CHARTS LATEST is now on 'Hits totals' page.
Welcome to the new-look extended 'Chat' page!
UPDATE 13th June 2010 - It is with great sadness that we must report William Hooper lost his battle for life on 11th June 2010.
His wife has asked if people would not email any address you may have for William as she will not be able to respond.
The website will remain online for the foreseeable future, however there will no longer be any updates.
Maximum Designs
June: Cliff talking about "Stars in your eyes" show.
Cliff Chart Site sets aside time in June to celebrate Cliff
appearing in his first big West End show at the
London Palladium in 1960.
Cliff: “This was it – the big time! I could scarcely believe my luck when I was invited to appear at the London Palladium – the greatest variety theatre in the world, and topping the bill, too! The boy form Cheshunt, treading in the steps of such great entertainers as Danny Kaye, Harry Secombe, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Gracie Fields and Bob Hope. Starring with me were Russ Conway, Joan Regan, Edmund Hockeridge and that marvellous actor whom I’d always admired, David Kossoff, who was appearing as Alf Larkin. I appeared with David in several acts – one of these was a big laugh. After David Kossoff, who was in one of the boxes, stood up and clapped and cheered, and then clambered on to the stage, claiming to have been the first person to have discovered me when I used to sing in the choir. “He was always different from the others in the Choir, was this one,” joked David. “It must have been the guitar round his neck.” Then he said, “Now a lot of his fans are in the theatre tonight and I am going to ask them to give him a real big welcome.” At that point, the management played an amplified tape recording of hundreds of girls screaming. Often when we came to this part of the act, our fans showed their appreciation extra loudly and you couldn’t hear the tape recording at all. One of the things I noticed most at the Palladium was the speed and accuracy at which the stage crew worked. Those boys certainly knew their onions and could change that old stage around in seconds! After the show had been running for about a month, we heard that the world-famous Night of a Thousand Stars in aid of the Actors’ Orphanage would be held there on 20 July. This is a fantastic show which is held each year, in which the top people of show business do something quite different to their usual act. A few years ago, for instance, Sir Laurence Olivier and John Mills put on a song and dance act! Somebody thought it a wonderful ideas for me, and I appeared as Little Lord Fauntleroy with that marvellous comedienne, Dora Bryan. It was a real Gasser! Stars in your eyes was, in fact, a fantastic success, running right the way through until Christmas when it was replaced by the annual Palladium pantomime (Norman Wisdom in
“Dick Whittington”). More to come!
Jun 7: Cliff in "Stars in your eyes" at the London Palladium.
First performance Friday, June 3rd, 1960. William brings you all the buzz as Cliff and The Shadows take part in the London Palladium show Stars in your eyes.
Profile of Joan Regan from the programme: “Vivacious Joan Regan has her Bank Manager to thank you her entry into show business. It was while talking to him one morning that she mentioned her ambition to sing. He introduced her to a theatrical agent and Joan’s talent took it from there. She is married to the Palladium’s Joint Manager Harry Claff, and they have three children, two boys and a girl”. Programme profile of Edmund Hockridge: “Tall, good-looking Canadian Edmund Hockridge has made his mark in Britain by starring in no less than four American musicals in the West End. He made his first broadcast in London whilst serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force and in 1949 was voted the most popular male singer on Canadian Radio”.
More to come!
Jun 7: "Live at Knebworth" Deluxe Edition DVD - June 14th.
On Monday, June 14th, this 1990 concert, staged in the grounds of Knebworth house in June 1990, described as "The best British rock concert of all time" includes Cliff Richard and the Shadows live with "Do you wanna dance" and "On the beach" is released in a Deluxe Edition DVD. Other acts include Pink Floyd, Status Quo, Paul McCartney, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Genesis & Phil Collins, Robert Plant and Tears For Fears. The Deluxe Edition contains replica concert programme and ticket. 2 DVD + 2 CD set: ERDVDCD058. Eagle Vision. www.eagle-rock.com
Jun 6: 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, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 10, 17, 18, 32, 23, 29, 26, 31, 30, 30, 26, 27 and 40.
(30 weeks on the chart).
WELL DONE CLIFF AND THE SHADOWS!
Jun 6: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD goes from 27 to No.40 in the official Top 40 music DVD chart this week. (30 weeks on the chart).
Jun 6: Cliff in "Stars in your eyes" at the London Palladium.
First performance Friday, June 3rd, 1960. William brings you all the buzz as Cliff and The Shadows take part in the London Palladium show Stars in your eyes.
Profile of Cliff Richard from the programme: "Born in India, Cliff returned to England with his parents at the age of 8. Whilst still at school he joined a local skiffle group and in an incredible short time was leading his own group and well on the way to becoming one of Britain's top stars. His recording of "Living doll" was in the Top Twenty charts for 14 weeks, and he has recently toured America with tremendous success". Programme profile of Russ Conway: "During the war Russ Conway served in both the Merchant and Royal Navy and won the D.S.M. for "gallantry and devotion to duty" during mine-sweeping operations. After a variety of jobs Russ was asked to accompany ome artists for a TV rehearsal; he did so and found a new career in showbusiness. A recording contract followed and it was not long before he hit the headlines with his own compositions such as "Side Saddle", "Roulette" and "China Tea".
More to come!
Jun 6: "Cliff Richard - The Collection" - July 5th.
Yet another Cliff CD compilation is due to be released on Monday, July 5th, Cliff-The Collection is a 2-CD compilation of 32 tracks taken from 32 of Cliff's most popular albums. The tracklist is as follows: CD1: Move it, Blue suede shoes, Gee whiz it's you, Without you, Blue moon, Spanish harlem, The young ones, The next time, Quien Sera(Sway), Wonderful life, Fly me to the moon, The girl from Ipanema, Time drags by, Heartbeat, Good news, Don't forget to catch me. CD2: Will you love me tomorrow, Abraham, Martin and John, Take me high, Amazing Grace, Travellin' light, Devil woman, Hey Mr Dream maker, Green light, We don't talk anymore, A little in love, Once in a while, The only way out, Baby you're dynamite, Some people, Joanna, Can't keep this feeling in. EMI Records. You can pre-order this for £6.99 from: www.amazon.co.uk
Jun 6: "Reunion" tour shown on Australian TV-Jun.20th.
"I am pleased to announce that the reunion concert of Cliff and the Shadows will be screened on West TV Perth 9pm Saturday 20th June. A edited version will also be screened on Sydney TV channel STV shortly" - Mark New (Australia).
Jun 6: Cliff: "I left that normal world at 18. I wanted fame and fortune and I got it. I'll never understand to this day how some people chase it, get it, then reject it all and start complaining. Of course, I complain occasionlly, but on the whole I'd rather be where I am than change anything."
Jun 6: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 34 to out of the Australian Top 40 music DVD chart this week after 27 weeks on the chart.
Jun 5: Cliff's Livin' lovin' doll is included on the new CD compilation Great British Rock'n'Roll: Just about as good as it gets alongside classic tracks by Johnny Kidd and The Pirates, Billy Fury and others. Out now on Smith & Co. record label.
Jun 5: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff album: 75.Reunited selling for £3.99.
www.amazon.co.uk
Jun 5: Cliff in "Stars in your eyes" at the London Palladium.
First performance Friday, June 3rd, 1960. William brings you all the buzz as Cliff and The Shadows take part in the London Palladium show Stars in your eyes.
Leslie A Macdonnell & Bernard Delfont present the show. The show is on twice nightly at 6.15pm & 8.45pm. Matinee each Saturday at 2.40pm. All seats bookable in advance Five shillings to Sixteen shillings and sixpence (!) The stars are Edmund Hockeridge, Joan Regan, Cliff Richard, Russ Conway and The Newcomers Billy Dainty, Des O'Connor and Ron Parry. In the first half Cliff performs "Under the moon". In the second half he performs three songs with The Shadows in the 'Me and my Shadows' routine. He then performs 'Open up the Doghouse' with David Kossoff in the 'Mr.Larkin goes to town' segment.
An Academy Award Winner, David Kossoff is well known for his roles in such films as "The Bespoke Overcoat", "A kid for two farthings" and "Conspiracy of Hearts", but it is Alf Larkin' the character he portrays in the television series that has brought him the most fan mail. A man of many talents he is also a top flight furniture designer.
More to come!
Jun 5: A new Shadows related CD album release Two of our Shadows are missing by Barry Gibson’s Local Heroes. Vol.2 from the Local Heroes. Recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in N.W. London, Barry Gibson has got together Jet Harris, Brian ‘Licorice’ Locking and Clem Cattini, to join them for this ‘follow up’ CD to “One of Our Shadows is Missing”. Interesting and informative sleeve notes with details and pictures of guitars, amps, etc. used for the CD. Tracklisting: The Miracle, Run, Alone, Hotel California, A Place In The Sun, California Dreaming, Midnight Cowboy, Warlord, Sylvia, BoogieToo, Blue Guitar, Two of Our Shadows Are Missing, Clash of the Tight-Uns, Sabre Dance. £12.99 including UK post and packing from the excellent Cliff Richard and The Shadows record specialists
Leo's Den (Links page).
Jun 5: Cliff "Bold as Brass" album - Oct 11th.
You can pre-order Cliff's new album Bold as brass, full track listing on 'Chart hits totals' page. The Special edition which contains two extra tracks: "Sugar to tea" and "Every time we say goodbye".
On-line pre-order prices: HMV Standard edition £8.99.
Special edition £12.99. www.hmv.com
Amazon prices: Standard £11.99. Special £14.99. www.amazon.co.uk Play.com prices: £8.95. Special £12.99. www.play.com
WH Smiths price: £12.93 2-CD Jigsaw Edition.
Jun 4: "Shadowmania" 2010 - Sept. 18th.
Tickets are on sale now for this year's Shadowmania event, which takes place on Saturday, September 18th at the Lakeside Complex, Wharf Road, Frimley Green, Surrey. 3.00pm till late. Doors open 2.00pm. Acts include: Bruce Welch's Shadows, Jet Harris, Brian 'Licorice' Locking, Warren Bennett and Friends. More acts to follow. Tickets: £34. on sale from 10.00am today Tuesday, March 30th. Booking office Tel. 0044 - 01252-836464. Hotel reservations Tel. 0044- 01252-838000.
Jun 4: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 11 to No.19 in the Netherlands music
DVD chart this week. (29 weeks on the chart).
Jun 4: On Pick of the pops tomorrow Saturday, June 5th on Radio 2, 1.00pm-3.00pm, Dale Winton plays the hits from the chart this week in 1970. They include: Christie, England World Cup Squad, Glen Campbell, Tom Jones, Ray Stevens, Mr. Bloe, The Jackson Five, Norman Greenbaum, The Supremes, Mungo Jerry, Marvin Gaye and
Cliff Richard with "Goodbye Sam Hello Samantha".
