)Take That. 2.(2)CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS. 3.(3)George Michael. 4.(4)Il Divo. 5.(-)Susan Boyle. 6.(4)The Killers. 7.(7)Micheal Jackson. 8.(5)Daniel O'Donnell. 9.(13)Pink. 10.(9)Spandau Ballet. Dec 20: Cliff's The millennium prayer was No.34 in The Nation's Favourite Christmas Songs screened on 4 Music-TV channel today. This programme is repeated over the Christmas period. Dec 20: Cliff: "I think it's going full circle. When you think about what has happened to the internet; although singles as we know them have been killed off, once they are able to police the internet, once they can get people to pay for what they take, you are back to singles again because people don't seem to download albums." More to come! Dec 20: "I wonder if the unissued Gee But It's Lonesome is the Phil Everly song Gee, But It's Lonely that Pat Boone had a minor (B-side) hit with in 1958?" - Pat Murphy (Canada). Dec 20: "Best wishes and blessings to you all !!" - Linda Pollhammer. Dec 20: Album chart Chat. The album chart run for the latest Cliff and Shadows Reunited album to date: 6, 7, 4, 12, 13, 26, 33, 35, 50, 51, 39, 50 and 53. Dec 20: "Reunited" - today No.53. In its thirteenth week the new Cliff and the Shadows album Reunited has gone from 50 to No.53 in the Official UK Top 75 albums chart today. Dec 20: "The original demo for Cliff's "21st Century Xmas" by co writer Paul Brady can be heard on his personal website, Paul sent it to Cliff and the rest is history. Paul is a legend in Ireland and a highly respected musician and composer" - John Patrick. Dec 20: "Merry Christmas and a happy and peaceful New Year 2010 to all Cliff- and Shadows fans from the committee of the Cliff Richard and the Shadows Club Germany!" - Barbara Barmwater & Horst Schroeder (Germany). Dec 20: "William, Hope you are totally fit. Merry Christmas and continue with your good work" - Jyotin David. Dec 20: It was 50 years ago... December 20th, 1959. Cliff, in Abbey Road Studio 2 with Hank, Bruce, Jet and Tony, records "A voice in the wilderness" and a track titled "Gee but it's lonesome", which is unissued. Dec 20: Cliff's Cliff at Christmas album is back up to No.28 in the Amazon Christmas Top Sellers list today selling for £4.98. Dec 20: Cliff's Mistletoe and wine is at No.319 in the iTunes.apple.com chart today. Dec 20: Up-coming gig for top Shadows tribute band The Rapiers: Thursday, December 31st-St Margaret's Bay Holiday Park, St Margaret's-at-Cliff, Kent, Tel.01304-853262. Dec 20: "Cliff and the Shads new chart placing this week is number 16 in Australia 4th week in Interesting to note though that a DVD in the top 20 after 4 weeks and with a week til Christmas is starting to get hard to find. I went for a drive to various shopping centres this week to see what stock was held and if it was on display to find alot of shops not stocking it with other chart DVD's, some shops after asking told me they had run out and ordered no more stock and some simply giving me a look of what am I asking for. You'd think a week before Christmas the stores would have stocked it wouldnt you...So with the rarity in now finding the DVD number 16 is pretty good meaning it was only available from selected stores... If it was widely available it surely would have sold more units" - Mark New (Australia). Dec 20: Did you know?... that there is a country version of Cliff's 21st Century Christmas by Canadian singer Jaydee Bixby that can be viewed on: www.youtube.com Dec 19: Cliff: "We always relied on record companies. Things are changing. (Physical) singles, for instance, have pretty well gone. People say to me, "Don't you wish you were born now?" I say, "No, I'm so happy I lived through that period when music was loved and respected and people bought lots of it." More to come! Dec 19: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD has gone up from 7 to No.4 in the Netherlands music DVD Top 30 chart this week. Dec 19: Cliff's Cliff at Christmas is currently in the extended UK album chart at No.200. Dec 19: In the Amazon 'Oldies' Top 100 chart today: No.10. Cliff at Christmas - Cliff Richard (selling for £4.98), 11. "The Shadows Greatest hits" (£4.98) and No.45. "Moonlight Shadows" (£2.98). www.amazon.co.uk Dec 19: Starting today Merry Cliffmas! (30 minutes) screened on VH1 UK at 11.30, repeated 19.00 on Sunday 20th December, 11.00 on Tuesday 22nd December, 09.00 on Wednesday 23rd December, 16:30 on Wednesday 23rd December, 21.00 on Thursday 24th December and 11.30 on Friday 25th December. It's about this time of year that Sir Cliff Richard returns from his summer holiday to heap another Christmas single on a not-so-unsuspecting public. We pay homage to a proper crimbo star. Dec 19: Tomorrow Sunday, December 20th on BBC Radio Two Cliff Richard And The Shadows In Concert, 7.00pm-8.00pm, Cliff Richard and The Shadows reunited for an arena tour to celebrate their 50th anniversary earlier this year. Here's another chance to enjoy Sir Cliff, Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch and Brian Bennett in concert at Wembley Arena on Friday 23 October. Initially called The Drifters, The Shadows were formed as a backing band for Cliff Richard in 1958. They dominated the charts in the late 50s and 60s, notching up 7 number one hits before splitting up in 1968 to pursue separate careers. This is the first time they have performed together in 20 years and the group have said it is their last ever UK date. Dec 19: This year's Christmas retail trading. A staggering 15 million people are expected to hit the shops today for last-minute gift buying on 'Panic Saturday'. It is predicted to be the busiest retail day of the year, with High Street takings set to top £2billion. Sales figures suggest that millions have delayed their Christmas shopping until the last minute in the hope of picking up a bargain and stores are now promoting significant price cuts on a wide range of gift items. Shopping malls and stoes will extend their trading hours in the coming days, with some staying open until midnight. Dec 18: Cliff's Mistletoe and wine was played in the background in a scene in the Woolpack in "Emmerdale" on ITV-1 TV today. Dec 18: Cliff: "I talked to Daniel Bedingfield about this and he had something like four number ones on the trot. I'm only worried now I haven't heard from him recently, but I know he's in LA writing and recording and he is so good. His question to me was, "How many number ones have you had?" I think I said, "14" and he said, "Oh, is that all?" and I said, "Daniel, careers aren't built on number ones. I've had 36 top fives and 127 top 30s, that's what a career is built on and please, if you find you get to number two, don't think of it as a failure." More to come! Dec 18: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD has gone up to No 3 in Belgium music DVD chart this week, it's highest position to date there. Dec 18: "The Reunion DVD will be released in the US on January 19, 2010 and can be pre-ordered now at Amazon.com for just $13.49. No information is available for Canadian release but Canadians can order from Amazon.com for shipment to Canada" - David Colman. Dec 18: Cliff's Cliff at Christmas album is at No.39 in the Amazon Christmas Top Sellers list today selling for £4.98. Dec 18: Cliff's Mistletoe and wine is at No.324 in the iTunes.apple.com chart today. Dec 18: It was 50 years ago... December, 1959. The EP Expresso Bongo is released. Tracks: "Love", "A voice in the wilderness", "The shrine on the second floor" and "Bongo Blues" (The Shadows). Three of the tracks have been written by Norrie Paramor. By Christmas the EP passes the 30,000 sales mark. Dec 18: Mid-week album chart. In the official mid-week album chart upto close of sales on Thursday battle for Christmas album No.1 still hot. Here is the Top 10: (1)Susan Boyle. 2.(3)Michael Buble. 3.(4)Black Eyed Peas. 4.(5)JLS. 5.(2)Lady Gaga. 6.(10)Snow Patrol. 7.(11)Robbie Williams. 8.(12)Leona Lewis. 9.(7)Westlife. 10.(8)Take That. Outside the Top 10: 16.(-)Alicia Keys. 26.(-)Paul McCartney. Cliff and the Shadows Reunited does not figure in the top 40. Dec 18: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The Cliff and the Shadows DVD is still at No.1 in Denmark for the fifth week in a row! Dec 18: Up-coming gigs for Cliff sound/lookalike Jimmy Jemain: Tomorrow, Saturday, December 19th-Elgin Hotel, Blackpool and Sunday, December 20th-Lyndene Hotel, Blackpool. Dec 17: "A new compilation album release in South Africa, "Springbok Radio Volume 3", includes Cliff & The Shadows' Summer Holiday" - Linda Pollhammer. Dec 17: "I watch GM TV every morning and today they had Kate Garraway interviewing a guest DJ discussing the battle for the Christmas No. 1 spot and Andrew Castle kept interrupting them wanting to know