Jun 4: It was 50 years ago... June 1960.
Cliff and the Shadows - along with Joan Regan, Russ Conway, Edmund Hockeridge and Des O'Connor - open in the long-running London Palladium season Stars in your eyes. Cliff performs five numbers a night with the Shadows, as well as apearing in a novelty song 'Open up the Doghouse' with David Kossoff.
Jun 4: Cliff talking about some of his fans.
"Some of them are downright rude! Once or twice I've had people interrupt me while I'm having a meal in a restaurant; slapping an autograph book down on the table and expecting me to sign it while they look the other way, without even so much as a word. I don't sign autographs like that until they've asked me politely. I do mind at certain moments in my life, when maybe I haven't seen my family for a while, and we're out having dinner and people come up for autographs. But even that's not a great problem for so much these days because people are much more understanding than they
used to be."
Jun 4: A CD re-issue from The Shadows is out now. Shades of Rock (originally a 1970 vinyl release) is digitally remastered and includes a bonus track. Tracks: Proud Mary, My Babe, Lucille, Johnny B. Goode, Paperback Writer, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Bony Moronie, Get Back, Something, River Deep Mountain High, Memphis, What'd I Say, and (Bonus track) Scotch on the Socks. Available for £9.99 including UK postage from the excellent Cliff and Shadows record specialists Leo's Den (Links page).
Jun 4: "Hi William. I applaud Cliff for showing such gentlemanly behaviour! I love that in a man and am a sucker for old-fashioned charm. There is nothing like feeling a woman and to have a man dance attendance on you. Good for Cliff! Wish there were more men like him around" - Claire Mellican.
Jun 4: Theme For A Dream and Jimmy Jemain Productions present their Cliff Richard & The Shadows Convention on Sunday, June 27th, 5.00pm-10.00pm, at Broxbourne Civic Hall, High Street, Hoddeson, EN11 8BE. Tributes to Cliff Richard: Jimmy Jemain, Simon Goodall and Cliff As If. Tributes to The Shadows: The Shaduows, Josh Doyle and Jimmy Jemain & The Knight's Shadows. Hosted by Kak. Plus stalls, photos & autograph opportunities, Raffle & Auction. Profits & Donations to The Caron Keating Foundation www.caronkeating.org - For tickets & more information Tel. 07794888531 or visit: www.themeforadreamevents.co.uk
Jun 4: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 5 to out of the Denmark Top 10 music DVD chart this week. (It had enjoyed 28 weeks on the chart, 14 at No.1).
Jun 3: "I'm looking forward to getting the 'Rock'n'roll years' Cliff CD multipack. The box-set was a bit expensive at the time, so to be able to get for £22.99 is a treat. I shall be able to listen to the original British rock'n'band in all their glory" - Pete Crowley.
Jun 3: "I treated myself to the Morecambe & Wise DVD recently and throughly enjoyed it. Good that Cliff was on it, looking so young! I had a good laugh at the TV shows. Sometimes we all just need a good laugh" - Mary Harris.
Jun 3: "Whew, those comments from SCR about feminism must be about 30 years old now? Since women's tennis saved professional tennis through the eighties I'm sure he would now say that women rely on technique and men on strength. Also no one can make another 'feel' guilty. Guilt is an internal process and can be a precursor to changed behavior. In the case of feminism, it wasn't guilt but example whereby women saw they could live up to their full intellect and abilities and create a better life for their babies. Different opinions are what make the world go round!" - Claudette Moody (USA).
Jun 3: 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.
Jun 3: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 73.Reunited selling for £3.99. 87.Rare E.P. tracks 1961-1991 selling for £6.99. 92.50th anniversary album selling for £7.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Jun 3: Cliff: "Obviously, equal pay for women is a good thing. But what angers me about the women's lib thing is that they've made lots of women feel guilty because they're not company directors. Nature says that woman are supposed to have babies. What can be more important? Bringing up a child with love and affection is juat as vital as doing a high-powered job. The other thing is that there are definite differences between men and women anyway. It's impossible for instance, for women to play tennis as well as men, because men
are stronger."
Jun 3: Cliff - "The Rock 'n' Roll Years 1958-1963" - Jun.7th
An all-encompassing study of Cliff's early career and arguably his most important period. 4 CDs previously only available in a 1997 box set - finally getting released in a multipack at a great price. Click on 'pre-order' to check it all out. Released next Monday, June 7th for
£22.99 at: www.play.com
Jun 3: Cliff's Vida Nova Rose wine.
Reminder that Wells Wines have the new limited edition sparkling Vida Nova rose IN STOCK NOW. Priced at £16 for 1 bottle, or £30 for 2, plus carriage/packaging. Don't miss out - order yours now. For more information see our website: www.wells-wines.com
Jun 2: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.8 in the South African
music DVD chart this week.
Jun 2: Music industry news. Forrester reports that music makes up to 57% of the top 65 YouTube videos that have cumulatively gathered more than 100m views.
Jun 2: On Pick of the pops on Saturday, June 5th on Radio 2, 1.00pm-3.00pm, Dale Winton plays the hits from the chart this week in 1970. They include: Christie, England World Cup Squad, Glen Campbell, Tom Jones, Ray Stevens, Mr. Bloe, The Jackson Five, Norman Greenbaum, The Supremes, Mungo Jerry, Marvin Gaye and
Cliff Richard with "Goodbye Sam Hello Samantha".
Jun 2: Cliff: "I'm all for opening doors for ladies and things like that. It's funny because with any kind of work, I meet a lot of women who are very career minded and self sufficient. So far from waiting for me to open doors for the, they open them for me. I really have to be forceful and make a point of opening doors for them. Things like that make me glad there's so much old-fashioned romantic in me. It's nice to stand up when comes into a room or to pay your respects to someone who's older by doing that, whether they be male or female. Or sending a bottle of champagne to a table as a mark of your admiration and affection."
Jun 2: Up-coming gigs for Cliff sound/lookalike Jimmy Jemain: Friday, June 4th-Lyndene Hotel, Blackpool, Saturday, June 5th-Newton Hall Holiday Centre, Blackpool, Sunday, June 6th-The Pavillion, Whitby, Saturday, June 12th-Heath & Reach British Legion, Bedfordshire, Friday, June 18th-Loughborough, Wednesday, 23rd-Lyndene Hotel, Blackpol. Friday, June 25th, The Swan, Newton Le Willows and Saturday, June 26th-Cricket St. Thomas, Somerset.
Jun 2: "Reunion" tour shown on Australian TV.
West Television (WTV) is Western Australia's first and only free-to-air digital community television station. It is a locally focused broadcaster aiming to reflect Australia's cultural diversity and provide an alternative viewing platform. Mark New has mentioned that Cliff and the Shadows Reunion concert DVD will soon be shown on this channel. Dates to be confirmed: There will be 4 screenings during different days and times.
Jun 2: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.5 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. (25 weeks on the chart).
Jun 1: Did you know?... that Cliff almost lost interest in music. Cliff: "There was a time several years ago, when I almost lost interest because I was stuck in such an incredible middle-of-the-road bag. I did it at the time because it sold records, even though I disliked them. I've always been honest about it - I'm in the business to sell records. But rock'n'roll is what it's all about. It keeps you young. If you have some affinity with it, you should, you should be able to do it forever - as long as you have the energy."
Jun 1: Cliff's Lucky lips played on the
excellent GOLD radio MW98 today.
Jun 1: Cliff "Bold as Brass" album - Oct 11th.
You can pre-order Cliff's new album Bold as brass, full track listing on 'Chart hits totals' page. The Special edition which contains two extra tracks: "Sugar to tea" and "Every time we say goodbye".
On-line pre-order prices: HMV Standard edition £8.99.
Special edition £12.99. www.hmv.com
Amazon prices: Standard £11.99. Special £14.99. www.amazon.co.uk Play.com prices: £8.95. Special £12.99. www.play.com
WH Smiths price: £12.93 2-CD Jigsaw Edition.
Jun 1: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is at No.23 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling now for £7.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Jun 1: Up-coming gigs for top Shadows tribute band The Rapiers: Monday, June 7th-"Made in Britain" show with Craig Douglas, Michael "Billy Fury" King and Steven "Cliff Richard" Halliday, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, Tel. 01926-334418 and Friday, June 25th-"Made in Britain" show, Assembly Rooms, Derby, Derbyshire, Tel. 01332-255800.
Jun 1: Cliff's Wired for sound played by Sarah Kennedy on her early breakfast show today on BBC Radio 2.
Jun 1: Cliff Chart Site has had a total of 33,122,680 successful hits (upto May 31st 2010) since the website started back in 2002.
Jun 1: In May this website had 352,598 successful hits.
This is the 4th highest monthly figure for May since the
website started in 2002.
A huge and sincere THANK YOU for your continued support.
May 31: Did you know?... that Cliff feels people think he's past it. Cliff: "I mean people think I'm way past it. My only message is rock'nroll transcends age. If you can sing it then you should be allowed to sing it. And if you happen to make a record which sounds nice and you happen to be sixty...well...and if you listen you shouldn't be put off by the person's age, it's the sound."
May 31: "Thanks for continually supplying all the important Cliff stuff for us. I loved that 60s programme. Good to see Cliff in some good positions" - Mark James.
May 31: "After seeing this on your site, I had to listen to the 60s best sellers show. With Tony Blackburn on the BBC again (even if just for this show), it was like rolling back the years - listening to real pop music from a brilliant decade. One word summed it up. Poptastic!"
- Brian Harding.
May 31: On The Top 60 Bestselling Records of the 60s on BBC Radio 2 today, Tony Blackburn counted down the decade's biggest selling singles. Here is the Top 20: 1.She loves you-The Beatles. 2.I want to hold your hand-The Beatles. 3.Tears-Ken Dodd. 4.Can't buy me love-The Beatles. 5.I feel fine-The Beatles. 6.The carnival is over-The Seekers. 7.We can work it out/Day tripper-The Beatles. 8.Release me-Engelbert Humperdinck. 9.It's now or never-Elvis Presley. 10.Green green grass of home-Tom Jones. 11.The last waltz-Engelbert Humperdinck. 12.Stranger on the shore-Acker Bilk. 13.I remember you-Frank Ifield. 14.The young ones-CLIFF RICHARD. 15.Sugar sugar-The Archies. 16.The next time/Bachelor boy-CLIFF RICHARD. 17.Telstar-The Tornados. 18.From me to you-The Beatles. 19.Two little boys-Rolf Harris. 20.Hey Jude-The Beatles.