why there was no mention of Cliff. Then Kate said that they had a poll to find the best Christmas song and while she read out the the top three (Fairy tale of New York was No. 1, Maria Carey at No. 2 and Wham at No. 3) Andrew wanted to know where Cliff was placed and the DJ said Cliff was at No. 10 but did not have time to say which song" - Walter DaCosta. Dec 17: Did you see?... a short clip of Cliff on "The Paul O'Grady Show" on Channel 4-TV today. They are looking back at highlights of the show over the years, which finishes tomorrow. The Cliff clip was from April 10th, 2008. Dec 17: Cliff: (These days artists would be dropped by their record company after a run of 4 flops) "There are a lot of good artists around who hopefully are still singing because they love it and make a bit of money playing clubs, pubs, whatever, who deserved to have been supported through all of that. If you are a good singer and you can perform there's no reason why you should be dumped that quickly." More to come! Dec 17: "A good choral version of "Mistletoe and Wine" is included in Norfolk Cromer pier theatre Christmas Special on until 28th December" - Andrew Price. Dec 17: "Good that you are back with us. Looks like you are firing on all cylinders again. Keep up the good work" - Tom Seager. Dec 17: Mid-week album chart. In the official mid-week album chart upto close of sales on Wednesday battle for Christmas album No.1 still hot. Here is the Top 10: (1)Susan Boyle. 2.(3)Michael Buble. 3.(4)Black Eyed Peas. 4.(5)JLS. 5.(2)Lady Gaga. 6.(10)Snow Patrol. 7.(11)Robbie Williams. 8.(12)Leona Lewis. 9.(7)Westlife. 10.(8)Take That. Outside the Top 10: 15.(-)Alicia Keys. 24.(-)Paul McCartney. Cliff and the Shadows Reunited does not figure in the top 40. Dec 17: Top Shadows tribute band The Rapiers support John Leyton and Jet Harris in "Hit Parade Heroes" on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at Thurrock. Dec 17: Music industry news. The use of personalised on-line radio services such as Last.fm is booming in the UK, according to statistics released by Rajar. The reserarch body found that under numbers of personalised online radio - online radio that allows listeners to select the type of of music they like and skip tracks - have increased from 3.9m to 4.5m since May 2009, making it the fastest growing internet-delivered audio service. Dec 17: The excellent music magazine Record Collector recently celebrated 30 years. They have a book out to celebrate. 30 Years of Record Collector is out now. Running to 148 pages it presents over 25 of the best features published in 'RC's three-decade history. Price UK: £14.99, Europe: £19.99, Rest of world: £24.99. Prices includes post and packing. Order coupon to be found in Christmas 2009 issue in shops now. Send to: Diamond Publishing Limited, 140, Wales Farm Road, London, W3 6UG. Dec 17: This coming Sunday, December 20th on BBC Radio Two Cliff Richard And The Shadows In Concert, 7.00pm-8.00pm, Cliff Richard and The Shadows reunited for an arena tour to celebrate their 50th anniversary earlier this year. Here's another chance to enjoy Sir Cliff, Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch and Brian Bennett in concert at Wembley Arena on Friday 23 October. Initially called The Drifters, The Shadows were formed as a backing band for Cliff Richard in 1958. They dominated the charts in the late 50s and 60s, notching up 7 number one hits before splitting up in 1968 to pursue separate careers. This is the first time they have performed together in 20 years and the group have said it is their last ever UK date. Dec 16: Cliff's Official 2010 Calendar - out now. Cliff's Official Calendar is at No.11 in the Amazon.com 'Best-sellers' Calendar chart today selling for £4.76 which includes free delivery. www.amazon.com Dec 16: Up-coming gigs for Cliff look/soundalike Ricky Aron: Friday, December 18th-'Rock'n'roll Show', St. Josephs Club, High Pavement, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Tel. 01623-552387, Saturday, December 19th-'Elvis The Early years', The Riverside Hotel, Branston, Staffordshire and Saturday, December 26th-The Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries, Scotland. Dec 16: Cliff: "I don't think the A&R men now exist the way they did. People like Norrie Paramor and George Martin were concerned with us as people as well as artists. We weren't just widgets, so they'd nurture your career. Norrie Paramor conducted orchestras for me, came into TV shows to make sure all the parts were correct and I'm not sure that still exists; the music business now seems to spit people out very easily. CliffOne flop and it's all over - I had four." (More to come!) Dec 16: In the Amazon 'Oldies' Top 100 chart today: No.8. Cliff at Christmas - Cliff Richard (selling for £4.98), 9. "The Shadows Greatest hits" (£4.98), No.10. "50 Golden Greats" - The Shadows (£4.98), No.23. "Moonlight Shadows" (£2.98) and 40. "The Shadows/Out of the Shadows" (4.98). Dec 16: On Monday, December 28th on BBC Radio Two The Great British Songbook Of The 60s, 2.00-5.00pm. Tony Blackburn and sixties pop star Cilla Black look at the Great British Songbook of the 60s. Over three hours, Tony and Cilla take a trip down memory lane as they play the best British songs from this decade, including suggestions from Radio 2 listeners. With a playlist that includes the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Cliff Richard and Dusty Springfield, they reflect the work of some of Britain's greatest songwriters and share their own memories from the 60s. Dec 16: Repeat screening of Gloria's Greats on Saturday, December 26th, on Bio Channel, 12:00 - 13:00. Gloria Hunniford drops in for a chat with enduring singer and close pal Cliff Richard. Will he reveal any secrets or just strike up a tune? Dec 16: Cliff & Shadows "Reunited" album sales. After 12 weeks on the UK Top 75 Album chart, the album has sold 180,694 copies. Dec 15: It was 50 years ago... December, 1959. Cliff and the Shadows appear in the pantomine Babes in the wood at the Stockton Globe. Cliff plays the part of the Sheriff's troubadour. Dec 15: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD is at No.3 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £12.98. Dec 15: Olivia Newton-John's Great Walk documentary for cancer and wellness is on Channel Ten Australia, 12 noon Boxing Day - Saturday, December 26th. Dec 15: On Friday, December 25th, Christmas Day, Cliff Richard in conversation is broadcast (after The Queen's Christmas message), 3.05pm-4.00pm, on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, 104.7FM, MW1413 or listen on-line at: www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiogloucestershire Dec 15: Cliff's Mistletoe and wine is at No.293 in the iTunes.apple.com chart today. Dec 15: Mid-week album chart. In the official mid-week album chart upto close of sales on Monday battle for Christmas album No.1 still hot. Here is the Top 10: (1)Susan Boyle. 2.(3)Michael Buble. 3.(4)Black Eyed Peas. 4.(5)JLS. 5.(2)Lady Gaga. 6.(11)Robbie Williams. 7.(10)Snow Patrol. 8.(7)Westlife. 9.(12)Leona Lewis. 10.(8)Take That. Cliff and the Shadows Reunited does not figure in the top 40. Dec 15: Cliff's Cliff at Christmas album is up to No.23 in the Amazon Christmas Top Sellers list today selling for £4.98. Dec 14: More on Cliff & Shadows album - out now. TV advert for Reunion CD shown between "The Paul O'Grady Show" on Channel 4 TV today. Dec 14: "Cliff Richard & The Shadows second concert in Perth has just released additional tickets called BRONZE SIDE TEAR! fantastic viewing seats and heres the best bit only $75 a ticket!!!! YES $75 what a bargain to see the real king of rock and roll in their last tour of Australia. The seats are up the front side on to the stage and knowing the venue I can assure you all they are fantastic seats and will sell quick...If your going to the first show why not go to the second one now also at that price. visit www.ticketek.com.au and search for Cliff Richard" - Mark New (Australia). Dec 14: Music industry news. HMV is likely to keep on half of its 10 temporary “pop-up” stores after Christmas, in what is the latest sign of a fightback for physical music retail on the high street. The retailer last week reported like-for-like sales up 1.6% in its UK and Ireland stores for the 26 weeks to October 24, including “a small like-for-like growth” in music sales, according to CEO Simon Fox. Dec 14: Simon Goodall's single Bluebird Cafe/Someone Else is available for down load on www.amazon.com from today, Monday, December 14th ... You can purchase individual tracks or the single. Type in Simon Goodall Bluebird Cafe and it will take straight to the tracks to buy. Dec 14: UK Album sales last week climbed for the fifth week in a row, and reached another 2009 high, improving 13.1% to 5,803,607. That’s 4.58% below same week 2008 sales of 6,081,697. Dec 14: The new 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 5 to No.6 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1). Dec 14: Music DVD/Video chart Chat. The music DVD chart run for the latest Cliff and Shadows The Final Reunion DVD to date: 1, 1, 2, 2 and 2. Dec 14: Music DVD chart - Cliff & Shads No.2. Cliff and the Shadows The Final Reunion stays firm at No.2 in this week's music DVD chart. Here is the Top 10: 1.