Outside the Top 20: 28.Apache-The Shadows. 54.Summer holiday-CLIFF RICHARD.
May 31: Cliff talking about Eurovision Song Contest.
In 2008 The Sun ran the story 'Franco fix cost Sir Cliff the Euro':
"Sir Cliff Richard was cheated out of success in the Eurovision song contest in 1968 after Spanish fascist dictator Franco rigged the vote". According to the documentary - a look at Spain in 1968 - aired in Spain early May, Franco sent television producers and music companies across Europe to buy support for Massiel's La La La 1968's Eurovison entry which beat Cliff's Congratulations by just one vote. "Franco's regime was desperate to improve its image abroad", Mortse Fernandez Vila, the programe's director says. "If you review the newscasts of the period, you see how the regime transformed Massiel into a national heroine. The fiestas in her honour were excessive for a song contest award." Cliff told the British media: "I'd be quite happy to be able to say I won Eurovision '68. It's an impressive date in the calendar these days."
May 31: Today Bank Holiday Monday, May 31st The Top 60 Bestselling Records of the 60s is broadcast on BBC Radio 2, 10.00am-2.00pm. Veteran disc jockey Tony Blackburn counts down the decade's 60 top-selling singles. This is part of Sixties Weekend on Radio 2. This programe is followed by Jagger's Jukebox, 2.00pm-4.00pm, as Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger identifies the artists and recordings that influenced the band's sound. Later The British Invasion, 10.00pm-11.00pm, sees Alice Cooper recall the British invasion of the US by British bands including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Who, The Kinks, Herman's Hermits, Dave Clark Five and more.
May 30: Cliff "Forever" CD album - June 28th.
Another Cliff CD compilation album Forever is released on Monday, June 28th. Available to pre-order for £4.99 from:
www.play.com
May 30: The Shadows DVD The Shadows Final Tour re-enters at No.16 in the U.K. Music DVD chart today.
May 30: 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, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 10, 17, 18, 32, 23, 29, 26, 31, 30, 30, 26 and 27.
(29 weeks on the chart).
WELL DONE CLIFF AND THE SHADOWS!
May 30: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD goes from 26 to No.27 in the official Top 40 music DVD chart this week. (29 weeks on the chart).
May 30: Cliff talking about Eurovision Song Contest.
With the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Oslo, Norway yesterday here's what Cliff has said about the contest over the years. On "Congratulations" (1968). Cliff: "My youngest sister Joan teases me to this day about the way I danced while I was singing 'Congratulations' - she didn't like what I did with my legs. To be honest my legs had taken on a life of their own; but it doesn't matter, erery time the clip is reshown she is overcome with embarrassment. Silly may I have looked but it didn't hurt sales. In my downstairs loo in Barbados I have the original of a Mahood cartoon of me kneeling before the Queen, who, after dubbing me Knight Bachelor, bursts into song with 'Congratulations'. People still denigrate that song, but they go on singing it everywhere at weddings and anniversaries - it's the equivalent of 'Happy Birthday', and if someone had given me the rights to be the first person to sing that I'd have jumped at the chance." More to come!
May 30: Cliff's What car played on "The Pete Wilson Show" today
on BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
May 30: Cliff talking about Eurovision Song Contest.
With the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Oslo, Norway yesterday here's what Cliff has said about the contest over the years. On "Congratulations" (1968). Cliff: "Had Ireland and Yugoslavia given me one point each, I'd have won by one point. I lost to a girl who sang "La La La", which is not remembered that well today, except by me. It's burned in my memory." More to come!
May 30: Cliff's Living doll played by Simon Bates on the first of his 'Golden Hour' (1959) on the excellent GOLD radio MW98 today.
May 30: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 38 to No.34 in the Australian Top 40 music
DVD chart this week. (27 weeks on the chart).
May 29: "I’ll be playing Cliff’s recording of Carnival on this Sunday evening’s radio show, back-to-back with Frank Sinatra’s A Day in the Life of a Fool. They’re actually the same song. It’s a Brazilian piece that began life as Manha de Carnaval (Morning of Carnival), written by Luiz Bonfa and Antonio Maria, and was used in the 1959 Portugese-language film Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus). The English lyrics that Cliff sings were done by George Weiss, Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore (the latter two being Hugo & Luigi of minor early 60s fame), while Sinatra’s English lyrics were subsequently the work of Carl Sigman. Cliff’s version was recorded in December 1962, released on the 1963 Holiday Carnival EP and performed on stage and TV in 1963. Not sure of Frank’s recording date, but it was released on the 1969 My Way album. The show goes out at 8pm (Toronto time) on Sunday, May 30, on 88.1 FM. You can also listen live on the internet via www.ckln.fm . Or if you’re a Rogers digital cable customer in Southern Ontario, you can listen via your TV on channel 947. The Cliff/Frank segment will be in the last third of the show" - Pat Murphy (Canada).
May 29: Cliff talking about Eurovision Song Contest.
With the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Oslo, Norway today here's what Cliff has said about the contest over the years. Cliff: "I still think we've been cheated every time. In both cases the record that won has not sold as many as our entry. And the contest's supposed to be picking out the best pop song of the year. Something's wrong somewhere. It seems to me a little unfair. I can't help but think that there's a little bit of feeling against us."
More to come!
May 29: On Bank Holiday Monday, May 31st The Top 60 Bestselling Records of the 60s is broadcast on BBC Radio 2, 10.00am-2.00pm. Veteran disc jockey Tony Blackburn counts down the decade's 60 top-selling singles. This is part of Sixties Weekend on Radio 2. This programe is followed by Jagger's Jukebox, 2.00pm-4.00pm, as Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger identifies the artists and recordings that influenced the band's sound. Later The British Invasion, 10.00pm-11.00pm, sees Alice Cooper recall the British invasion of the US by British bands including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Who, The Kinks, Herman's Hermits, Dave Clark Five and more.
May 29: Cliff talking about Eurovision Song Contest.
With the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Oslo, Norway today here's what Cliff has said about the contest over the years. Cliff: "'Congratulations' came second in the contest in 1968. I was very disappointed that the song didn't win, but it sold more than the actual winner - in the end. I've had two zonking great hits out of the contest, both of them selling over a million, so as far as I'm concerned it's well worth my while doing it. I'd like to win it once."
More to come!
May 29: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is at No.20 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling now for £7.99. www.amazon.co.uk
May 29: Cliff's I could easily fall played by Brian Matthews on his "Sounds of the Sixties" show on BBC Radio 2 today.
May 28: Cliff talking about Eurovision Song Contest.
With the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Oslo, Norway tomorrow here's what Cliff has said about the contest over the years. Cliff: "What the contest needs is our best writers, people like Paul McCartney. 'Listen to what the man said' would have been a great song for Eurovision. So would that David Essex single 'Hold me close'. It's the Maccas of this world I'd like to sit down with and talk the thing through, to show them the potential of the Eurovision."
More to come!
May 28: Cliff's The young ones played on the
excellent GOLD radio MW98 today.
May 28: "With all these Cliff CD compilations coming out at regular intervals, it's a shame that EMI don't release an album of the best of Cliff's work in the 1990s. This decade is always overlooked. A really good compilation from this decade would be appreciated by the fans. How about it EMI?" - Steve Sayle.
May 28: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes back up from 21 to No.11 in the Netherlands music
DVD chart this week. (28 weeks on the chart).
May 28: Cliff's Congratulations was played as part of a montage on "The Ken Bruce Show" on BBC Radio 2 today, which Ken broadcast direct from Oslo, Norway. They also did a 'Popmaster' quiz dedicated solely to the Eurovision Song Contest, including a question on Cliff. Ken hosts the Eurovision show tomorrow on Radio 2, 8.00pm-11.00pm.
May 28: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff and The Shadows album: 35.Reunited selling for £3.99. 72.The whole story selling for £6.99. www.amazon.co.uk
May 28: Christian singer/songwriter Graham Kendrick has a new CD collection The Very Best of Graham Kendrick which collects his most well-known songs on one album. Cliff has admired, recorded and performed some of his songs, including "Fighter/Thief in the night", over the years. Currently at No.52 in the Amazon 'Easy listening'
chart selling for £8.99.
May 28: Cliff talking about Eurovision Song Contest.
With the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Oslo, Norway tomorrow here's what Cliff has said about the contest over the years. Cliff: "The one country all other countries respect in pop music is England. They fear us, man. That's what makes the Eurovision so important. I can't understand how people can criticise the contest if they don't enter songs in it." More to come!
May 28: "Cliff Richard - The Collection" - July 5th.
Yet another Cliff CD compilation is due to be released on Monday, July 5th, Cliff-The Collection is a 2-CD compilation of 32 tracks taken from 32 of Cliff's most popular albums. The tracklist is as follows: CD1: Move it, Blue suede shoes, Gee whiz it's you, Without you, Blue moon, Spanish harlem, The young ones, The next time, Quien Sera(Sway), Wonderful life, Fly me to the moon, The girl from Ipanema, Time drags by, Heartbeat, Good news, Don't forget to catch me. CD2: Will you love me tomorrow, Abraham, Martin and John, Take me high, Amazing Grace, Travellin' light, Devil woman, Hey Mr Dream maker, Green light, We don't talk anymore, A little in love, Once in a while, The only way out, Baby you're dynamite, Some people, Joanna, Can't keep this feeling in. EMI Records.
May 28: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD has gone out of the Top 20 in the Sweden music
DVD chart this week.
May 28: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 4 to No.5 in the Denmark music
DVD chart this week. (28 weeks on the chart, 14 at No.1).
May 27: Did you know?... what Cliff thinks about fame. Cliff:
"I don't mind signing autographs and I don't get tired of the fans either. It's natural to want to be liked and I enjoy it. You can't remain in show business without being an extrovert. I enjoy everything which goes with it - all the chasing around. My mother used to say that when you're well-known you can't go anywhere; but you can, because you can fford to go places where you're not known, like America. It's absolute rubbish to say pop stars have no privacy."
More to come!
May 27: Cliff getting lots of mentions about his Bold as Brass concerts in October on the excellent Gold radio MW98 station.
May 27: "I rushed out to get the Mail and loved the Cliff story at the top of page 24. They had a colour photo of Cliff in the 1960s and a long colour photo of Cliff on stage earlier this year wearing the pink jacket and black trousers! Wonderful!!!" - Thank you Daily Mail"
- Kate Walsh.
May 27: Cliff talking about "Small corners" album.
"The title of my album was conceived from the old children's hymn which ends with the line "You in your small corner and I in mine." I thought as I was doing my own thing in my small corner it was an apt title. I really feel this one is a part of me! In twenty years it's
the only of my own that I've produced."