(1)Take That. 2.(2)CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS. 3.(-)George Michael. 4.(3)Il Divo. 5.(4)The Killers. 6.(5)Daniel O'Donnell. 7.(9)Micheal Jackson. 8.(6)Michael Ball. 9.(7)Spandau Ballet. 10.(8)John Barrowman. Dec 14: "William, Great to have you back and interesting snippet about Shania Twain. Was this the lady Cliff referred to interviews at the time of the duets album as the female singer who turned down the opportunity because to quote Cliff "she thought I was too old!"? Great to have you back" - John Patrick. Dec 13: Album chart Chat. The album chart run for the latest Cliff and Shadows Reunited album to date: 6, 7, 4, 12, 13, 26, 33, 35, 50, 51, 39 and 50. Dec 13: "Reunited" - today No.50. In its twelfth week the new Cliff and the Shadows album Reunited has gone from 39 to No.50 in the Official UK Top 75 albums chart today. Dec 13: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - March 2010. Due for release in March 2010 this contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage and photographs from private collections. Can be pre-ordered from Amazon. RRP:£15.99. Amazon price: £9.98. www.amazon.co.uk Dec 13: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD has gone up to No.9 in the Australian ARIA music DVD chart. Dec 13: This year's Christmas retail trading. Brits shrugged off the credit crunch yesterday - spending an estimated £2BILLION on the busiest day of the year so far. Relieved retailers said sales are 4% UP on the same time last year as people splash out for Christmas. A spokesman for the British Retail Consortium said: "There's a slight revival in consumer confidence. The mood is much better than in 2008." Dec 13: "A new Cliff Richard DVD Rare and Unseen can be pre-ordered on Play.com Release date: 29/03/2010" - Bjørn Schieldrop (Norway). Dec 13: In The People newspaper today: On This Day December 13th, 1958. Top 10 singles. 1.Lord Rockingham's XL. 2.Conway Twitty. 3.Lonnie Donegan. 4.Tommy Edwards. 5.Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. 6.Kingston Trio. 7. High class baby - Cliff Richard. 8.Perry Como. 9.Ricky Nelson. 10.Malcolm Vaughan. Dec 13: Did you know?... that the song Someone else, which is included on Simon Goodall's new CD single (December 11th posting), was sent to Cliff in July 2005. Cliff really liked the song and could see it as a duet. Cliff wanted Shania Twain to sing it with him on his Two's company album released by EMI in 2006. Sadly this never materialised due to unforseen circumstances. Dec 13: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD is back up to No.2 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £12.98. Dec 13: "Life is back to normal in the Cliff world with your daily updates. Never miss your news" - Jesse Miles. Dec 13: Cliff's Official 2010 Calendar - out now. Cliff's Official Calendar is at No.11 in the Amazon.com 'Best-sellers' Calendar chart today selling for £4.76 which includes free delivery. www.amazon.com Dec 12: Cliff's We say yeah (the new version) played on Geoff Barker's Rock'n'roll Party on BBC West and South West today. Geoff was reviewing the best of 2009 and said that the Cliff & Shadows reunion was 'THE' reunion of the year. Dec 12: In the Amazon 'Oldies' Top 100 chart today: No.6. "50 Golden Greats" - The Shadows (selling for £4.98), 7. "The Shadows Greatest hits" (£4.98), No.9. Cliff at Christmas - Cliff Richard (£4.98), No.29. "Moonlight Shadows" (£2.98) and 33. 40 Golden Greats - Cliff Richard (£6.98). Dec 12: Cliff's Cliff at Christmas album is at No.31 in the Amazon Christmas Top Sellers list today selling for £4.98. Dec 12: This year's Christmas retail trading. A record number of stores will be trading around the clock and hundreds more wil be open until late into the night in a landmark bid to generate a last-minute Christmas rush. More than 740 supermarkets will be trading 24 hours a day in the week before Christmas, which is an all-time high. The fact the Christmas falls on a Friday means that millions will have to shop for fresh food and gifts after work between Monday and Thursday evening. Dec 12: Cliff's The young ones played on the excellent GOLD radio MW98 today. Dec 12: Cliff's Mistletoe and wine is at No.282 in the iTunes.apple.com chart today. Dec 12: Vote for favourite Cliff Christmas song. VH1, VIVA,and 95.8 Capital FM have teamed up to find out what you think 'The Greatest Christmas Song Ever' is. Cliff has Mistletoe and Wine and Saviour's Day on the list. The vote closes on Sunday, December 13th. The results will be announced on Saturday, December 19th. Vote for Cliff on: www.mtv.co.uk/vh1 Dec 11: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD stays firm at No.1 (for 4 weeks) in Danish music DVD chart this week. Dec 11: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD stays firm at No 4 in Belgium music DVD chart this week. Dec 11: More on Cliff & Shadows album - out now. The Cliff and Shadows album Reunited has gone from 32 to No.39 in the Danish album chart today. Dec 11: Simon Goodall records LIMITED EDITION SINGLE - Especially for Cliff Fans. 28th November Simon recorded and released a "Limited Edition" single especially for Cliff fans after performing at the Cliff Richard Fan Club event last year in Birmingham. Simon said “I got such a terrific response when I threw in one of my own songs last year, I thought it would be a nice touch to record it especially for them this year.” The song in question is called Someone Else, which to Simon’s amazement they absolutely loved, so much so, many of the fans wanted to get a hold of the song last year, but unfortunately there was no recording available at the time. The “Limited Edition” single, released 28th November 2009, features a brand new track called Bluebird Café, co-written with none other than Rod Trott (Ocean Deep). The song was written in April this year after a writing spree between Rod and Simon, where six brand new songs came out of that session. In the past, Cliff has recorded songs from both writers (as individuals) and they are optimistic and believe that they will jointly create something really special for Cliff in the future. It is likely Simon will record a brand new album next year of original material from both writers. Preview and purchase at: www.myspace.com/simongoodall1 Dec 11: Hank Marvin has won a Gold Badge award. More than 300 industry professionals - from producers to publicists, songwriters to arrangers - gathered in the Park Lane Hotel's art-deco ballroom. Hank Marvin, who with Cliff Richard and the Shadows achieved 43 top 20 hit singles in 10 years, was saluted by Sir Tim Rice, who wrote that his Fender Stratocaster had "influenced a generation of British musicians who conquered the world." Hank said: "I have no idea what the award is for, it's a mystery, but it's very flattering, particularly to win an award from your peers who you hope recognise talent rather than fame." WELL DONE HANK! Dec 11: More on Cliff & Shadows album - out now. Here's a price comparison for the Cliff and Shadows album: Amazon £8.98, HMV £8.99, Play.com £8.95 and Tesco £8.93. Dec 11: Album chart news - sales. In the UK album chart last week, overall sales registered double-digit growth for the fourth week in a row by 19.5%, reaching a new 2009 high of 5,129,140 but falling short of same-week 2008 sales of 5,376,948. Dec 10: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. Tv advert for the DVD was shown between "The Bill" on ITV1-TV today. Dec 10: Cliff's Mistletoe and wine is at No.234 in the iTunes.apple.com chart today. Dec 10: On Sunday, April 11th, 2010 Raymond Froggatt, who wrote Cliff's 1969 hit Big ship, appears at The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire at 7.30pm. Tickets £18.50 (£15.50 concs). Tel. 01684-295074. Dec 10: "Here's hoping that Cliff and the Shadows album get lots of sales in the run up to Christmas and ends up even higher in the year-end album list" - Joe Boyden. Dec 10: "Reunited" in year's Top 100 best-sellers list. The Cliff and the Shadows album Reunited is at No.70 in the official Top 100 'Best-selling albums list of 2009' so far. Dec 10: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD has entered at No.12 in the Australian ARIA music DVD