May 27: "Keep up the fantastic work William. Excellent site very impressed you've done a terrific job. (The Shaduows Shadows Tribute Duo)" - Paul Schofield.
May 27: "We have the pleasure of performing at Broxbourne Civic hall as a celebration of Cliffs 70th Birthday on the 27th June 2010 performing alongside ex Shadows Alan Jones, Brian "Licorice" Locking who recorded and performed with Cliff and The Shads and also tribute Jimmy Jemain (Cliff sound/lookalike)" - Brian(lead guitarist/The Shaduows).
May 27: In today's Daily Mail: 'Cliff Richard hits the road to mark his 70th birthday' By Simon Cable. He will take to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall performing for a gruelling six nights out of seven starting on Monday October 11. His only night off will be on the Thursday - the day he reaches 70. He is expected to perform hits from his 52-year career along with a selection of songs from his forthcoming album, Bold As Brass. Demand for tickets costing as much as £70 has already been so high that organisers have restricted fans to a maximum of four per household. The shows follow the star's solo 50th Anniversary tour in 2008 and his 36-date reunion tour with The Shadows last year. Sir Cliff is also launching his own brand of sparkling wine to mark his landmark birthday. The singer owns a vineyard in Portugal's Algarve region, where he already produces his own brand of wine called Vida Nova. Sir Cliff has sold more than 250million records and is the only artist to have had a No 1 record in each of five decades from the 1950s to the 1990s. Famous for his high-energy dancing, he has reassured fans he is fit to return to the stage, saying recently: 'I'm still driven. I never feel I've reached my peak.' He puts his good health down to tennis, a daily dose of multi-vitamins and a high-protein diet.
May 26: "Just seen that EMI are re-issuing Hank's "Heartbeat" cd from '93 on 21 June. Interesting to note that Cliff sings on "Heartbeat" / "Mrs Robinson" / "I Will Always Love You" and "Space Oddity" . Can't wait to hear Cliff cover Bowie but just glad it wasn't "the Laughing Gnome" ... also it'll be interesting to hear Tony's 60s best sellers on bank holiday Monday. Cliff is sure to be there with "The Young Ones" which sold over a million. The other 60s million sellers to listen out for were - Elvis Presley "It's Now Or Never" / Mr Acker Bilk "Stranger On The Shore" / Frank Ifield "I Remember You" / The Beatles "She Loves You " / The Beatles "I Want To Hold Your Hand" / The Beatles "Can't Buy Me Love" / The Beatles "I Feel Fine" / Ken Dodd "Tears" / The Seekers "The Carnival Is Over" / The Beatles "We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper" / Tom Jones "Green Green Grass Of Home" / Engelbert Humperdinck "Release Me" and Engelbert Humperdinck "The Last Waltz" .. I remember them well .. don't know any of today's chart but can sing all of these (ok except for "Stranger .. but i'd give it a hum .. )" - David Burrows.
May 26: Did you know?... what Cliff thought about underground bands in the 1970s. Cliff: "I like a lot of the underground bands but I can't understand why they feel they have to appear on stage looking like a bunch of tramps. When people pay good money they expect everything to be just right including a well turned out appearance.
I wouldn't feel my best unless I went on stage looking smart."
May 26: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD is at No.7 in the South African
music DVD chart this week.
May 26: The Shadows Foot tapper played on the
excellent GOLD radio MW98 today.
May 26: On Bank Holiday Monday, May 31st The Top 60 Bestselling Records of the 60s is broadcast on BBC Radio 2, 10.00am-2.00pm. Veteran disc jockey Tony Blackburn counts down the decade's 60 top-selling singles.
May 26: Cliff's Vida Nova Rose wine.
Reminder that Wells Wines have the new limited edition sparkling Vida Nova rose IN STOCK NOW. Priced at £16 for 1 bottle, or £30 for 2, plus carriage/packaging. Don't miss out - order yours now. For more information see our website: www.wells-wines.com
May 26: Music industry news. YouTube has announced it is
now delivering 2bn video streams a day.
May 26: Cliff talking about "Small corners" album.
"A lot of people still don't think it's 'cool' to like me, and I keep seeinf record reviewers almost apologising for liking my album. But I don't think I have to jusify singing about my views. No-one else does, and includes people such as Kris Kristofferson, Seals & Croft and even
Elvis Presley." More to come!
May 25: Cliff: "A lot of people in this business go through periods of spritual awareness even if they reject it eventually. They get fed up with their material, fed up with fan worship; we all through a period where nothing seems to satisfy us. I mean me and the Shads had a terrific time on stage for an hour but there's another twenty-three hours to the day, and you begin to think, "Well, look I'm always on a lousy coach travelling to and from a show, is this it? Is this the glamour of it all?" All I know is that the empty gap in my life has been filled since I became a Christian."
May 25: Did you know?... that ventriloquist Ray Alan, famous for his act with monocled, upper-class puppet Lord Charles, who died in his sleep yesterday aged 79, appeared on early tour with Cliff Richard and The Drifters, The Five Dallas Boys and compere Des O'Connor.
May 25: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD goes back up to No.15 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling now for £7.99. www.amazon.co.uk
May 25: Music industry news. A study of Digital Music consumers in the UK has found that 64% of respondents said they preferred to own music, while 73% said they would would not shift completely to a music subscription model. OpinionMatters conducted the survey on behalf of computer manufacturer HP. It found the average Briton's media collection s worth £482 while 27% of respondents valued their digital media library at less than £50. The survey covered 1,000 people aged between 16 and 60. It found that 14% of them have never acessed any media content digitally. While the 16-24 and 25-34 age groups were the most digital-savvy, 39% of them are still buying
CDs and DVDs.
May 25: Cliff talking about "Small corners" album.
"I wanted to prove that pop songs with words about God didn't have to be anything like people's pre-conceived ideas of Gosel music. But I'm not trying to convert anyone to Christianity. You can't judge what effect you are having to counting heads."
More to come!
May 25: Up-coming gigs for Cliff sound/lookalike Jimmy Jemain: Wednesday, May 26th-Fenwick Country Pub & Kitchens, Lancaster and Thursday, May 27th-The Punchbowl, Churchtown, Lancs, Friday, May 28th-Sinah Waren Village, Hayling Island, Hampshire, Friday, June 4th-Lyndene Hotel, Blackpool, Saturday, June 5th-Newton Hall Holiday Centre, Blackpool and Sunday, June 6th-The Pavillion, Whitby.
May 25: 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. (24 weeks on the chart).
May 24: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website CONCLUDES his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
There appears to be problems with the sound balance on those songs where Cliff is backed by The Shadows. The Shads volume levels overpower Cliff's vocals and there are occasions where there is too much pick up from the 'crashing drums' which causes distortion in the final mix. Cliff's microphone sounds 'dry' and the volume is set too low with little or no reverb. At times he seems to be struggling to be heard despite singing loudly. This is especially true on the softer ballads where Cliff finds it necessary to work harder into the mike to elicit any audible response. On 'Fall In Love With You' in particular he hits a few flat notes as he attempts to over compensate for the non-responsive microphone. (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com
email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
May 24: Did you know?... that Cliff gets fed up being labelled a goody-goody. Cliff: "I am fed up with being labelled a goody-goody. It's such a disparaging term and I can't understand why people say it, really. If I am a goody-goody, what's Bob Geldof? I didn't get my OBE for being a goody-goody. But I can't change that, you can't change that, it's just the way you're pigeon-holed. For instance, when Mike Read asked me what I thought of the Prince single on his 'Singled out' programme, I went (blows a raspberry), "Rubbish! I hate it!" You'll never find that quoted anywhere, because that's not what I'm supposed to do! But I do do that."
May 24: Cliff "Forever" CD album - June 28th.
Another Cliff CD compilation album Forever is released on Monday, June 28th. Available to pre-order for £4.99 from:
www.play.com
May 24: Cliff talking about "I'm nearly famous" album.
"When 'Im nearly famous' was released in 1976, for the first time I became an album artist. Now, it's funny, that between 1976 to 1988 I've sold more records than I did before."
May 24: Cliff on 'Alma Cogan on TV' DVD - out today.
The 2nd DVD release of interest is a compilation of the best of 1950's singing legend Alma Cogan's TV appearances. Included on the disc is Alma's performance of 'Hello Young Lovers' from Cliff's first ATV series in March 1961 and (with 90% certainty) will include her duet with Cliff on 'Happy To Make Your Acquaintance' (originally a song from the 1956 Broadway musical 'The Most Happy Fella').
Alma Cogan On TV is also priced at £12.99 and is released today Monday, May 24th.
www.play.com
May 23: "Would like to add my congrats to Cliff and the Shads for their 'Final reunion' DVD success. The Cliff concerts later this year will have a lot to live up to" - Gary Capaldi.
May 23: "You are correct William. A seven month chart run for the Cliff and Shadows DVD is a great achievement. I know I have viewed it many many times and never tire of seeing and hearing those classic songs that I grew up with" - Keith Miller.
May 23: The 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 29 to No.33 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1).
May 23: 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, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 10, 17, 18, 32, 23, 29, 26, 31, 30, 30 and 26. A fabulous run.
(28 weeks on the chart).
WELL DONE CLIFF AND THE SHADOWS!
May 23: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD goes from 30 to No.26 in the official Top 40 music DVD chart this week. (28 weeks on the chart).
May 23: Did you know?... that Cliff identified the smell of pot.
Cliff: "Theoretically, if I'd smoked pot I'd have been involved with that circle of people who were snorting up. I could have been involved. But I didn't even know about drugs. The funny thing is now I know about it and I've been in places and identified the smell of pot and that's the smell I used to smell backstage sometimes on tour. But I used to think, "Oh, someone's got a new type of cigarette". Pot was definitely there, even back in the Fifties. There was always this
smell around."
May 23: In today's People newspaper in their World Cup supplement, a black and white photo of the 1966 England team meeting actress Viviane Ventura during a tour of Pinewood studios, whilst she was filming Finders keepers with Cliff and The Shadows.
May 23: Cliff talking about "I'm nearly famous" album.
"It's a big surprise because I've known for a long time that some people just can't take me. They don't understand what I believe, they reckon I'm too good, too wholesome...Not that I mind having that sort of image. I'm happy to have people think that about me. Even if they are wrong! I talk too much for a start. I'm fairly free and easy and I'm too truthful. It's always getting me into trouble." More to come!
May 23: It was 50 years ago... May 23rd, 1960.
Columbia Records throw a party for eighty teenagers to help them decide which of the twenty-four sides recorded by Cliff the previous month will be his new single. The teenagers are drawn from youth organisations, Cliff's Fan Club and EMI staff and after listening to the tracks vote for their favourites. After alloting their respective marks, the four most popular are evaluated.
1.Please don't tease 758. 2.Gee whiz it's you. 714.
3.Nine times out of ten. 708. 4.I'm willing to learn. 672.
May 23: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 29 to No.38 in the Australian Top 40 music
DVD chart this week. (26 weeks on the chart).
May 22: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
A 16mm film print of this show exists at ITV's main archive at Perievale in Middlesex. Disappointingly there has never been a request to transfer the whole show for viewing- it has now sadly been left in storage for half a century. Only once, during 1993, were a few segments transferred for possible inclusion on the 'Hit List' video released by Polygram that year. In the end just one song from the show 'Fall In Love With You' was included on the video compilation. Another segment -a short clip of 'Willie and The Handjive' was included that year in 'The Story So Far' video. This documentary was edited down into a shorter televised version for an LWT 'South Bank Show' Cliff Richard Special. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
May 22: Cliff's In the country played on the
excellent GOLD radio MW98 today.
May 22: Did you know?... that Cliff has never got involved in drugs. Cliff: "I'm convinced that the reason why I never got involved with drugs was that I never smoked cigarettes. I really didn't like smoking - I had a real aversion to it when I was a child and if my father said, "Pass the ashtray", I used to do it. I couldn't bear the smell of it and if I touched the ashtry I had to to go and scrub my hands immediately. So because I didn't smoke, I never got offered pot."
May 22: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff and The Shadows album: 20.Reunited selling now for £2.99. 93.50th anniversary album selling for £7.29. www.amazon.co.uk
May 22: The Record Collector Rare Record Price Guide 2012 contains the world's most comprehensive record guide featuring over 100,000 entries with full colour illustrations. Fully revised and updated, it will be published on Friday, October 1st.
May 22: Cliff talking about "I'm nearly famous" album.
"Bruce (Welch) and I knew we could do an album like 'I'm nearly famous' - it was just a matter of finding the right material. You see, the trouble was that when people knew the songs were for me, they kept coming up with stuff that sounded like 'Congratulations'. So this time, Bruce didn't tell anyone who the songs were for. He knew what he wanted and he went looking for it. And what he came up with were the sort of good rocking numbers I sang right back at the beginning of my career." More to come!
May 22: "William - Three Cliff fans NA (California, Texas and Wisconsin) gathered in WI early May and we overdosed on Cliff. He brings so many people together. My family cannot believe that my husband of 27 years would let me go miles away to meet a woman I only knew by the Internet. If Cliff was not the tie in..I would agree. The other lady who joined us lives in California and she met my "Twin" when she offered her a ticket she had for last year's Reunion concerts in Manchester so they met there. The friendship I have made with Aenone (WI) won't end anytime soon. We will continue a bond that our love of Cliff's music started. My "Twin" Aenone heard him in India and me in Maryland..he is universal and there are so many people who have made lovely connections because of his music and the values he has professed. I hope Cliff is singing 20 years from now! May God Bless Him. Take Care William....Cliff - We Love You"
- Judy Amass (USA).
May 21: Did you know?... that Cliff has never been offered drugs. Cliff: "No one has ever offered me any drugs and I've never felt like taking any. I suppose aspirin is the nearest I've got to it. The thing is I don't need drugs, nor does anyone. When I see other artists throw their lives away I feel so frustrated."
May 21: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 14 to No.21 in the Netherlands music
DVD chart this week. (27 weeks on the chart).
May 21: Cliff talking about "I'm nearly famous" album.
"When we first gave the finished tapes to the record company, they went wild. I was amazed. I thought, "You mean they actually like it?" When it came out, I wondered if the press would do the same old knocking bit, but they actually liked it too. I was bowled over!"
More to come!
May 21: It was 50 years ago... May 21st, 1960.
The 2nd of Cliff Richard's ATV Saturday Spectacular was broadcast. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website will begin his revue of this show when his current series ends shortly.
May 21: "Hi William, I hope you are well! Been a while since I e-mailed you so thought I would send you a quick e-mail saying how much I am enjoying reading Cliff's thoughts on I'm Nearly Famous. In my opinion this is Cliff's best album! Every song a classic. If I had a time machine I would love to go back to 1976 and witness the release of the album and all the excitement that went with it. I was born in 1978 so have to rely on other peoples memories and views of that time! Well done on the continuing success of your website! The October concerts will soon be with us along with the album which I'm sure will be interesting. I personally am not sure what to expect. From what I have read and seen it looks like Cliff has worked with some fantastic musicians however I am not a fan of this style of music but Cliff has pleasantly surprised me before so I have an open mind although the concerts will have to be something special if they are to top last years gigs with The Shadows! Best wishes to you William"
- Darren Price.
May 21: "David, The writers would still get royalties on the CD collections you mention as the writer/publisher copyright runs for considerably longer than the copyright for artistes. And while the companies issuing these collections wouldn't have access to the original master tapes, they would have access (by buying a copy) to the digitally remastered versions of the material that EMI have issued over the last 10-15 years. From that, it would be very easy to produce a release that sounds just as good as EMI's"
- Pat Murphy (Canada).
May 21: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.13 in the Sweden music DVD chart this week. (27 weeks on the chart).
May 21: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 2 to No.4 in the Denmark music
DVD chart this week. (27 weeks on the chart, 14 at No.1).
May 20: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
Cliff's final number with the Shadows is Roy Orbison's 'Mean Woman Blues' - a fabulous rocker also recorded by Elvis Presley and a highlight on Cliff's current LP 'Cliff Sings' released four months previously in November 1959. The song explodes into life as the George Carden Dancers (made up of 6 girls and 4 boys) cascade onto the stage during the Shadows frenetic instrumental solo. A memorable performance happily captured on film for posterity. The Shadows disappear from view on moving platforms to rear of stage and a solo spotlight falls on Cliff in pensive mood as he launches into his final number - 'Goodbye, Farewell, So Long' accompanied by the Jack Parnell Orchestra. Cliff shakes hand with each of his guests during the course of the song. The Barney Gilbraith Singers lend vocal support as the lights fade and closing credits roll. Cliff closed all three of his 1960 ATV shows with this ballad. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
May 20: "There are a lot of CD collections of Cliff's 50s recordings out now that seem fairly good and certainly very reasonably priced... but there's usually a catch with bargains and there seems to be one with these. I do remember that your site William noted that Cliff and other rock heavy weights were trying to extend the copyright for recordings from 50 to 75 (?) years .. they did not succeed though and the result is that any one can put out a cd of recordings over 50 years old without having to pay any royalties - not even to the artist nor the writer. So unless the collection is authorised by EMI (who own Cliff's early recordings) I believe that no royalties will be paid and the cd re-mastering is from the 45 / LP version of the song rather than the original master tapes- unless anyone knows different? Me .. I'll avoid the recent releases and wait for the EMI 4 cd collection (Cliff - the rock'n'roll years 1958-1963) to come out in June" - David Burrows.
May 20: Did you know?... that Cliff doesn't like to be put in a bag.
Cliff: "There are journalists who don't like me, just because they can't put me in a bag. I refuse to be put in any musical bag. I don't want to do an album of all the same material. It's interesting for me to make it as varied as possible, and I include rock'n'roll in what I do. But I might want to do a ballad after that. When I compare the old with the new and the old 'Move it' and the new 'Move it' I can see that I've progressed. It's a terrific challenge for me to have a go at so
many musical styles."
May 20: "Just received the 4 CD box CLIFF RICHARD -ROCKIN' THE 50'S and I must admit this is a must for the real Cliff fan like I am! Bought it from amazon for only £7.97 !!! A very nice package, booklet and cover pictures of old 45' and LP's. Buy it and you will be very pleased . It's the money more than worth !!! One of the best 50's compilations to date !!!" - Bernard Vandendriessche (Belgium).
May 20: More on "Rare And Unseen" DVD - out now.
The unofficial Cliff DVD Rare & Unseen released on Wienerworld, which recently hit No.4 in the official UK Music DVD chart, is reviewed in the June issue of the excellent music magazine Record collector issue No.376 in the shops now. The reviewer gives the DVD a 2-star rating (for completists).
May 20: Cliff talking about "I'm nearly famous" album.
"There really has been the most amazing buzz about this album, and it started as long ago as while we were actually recording. A couple of guys working on the sessions actually came up and asked if they could have a copy of the album when it is finished! That's unheard of, normally they wouldn't give me a second thought."
More to come!
May 20: It was 50 years ago... May 1960.
Cliff bought his parents a corner house at 2 Colne Road in
Winchmore Hill, North London for £7,000.
May 19: Cliff's Livin' lovin' doll is included on the new CD compilation Great British Rock'n'Roll: Just about as good as it gets alongside classic tracks by Johnny Kidd and The Pirates, Billy Fury and others. Out now on Smith & Co. record label.
May 19: "Love catching up on all your Cliff news every day on the website that always gives me something new to read. Keep up the good work!" - Les Bradley.
May 19: Did you know?... how Cliff feels about the press.
Cliff: "I don't want to be seen, publicly, as anything other than I'm presented which is positive and confident - because that's what's going to help someone else. When they talk about sexuality or Christianity, they're always trying to say, "Yeah, but tell me the bad things. What do you do that's really bad? And I think to myself, "I'm not going to tell them what's bad in my life. The world is bad. We're all bad. It's time we presented more of the good bits". I'm always saying to them, "I'm not perfect, I'm not a saint", but still they want more."
May 19: The rock and pop memorabilia specialists J.W.S. Collectables have a 1959 photo of Cliff and "Oh Boy!" producer Jack Good from tour programme. 10x8" signed by Cliff and Jack Good, inscribed by Jack and rare. Their asking price is £110. If interested Tel. 01482-509785. Fax. 01482-509900.
May 19: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD continues going back up from 24 to No.16 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling now for £7.99. www.amazon.co.uk
May 19: Cliff talking about "I'm nearly famous" album.
"A lot of today's artists take longer because they write the material in the studio. I mean I couldn't ever do that. I'm too impatient. Besides I know just what I want - I've been doing it for long enough, practise makes perfect. I love working in a studio: to me the studio is therapy, it's very relaxing, no stress." More to come!
May 19: It was 50 years ago... May 19th, 1960.
Cliff discovery Dave Sampson enters the chart with a song called 'Sweet dreams'. He is backed by his group The Hunters - previously the Parker Royal Four who had deputized for the Shadows backing Cliff in February.