chart. Dec 10: Mid-week album chart. In the official mid-week album chart upto close of sales on Wednesday the battle for the coveted Christmas No.1 album is hotting up. Here is the Top 10: 1.lliams. As the huge Christmas sales market increases Cliff and the Shadows Reunited album, like most albums, should see some good sales figures to come. Dec 10: Cliff's Official 2010 Calendar - out now. Cliff's Official Calendar is back up No.10 in the Amazon.com 'Best-sellers' Calendar chart today selling for £4.76 which includes free delivery. www.amazon.com Dec 10: Up-coming gigs for Cliff look/soundalike Ricky Aron: Friday, December 11th-'Elvis The Early Years', Crosby Comrades Club, Crosby, Merseyside, Friday, December 18th-'Rock'n'roll Show', St. Josephs Club, High Pavement, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Tel. 01623-552387, Saturday, December 19th-'Elvis The Early years', The Riverside Hotel, Branston, Staffordshire and Saturday, December 26th-The Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries, Scotland. Dec 10: Cliff's We don't talk anymore was played by Lynn Parsons on BBC Radio 2 today. Dec 9: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now. The DVD is at No.3 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £12.98. Dec 9: Cliff's Mistletoe and wine has now leapt up to No.215 in the iTunes.apple.com chart today. Dec 9: On December 8th Cliff hosted the Tennis Foundation's annual Gala Event at Hampton Court Palace. Among the participants were Dame Evelyn Glennie, Brian Conley, and the London Community Gospel Choir. Dec 9: Cliff's Cliff at Christmas album is at No.28 in the Amazon Christmas Top Sellers list today selling for £4.98. Dec 8: "Great to have you back William. I really missed your daily postings and then to be told you were in hospital with pneumonia was such a shock. Hope you and your wife have a lovely Christmas and a happy and healthy new year. Take care" - Joan Dean. Dec 8: EXCLUSIVE! On Friday, December 25th, Christmas Day, Cliff Richard in conversation is broadcast (after The Queen's Christmas message), 3.05pm-4.00pm, on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, 104.7FM, MW1413 or listen on-line at: www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiogloucestershire Dec 8: Cliff's Cliff at Christmas album is at No.37 in the Amazon Christmas Top Sellers list selling for £4.98. Dec 8: Music industry news. Spotify says it has 6m users across six European markets, half of whom are in the UK. It also reveals that that users spend an average of 94 minutes a day on the service. Dec 8: Mid-week album chart. In the official mid-week album chart upto close of sales on Monday Cliff and the Shadows Reunited does not figure in the top 40. It is at No.53. Dec 8: On the 'popmaster' quiz today on "The Ken Bruce Show" on BBC Radio 2 the contestant choose Cliff Richard as his bonus questions. He got two of the three correct but failed on "Time drags by" being from "Finders keepers" - he said it was from "Wonderful life". Dec 8: In today's Daily Mail a small colour photo of Cliff in their 'Quick Quiz'. 'Which was not a Christmas hit for Cliff Richard?': Santa's list, Saviour's day, Thank you, Santa. Dec 8: On Sunday, December 20th on BBC Radio Two Cliff Richard And The Shadows In Concert, 7.00pm-8.00pm, Cliff Richard and The Shadows reunited for an arena tour to celebrate their 50th anniversary earlier this year. Here's another chance to enjoy Sir Cliff, Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch and Brian Bennett in concert at Wembley Arena on Friday 23 October. Initially called The Drifters, The Shadows were formed as a backing band for Cliff Richard in 1958. They dominated the charts in the late 50s and 60s, notching up 7 number one hits before splitting up in 1968 to pursue separate careers. This is the first time they have performed together in 20 years and the group have said it is their last ever UK date. Dec 8: Euro News: "Pop icon Sir Cliff Richard and his band The Shadows have marked their 50th anniversary with a DVD called The Final Reunion. It was filmed during a three night stint at London’s O2 arena. Sir Cliff totally dominated the British pop music scene before The Beatles and is the only UK singer to have scored a Number 1 hit in five consecutive decades." Previous messages to these have been deleted. William bringing you the latest up-to-date Cliff news!