May 18: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
Following 'A Teenager's Romance' Cliff performs his latest 8th consecutive hit single- 'Fall In Love With You'. Released on Friday 18th March 1960 (the day before this broadcast) it stayed in the UK Top Twenty for 13 weeks peaking at No.2 during April. There is an introduction to the song by Cliff: "Well now we have done one side of our latest record 'Willie & The Handjive'. Now we'd like to do the other side for you -'Fall in Love With You'. This version is flawed with Cliff hitting some duff notes as he struggles to sing under a strong spotlight into a rather flat unresponsive microphone. This was the version officially released on 'The Hit List' Polygram video back in 1994. Cliff would give a much better and more melodic performance of this number on his next ATV 'Saturday Spectacular' broadcast on 21st May 1960. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
May 18: Did you know?... how Cliff feels about the press.
Cliff: "Of course I get angry, but I don't want to show it. To me the triumph is not thumping someone in the face. I've had so many interviews where things like marriage or sexuality come up. There have been times when people have been absolutely rude to my face. And I've sat on my hands. And when it's over I think to myself, "Hey, I was really successful. I didn't hit him, I didn't lower myself to that level". They would love me to wallop a press man and get the headlines that way. But I don't want to show that. It's enough for
me to say, "Look, I think sometimes."
May 18: Cliff's Summer holiday played by David Jensen on the excellent GOLD radio MW98 today.
May 18: Music industry news. EMI is knuckling down to the implementation of its new business plan, after persuading Terra Firma investors to invest an additional £105m in the music major. Terra Firma needed the the additional £105m after breaching the terms of its loan from Citigroup in March. Should it have failed to raise the cash, it faced the possibliity of losing conrol of EMI to Citigroup.
May 18: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 7 to No.14 in the Netherlands music
DVD chart this week. (26 weeks on the chart).
May 18: Cliff talking about "I'm nearly famous" album.
"I had these two songs, 'Devil woman' and 'I wish you'd change your mind and stay', and Bruce Welch also had four or five written by Allison & Sills. We also heard another forty songs and chose the best of the bunch. Then we went into the studios to begin work on the album. It took us about a month in all, but that wasn't working every day; sometimes we'd go in at two and finish at five-thirty or we'd record in the evenings from seven to ten, and obviously we'd work a lot of overtime. I reckon that if you put the session all together, it was done in a fortnight." More to come!
May 18: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 4 to No.6 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. (23 weeks on the chart).
May 17: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff and The Shadows album: 54.Reunited selling now for £3.99. www.amazon.co.uk
May 17: From Birmingham Mail: 'Cliff Richard's Flame of Hope sculpture to get new home in Birmingham'. Cliff Richard's Flame of Hope sculpture is to be plucked from storage, dusted down and found a new city centre home – but it will never burn again. The torch was famously lit by the Peter Pan of Pop at the dawn of the new Millennium to mark a new period of optimism and peace. But after several years without a functioning flame it was uprooted from Centenary Square and dumped in a storeroom to make way for the new Library of Birmingham. Now a new location has been found in the City Centre Gardens in Cambridge Street, just behind the new Library construction site, where it will be surrounded with a newly- laid flower bed. But city bosses insist that the flame will not be re-lit as it is too expensive and needlessly burning gas would fly in the face of the city’s climate change agenda. The Civic Centre residents association have objected to the new location saying that it might attract anti-social behaviour to their park. Officials considered several locations including the Peace Gardens and St Martin’s Churchyard, but it was felt that it was not in keeping with these historic settings and they would need to disturb graves. A council spokesman said: “The intention has always been to re-site the Flame of Hope following ongoing discussions with Birmingham Churches Together. After considering sustainability issues we have decided that while the sculpture will be relocated to Brindley Drive, we will not be relighting the flame once it is in situ.” The flame was lit amid much fanfare by Cliff Richard on Millennium Eve and burned brightly for two years. It was paid for with a £72,000 donation from the Birmingham Christian Churches. Despite being billed as a tourist attraction, the flame was extinguished in 2002 after council officials said they couldn’t afford the £12,000-a-year running costs. The council managed to find private sponsors to keep the flame burning for a two more years. But after recent rises in the cost of gas the annual bill would easily top £20,000.
May 17: Cliff - "The Rock 'n' Roll Years 1958-1963" - Jun.7th
An all-encompassing study of Cliff's early career and arguably his most important period. 4 CDs previously only available in a 1997 box set - finally getting released in a multipack at a great price. Click on 'pre-order' to check it all out. Released on Monday, June 7th for
£22.99 at: www.play.com
May 17: Did you know?... that Cliff doesn't consider himself a rebel. Cliff: "I've never been a rebel - I've never really had anything to rebel against - but I regard myself as the real radical of the rock and roll world. All those people who go in for the whole sex and drugs bit, they are the ones wearing the uniform - not me."
May 17: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is back up to No.24 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling now for £7.99. www.amazon.co.uk
May 17: Cliff "Bold as Brass" album - Oct 11th.
You can pre-order Cliff's new album Bold as brass, full track listing on 'Chart hits totals' page. The Special edition which contains two extra tracks: "Sugar to tea" and "Every time we say goodbye".
On-line pre-order prices: HMV Standard edition £8.99. Special £12.99. www,hmv.com
Amazon prices: Standard £11.99. Special £14.99. www.amazon.co.uk Play.com prices: £8.95. Special £12.99. www.play.com
WH Smiths price: £12.93 2-CD Jigsaw Edition.
May 17: Cliff talking about "Devil woman".
"The lyrics are risque - I mean they're self-explanatory really, it's crystal balls. When first we recorded it, I was a little worried about one line in the lyric that said "And I knew just what I came here for," so I altered it to "I wondered what I came here for2. Actually the lyric is anti-spiritualist. It's a warning. Beware. I'm not trying to preach at anyone, but it's a very dangerous area; black magic, spiritualists, mediums, etc. I believe the Bible tells us we shouldn't dabble with spirits that chirp and mutter, and 'Devil woman' is very definitely against this kind of mystical experience."
May 16: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
Cliff sidles up to the microphone to announce his 3rd song choice as someone off-stage hands him his guitar: "Well that was on the flip-side of my very latest record, a song called 'Willie and The Handjive'. Well now we'd like to do a ballad that was recorded about three years ago, a number called 'A Teenager's Romance'. The cameras pan in close to Cliff as he accompanies himself on acoustic guitar for this 1957 Ricky Nelson favourite. 'Teenager' was originally issued as the B-side to Ricky Nelson's 'I'm Walkin'- a song also recorded by Cliff for his 2nd album release 'Cliff Sings' in November 1959. More to come!
(Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
May 16: The 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 27 to No.29 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1).
May 16: 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, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 10, 17, 18, 32, 23, 29, 26, 31, 30 and 30.
(27 weeks on the chart).
May 16: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD stays firm at No.30 in the official Top 40 music DVD chart this week. (27 weeks on the chart).
May 16: Cliff talking about "Mistletoe and wine".
"Logic tells me I can never top 1989 in terms of job satisfaction and achievement. 'Mistletoe and wine' launched me into the year that saw me playing to 150,000 people at Wembley and being named as the most popular male singer of the Eighties by Independent Television audiences."
May 16: It was 50 years ago... May 16th, 1960.
Cliff appears on a Royal Variety Show which includes Russ Conway, Diana Dors, Lonnie Donegan, Max Bygraves, Adam Faith, Nat King Cole and Billy Cotton.
May 16: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 22 to No.29 in the Australian Top 40 music
DVD chart this week. (25 weeks on the chart).
May 15: Cliff's Vida Nova Rose wine.
Wells Wines have the new limited edition sparkling Vida Nova rose IN STOCK NOW. Priced at £16 for 1 bottle, or £30 for 2, plus carriage/packaging. Don't miss out - order yours now. For more information see our website www.wells-wines.com
May 15: Cliff's Choppin'n'changin from "Me and my Shadows" album played today by Geoff Barker on his excellent Rock and roll Party on BBC West and South West.
May 15: Cliff "Forever" CD album - June 28th.
Another Cliff CD compilation album Forever is released on Monday, June 28th. Available to pre-order for £4.99 from:
www.play.com
May 15: Did you know?... that Cliff has a thing about concert volume. Cliff: "I have this thing about volume. When I went to see Elton John in Sheffield, it was way too loud. He had a really good band with him, but I couldn't actually hear any of them properly until I went outside and listened through the open door! The whole point, as far as I'm concerned, of this new sophisticated equipment is that you can control the sound and the distortion - so why is so much
volume needed?"
May 15: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 70. 50th anniversary album selling for £6.52. 72.Reunited selling for £3.99. 77.Rare E.P. tracks 1961-1991 selling for £6.99. 93.Private collection 1979-1988 selling for £4.99. www.amazon.co.uk
May 15: Cliff talking about "Miss you nights".
"I think it's one of the nicest songs I've ever made. A guy called Dave Townshend wrote and recorded it and when I heard his version it was terrific, so we just stole the whole thing. He was pleased to have this happen. I mean it could've been anybody, it would've been a hit. What I hope 'Miss you nights' has done - well, what I know it's done - is that the hairy groups have come up to me at Top of the pops and I've also had messages via the boys who played on it, for instance, who have been working with hairy groups - if you pardon the expression - and they've said 'Miss you nights' is fantastic. Which is a great boost for my ego and gives me more incentive to get involved."
May 15: It was 50 years ago... May 15th, 1960.
On their tour of one-night stands Cliff and The Shadows play at
The Gaumont, Ipswich.
May 15: Cliff's Summer holiday was played today by Brian Matthews on his "Sounds of the Sixties" show on BBC Radio 2.
May 14: Did you know?... how Cliff feels about artists not performing their hits. Cliff: "I know that a lot have given up doing their old numbers, or do them either half-heartedly or in a medley, but I think that's wrong. The people come along expecting and hoping to hear them, and go away disappointed. I think that's very sad - Diana Ross did it in her show, dealing with all those Supremes hits in about ten minutes and it really upset me."
May 14: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is at No.30 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling now for £7.99. www.amazon.co.uk
May 14: Cliff talking about "A brand new song".
"I've had my first flop in fourteen and a half years. 'Brand new song' is my first record not to get into the charts. I really can't understand why, because I played it to my mother and she was sure
it'll be a hit."
May 14: It was 50 years ago... May 14th, 1960.
On their tour of one-night stands Cliff and The Shadows play at
The Essoldo, Clacton.
May 14: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 15 to No.13 in the Sweden music DVD chart this week. (26 weeks on the chart).
May 14: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.2 in the Denmark music
DVD chart this week. (26 weeks on the chart, 14 at No.1).
May 13: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
Straight out of 'Kansas City' the boys launch into a classic performance of 'Willie and The Handjive' with Cliff lining up alongside Hank and Bruce for the 'Shadow Walk' during the instrumental break. Sporadic screams from the audience can be heard from this point to the end of the song. 'Willie' was originally a Johnny Otis composition and a Top Ten US hit in 1958 and it featured regularly on Otis' Stateside TV shows at that time. Footage of Otis playing piano and three rotund black ladies performing the 'handjive' can be found on YouTube. Cliff and The Shadows first included it in their live act in late 1959, and it most likely made its debut TV appearance on their first 'Sunday Night At The London Palladium' appearance on 1st November 1959. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
May 13: Did you know?... how Cliff picks his hits for the concerts. Cliff: "The fans get very upset if I don't do 'Living doll' so I do it even though I don't enjoy doing it. At one concert I did it as an introductory number and it went down so well - perhaps that's the answer. At one stage I dropped a lot of my hits from the show, but the audiences went away disappointed so I put them back in. As there are rather a lot of my hits, I choose different ones to do for each tour - but I make sure that at least thirty per cent of
the show is hits."
May 13: On The Anna King Show today on BBC Radio Gloucestershire I was interviewed about being a Cliff fan (1.17pm) and the times I have seen him in concert as part of their "Superfan" series, which looks at the lengths fans will go to, to support their passion.
Anna played Cliff's A little in love.
May 13: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff and The Shadows album: 49.Reunited selling for £4.99 and the Cliff album 96.Rare E.P. tracks 1961-1991 selling for £6.99. www.amazon.co.uk
May 13: It was 50 years ago... May 13th, 1960.
On their tour of one-night stands Cliff and The Shadows play at
The Regal, Cambridge.
May 13: Cliff on 'Alma Cogan on TV' DVD - May 24th.
The 2nd DVD release of interest is a compilation of the best of 1950's singing legend Alma Cogan's TV appearances. Included on the disc is Alma's performance of 'Hello Young Lovers' from Cliff's first ATV series in March 1961 and (with 90% certainty) will include her duet with Cliff on 'Happy To Make Your Acquaintance' (originally a song from the 1956 Broadway musical 'The Most Happy Fella').
Alma Cogan On TV is also priced at £12.99 and is released on Monday, May 24th.
www.play.com
May 13: Cliff talking about "Lucky lips".
"I don't think the Liverpool sound stopped me. This record of mine just wasn't strong enough. We will have to be more selective in choosing material."
May 13: It was 50 years ago... May 13th, 1960.
On being told that he has again been chosen for the Royal Variety Show, Cliff says, 'When I was chosen for the last Royal Variety in Manchester, I felt that I had reached a peak, so I'm completely knocked out at being selected again! In fact, everything is going so well at the moment I'm scared to breathe in case something goes wrong! Nervous? Of course I am. My stomach is turning seventy-five cartwheels every minute at the thought of next Monday'.
May 12: Did you know?... what Cliff thinks of being called a national insitution. Cliff: "A national insitution - I don't know if I understand it all but I guess my longevity gives me that role to play. The fact that anyone has survived that long in a very precarious industry wins respect. But I'm very philosophical about it because I know that even the people to whom I am an insitution I'm not necessarily the greatest thing since sliced bread as a performer."
May 12: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD is at No.4 in the South Africa music DVD
chart this week.
May 12: Cliff "Bold as Brass" album - Oct 11th.
You can pre-order Cliff's new album Bold as brass from HMV. Standard edition £8.99. Special £12.99. The Special edition which contains two extra tracks: "Sugar to tea" and "Every time we say goodbye". www.hmv.com
Amazon prices: Standard £11.99. Special £14.99. www.amazon.co.uk Play.com prices: £8.95. Special £12.99. www.play.com
WH Smiths price: £12.93 2-CD Jigsaw Edition.
May 12: Music industry news. More than one in 10 people between the ages of 12 and 74 made at least one digital music purchase last year according to new figures released this week by the BPI, the first time this number has risen above the 10% mark. There was a record 1.49m digital single sales in 2009. Significantly, sales of downloaded albums reached 16.1m in 2009 - equivalent to a 12.5% share of the market (up from just 7.7% in 2008).
May 12: Cliff talking about "The young ones".
" I think it was the peak because I'd never sold as many records so quickly. 'The young ones' was released as a single on the Friday, but prior to to that we were being told that the advance orders were two hundred thousand. The advance orders were over three hundred thousand and by Friday when it was released there was a million orders. By Monday morning it was a number one. And it's never happened to me since."
May 12: It was 50 years ago... May 12th, 1960.
On their tour of one-night stands Cliff and The Shadows play a second date at the Colston Hall, Bristol.
May 11: Did you know?... that Cliff finds Gospel songs hard to write. Cliff: "I did have three or four songs on my Gospel album, 'Help it along'. I find Gospel songs very hard to write because I'm always conscious of them sounding rather trite; and ones I write I feel have to stand up as songs in their own right. I'm also over-sensitive about the songs, because Christianity is a subject I feel so strongly about. So I spend a lot of time scrapping Gospel songs."
May 11: "Live at Knebworth" Deluxe Edition DVD - June 14th.
On Monday, June 14th, this 1990 concert, staged in the grounds of Knebworth house in June 1990, described as "The best British rock concert of all time" includes Cliff Richard and the Shadows live with "Do you wanna dance" and "On the beach" is released in a Deluxe Edition DVD. Other acts include Pink Floyd, Status Quo, Paul McCartney, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Genesis & Phil Collins, Robert Plant and Tears For Fears. The Deluxe Edition contains replica concert programme and ticket. 2 DVD + 2 CD set: ERDVDCD058. Eagle Vision. www.eagle-rock.com
May 11: Cliff talking about "I just don't have the heart".
"I never wanted to do anything but have hits. I'm unashamedly a hit-maker. That's why I enjoyed working with Stock, Aitken and Waterman, because that's exactly what they are too."
May 11: It was 50 years ago... May 11th, 1960.
On their tour of one-night stands Cliff and The Shadows play the Savoy, Exeter.
May 11: Music industry news. Spotify has confirmed that the seventh market it will launch in will be the Netherlands. The Dutch media is suggesting the launch date will be Tuesday, May 18th.
May 11: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 2 to No.4 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. (22 weeks on the chart).
May 10: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
The opening song 'Kansas City' -brief though it is at 1'43" - is a great visual number taken at a brisk pace, with Bruce, Jet and Hank standing in part-silhouette at an angle just behind Cliff performing their 'Shadow Shuffle' with quick synchronised leg kicks in time with the beat. Cliff's driving version has a real gutsy feel, with raunchy soloing from Hank and authoritative bass underpinning from Jet. Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller this shuffling jazz number was popularized in the 1950's by both Fats Domino and Little Richard. It was also among the first batch of songs Cliff recorded at Radio Luxembourg at this time for his forthcoming 13-week series entitled 'Me And My Shadows' which commenced in early July 1960.
More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com
email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
May 10: Did you know?... that Cliff doesn't sleep well. Cliff:
"I haven't slept well for years. Sometimes I wake up four or five times on the hour. Ideally I like eight hours. Normally I get perhaps six."
May 10: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff and The Shadows album: 81.Reunited selling for £4.99. www.amazon.co.uk
May 10: "I have ordered the 'Cliff Sings Again' double CD - 52 tracks for that price is a bargain indeed" - Nigel Freeman.
May 10: "What a marvellous run for 'The final reunion' DVD - an incredible six months... And it has been a world-wide hit as well. Cliff and the Shadows must be very proud of their concerts and the album and DVD success" - James Scott.
May 10: It was 50 years ago... May 10th, 1960.
On their tour of one-night stands Cliff and The Shadows play the Colston Hall, Bristol.
May 10: Cliff talking about "Daddy's home".
"Ah, but you see 'Daddy's home' is an unbelievable street song. The original version, which I still think is the best, was done on street corners in the States, with doo-wop groups."
May 10: "Cliff Sings again" 2-CD - out today.
The new Cliff compilation 2-CD set Cliff Sings again is released today Monday, May 10th. Contains 52 tracks in total. Disc 1: 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, Mean streak, Livin' lovin' doll, Steady with you, High class baby, My feet hit the ground, Move it, Schoolboy crush, Lonesome fella (The Shadows), Saturday dance (The Shadows). Disc 2: Apron strings, My babe, Down the line, I got a feeling, Jet Black (The 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 (with The Drifters), Danny, Whole lotta shakin' goin' on, Living doll, No turning back, Mad about you, Chinchilla (The Drifters), Travellin' light, Feelin' fine, Don't be a fool (with love), Driftin' (single version), Jet black (single version). You can pre-order from Amazon for £6.99. www.amazon.co.uk
May 9: Cliff: "I find it hard to write songs, especially basic rock'n'roll songs, although theoretically they're the easiest. I find the ballady, poetic numbers much easier. I think I've only ever written one song which came easily. It's called 'Night time girl' and was motivated by a girl we know who needed, and still needs I suppose, help. She used to lurk outside my house all the time, and once she actuually broke in. She's not a thief, but rather disturbed. The song, probably because it was motivated by personal experience, just simply flowed out. I finished it in an afternoon. But that was a rarity. My problem is that I've got no discipline; the sun comes out, and I go into the garden to water the roses or something!"
May 9: The 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 26 to No.27 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1).
May 9: More on "Rare And Unseen" DVD - out now.
In it's sixth week the Cliff DVD Rare And Unseen goes from 44 to No.38 in the official Top 40 Music DVD chart.
(6 weeks on the chart).
May 9: 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, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 10, 17, 18, 32, 23, 29, 26, 31 and 30. (26 weeks on the chart).
May 9: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD goes from 31 to No.30 in the official Top 40 music DVD chart this week. (26 weeks on the chart).
May 9: In today's People Puzzles magazine in their 'Quiz of the week': A black and white photo of Cliff and the question 'Cliff Richard starred in which film that premiered on May 14th, 1959?' The answer is, of course, "Serious Charge".
May 9: In today's Sunday Mirror newspaper on 'Your money' pages: "The most profitable accumulator bet was placed by an anonymous Welshman in 1989. He wagered £30 that in 2000 Cliff Richard would have been knighted, the band U2 would still be together and Eastenders and Neighbours would still be on the BBC. At odds of £6,479 to 1, he won £194,400."
May 9: Cliff talking about "Whenever God shines His light".
"They rang me up and said, "Look, we've got this track that Van (Morrison) thinks would sound good as a duet with you", so I just said "Send the cassette". I wouldn't have done it if the song had been lousy, but I really liked it. I'd actually met Van a couple of times before, but I didn't really know him well. There's a Christian arts centre that I'm a member of, and we often have these little supper parties - and he'd come along to a few of them."
May 9: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 17 to No.22 in the Australian Top 40 music
DVD chart this week. (24 weeks on the chart).
May 8: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
It is only during the show's final 13-minutes that Cliff is given carte blanche to perform material of his own choice - a combination of early hits and rock 'n' roll classics integral to his live act at that time - all backed by the Shadows original line up of Hank Marvin on lead guitar, Bruce Welch on rhythm guitar, Jet Harris on bass guitar and Tony Meehan on drums. Cliff adorns his well -recognized 'Oh Boy! outfit of pink jacket and tie with black shirt for this finale! Cliff and The Shadows perform 5 songs. As a prelude to the first number - Fats Domino's 'Kansas City'- the Jack Parnell Orchestra backs Cliff for a short 17-second blast of the opening lines of 'Me and My Shadows' (the 1927 song first popularized by Al Jolson) which soon became the much-loved signature tune to their forthcoming weekly Sunday night shows on Radio Luxembourg. More to come!
(Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
May 8: Did you know?... that Cliff loves producing. Cliff: "I like producing - I expect it's the felling of power! I'm dead scared of the responsibility, but I do feel that even with good songs and a good engineer you need someone to be objective and give guidance. So that's what I try to do."
May 8: From World Wide Posts News: 'Congratulations - Sir Cliff Richard Is Launching A New Sparkling Wine'. Sir Cliff Richard is to launch a new sparkling wine on his 70th birthday. He already produces a number of wines in his vineyard which is close to Albufeira on the Algarve in Portugal. His vineyard is called Adega do Cantor which means 'Winery of the Singer'. This sparkling wine in the Vida Nova range is to mark his 50 years in the music business and also his 70th birthday. According to reports fans have already placed orders for the new wine. Sir Cliff has also announced concert dates over six nights in October at the Royal Albert Hall. The dates are the 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th of October which leaves the 14th free which is his birthday. So Cliff Richard fans can celebrate by going to a concert and also by trying a bottle of his new sparkling wine. And you never know if you are lucky and going to the Algarve for your summer holidays you might just bump into him.
May 8: Cliff talking about "We don't talk anymore".
"Bruce (Welch) has a great feel about a good song. I think there's some great bass and drums on this record. Maybe, of course, that's why it made an impact in discos, for those two incredients are important for the sound in disco evenings. I can't say, though, that the reocrd is disco, but I can never tell the difference with bass and drums pre-eminent. We have these two things but the song comes first. I mean it tells you what it's about, love breaking down."
May 8: "Collectors Item. Original not a copy. Signed poster from Cliff Richard & The Shadows. Signed by Cliff and the Shads in Perth W.A. Feb 2010. Our total so far in our fundraiser is still a bit low so we have started a new auction for one day of this fully autographed poster, laminated to protect the autographes there are only 5 of these signed posters in the world. This poster is a must for Cliff & The Shads fans and a real collectable. To bid go to www.cliffrichardshadows.com When the hammer goes down the highest bidder wins so don't miss your chance to win such a rare collectable" - Mark New (Australia).
May 8: Cliff's Everyone needs someone to love from "Love is forever" album played by Brian Matthews today on his "Sounds of the Sixties" show on BBC Radio 2.
May 7: Did you know?... that Cliff was grateful for the constant supply of Shadows' songs. Cliff: "Hank and Bruce wrote some wonderful stuff. The writing of the songs used to go on in the coaches and in the hotels and I used to write with The Shadows too. With Bruce I co-wrote "Bachelor boy", "On the beach", "Don't talk to him". But The Shadows would say to me: "You're the star, you go and do the press conference." I quite liked it when they called me the star - I liked being the frontman. But when I got back two hours later, they'd written three great songs - but without me, of course."
May 7: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 9 to No.7 in the Netherlands music
DVD chart this week. (25 weeks on the chart).
May 7: Cliff talking about "Saviour's day".
"You can't beat No.1s and, of course, this was my No.1 of the Nineties. By that stage in your career you don't give up trying to get to No.1 but you don't get so much airplay and it gets more difficult. Radio stations have playlists where you don't air certain songs until the week before Christmas. You're thinking how are you supposed to get airtime? We've lost that connection between radio and artists. Radio has forgotten it exists only because of recording artists."
May 7: Cliff - "The Rock 'n' Roll Years 1958-1963" - Jun.7th
An all-encompassing study of Cliff's early career and arguably his most important period. 4 CDs previously only available in a 1997 box set - finally getting released in a multipack at a great price. Click on 'pre-order' to check it all out. Released on Monday, June 7th for
£22.99 at: www.play.com
May 7: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 9 to No.15 in the Sweden music DVD chart this week. (25 weeks on the chart).
May 7: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.2 in the Denmark music
DVD chart this week. (25 weeks on the chart, 14 at No.1).
May 6: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
Cliff's final guest is actress Janette Scott, the 21 year old daughter of actors Jimmy Scott and Thora Hird. They duet on 'I'm Past My Prime' (a song about ageing love originally performed by Leslie Parrish and Stubby Kaye in the 1959 Paramount film 'Li'l Abner'). Cliff was introduced to Janette by her new husband Jackie Rae (a Canadian singer and TV compere) who was penning the scripts for Cliff's ATV shows at the time. This leads into the second and final commercial break. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com
email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
May 6: Did you know?... that when advance white-label copies of a remix of Can't keep this feeling in were sent to various radio stations purporting to be by a brand new artist by the name of Blacknight 001, several DJs were totally fooled and gave the record very favourable reviews. One station even deemed it to be 'wicked rap'. Cliff: "I found myself in two black charts and soul stations started to play it. But as soon as they found out it was me, radio stations stopped playing it. I couldn't understand it, but at least
I'd made my point."
May 6: "We the Perth fans are doing a fundraiser for 24 hours to pay for the cost of putting Cliff on TV. We have several items for Auction and I think the ones your site visitors would be interested in are 5 Australian Tour posters for Cliff & The Shadows. The posters were printed by Dainty Entertainment but never used as they arrived too late so are very rare. They are full size glossy posters with all the Australian tour dates on them. There is some other items also. To see the auction items or bid goto www.cliffrichardshadows.com and click on fundraising" - Mark New (Australia).
May 6: Cliff talking about "She's so beautiful".
"This was a great moment for me. It is from my first real musical, a show called Time. I played a rock singer who was the last person on the planet and who is transported into space to defend the world. It was a really, really nice idea. It wasn't the greatest musical ever but the music was terrific. The song was produced by Stevie Wonder
who also sang on it."
May 6: Cliff's Move it played by Sarah Kennedy
today on BBC Radio 2.
May 5: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
Cliff's next guests are Peter Elliott ('Oh Boy's!' former resident balladeer) and singer Al Saxon who duet on a song dedicated to Cliff. Entitled 'They Call Him Cliff' this amusing number was a current B-side recording for Don Lang and his band 'The Frantic Five' . Cliff, Peter and Al then each try to out-perform each other by giving their own inimatable interpretations of the Eddie Cantor fun-song 'Hungry Women', from the 1931 film 'Whoopee'. Al Saxon performs it Vaudeville style, Peter Elliott slows it down as a ballad, and finally Cliff whips it up as a frenetic rock 'n' roll song. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
May 5: Did you know?... what Bruce Welch said to Cliff in the mid 1970s. Bruce: "You started as a recording star. It's all very well to be a film star and a radio star, an evangelist and this, that and the other, but you seem to have lost the interest to be a recording star. But that's how you made your name."
May 5: Cliff talking about "Carrie".
"This was written by Terry Britten, the guy who wrote Devil Woman, and is in the same genre. It has some great guitar riffs. It's a myseterious song because you never really know what it's about. A guy turns up in the neighbourhood asking where Carrie is. The very last line goes 'Carrie doesn't live, doesn't live...' You're left thinking
'Is she dead? Has she been murdered?'"
May 5: Music industry news. While the physical market has continued to wither in recent years, music DVD is enjoying a resurgence - thanks largely to some well-timed, strongly-marketed and skilfully-designed releases. Recent BPI figures illustrate that the physical market dropped 6.7% in value during 2009 and revenue from physical singles was down 25.5% to £7.6m, but music DVD enjoyed doulbe-digit growth, illustrating that there is life in the not-so-old format yet. Revenue from music DVD increased by 16.1% to £33.1m in 2009 and, so far, 2010 us shaping up well with unit sales of music on Digital Versatile Disc up 42% year-on-year, according to the OCC.
May 5: "The Final Reunion" in 2010 DVD Top 10!
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD The Final Reunion is at No.7 in the 'Music DVD Q1 2010 Top 10'. Here is the full Top 10: 1."This is it"-Michael Jackson. 2."The Circus-Live"-Take That. 3."Moonwalker"-Michael Jackson. 4."Live in Vienna"-Andre Rieu. 5."It might get loud"-Various artists. 6."No distance left to run"-Blur. 7.The final reunion-CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS. 8."The Story of..."Anvil.
9."Les Miserables in concert"-Original soundtrack. 10."I dreamed a dream"-Susan Boyle. The DVD, as previously reported, was the
No.3 best-selling Music DVD of 2009.
WELL DONE CLIFF AND THE SHADOWS!
May 4: From Contact Music: 'Richard To Launch Wine To Mark 70Th Birthday'. Sir Cliff Richard will launch his own brand of sparkling wine to mark his upcoming 70th birthday. The pop veteran, who will reach the milestone age on 14 October (10), owns a vineyard in Portugal's Algarve region called Adega do Cantor, which translates as Winery of the Singer. Richard already produces a number of different drinks at the state-of-the-art estate under his Vida Nova brand and now he is creating his first sparkling rose to celebrate his landmark birthday. A spokesperson for the star says, "We were keen to extend the Vida Nova range to include a sparkling wine and decided to make the first vintage to mark Sir Cliff's 50 years in music and to celebrate his 70th birthday. We are delighted with the first bottling and have already received a number of pre-orders from ardent Cliff fans."
May 4: Did you know?... that Cliff's Congratulations crept into the American Hit Hundred but there were also cover versions by two seasoned American solo singers, Perry Como and Bobby Vinton, competing for sales.
May 4: "Pleased to announce that after a lot of hard work we are screening 12 hours of Cliff Richard on Perth Television in Australia. This is the first time since "The Hit List" tour that Cliff has been on Australian TV and we are extremely pleased to have made this happen. There will be 4 shows each running for 3 hours duration and plenty of advertising prior to the first screening, this is part of our plan at www.cliffrichardshadows.com to get Cliff known again as a household name in Australia. Radio advertising, interviews and flyer drops will also happen throughout this promotion. We are also in talks to have Cliff screened on giant LCD cinema screens in Perth city where thousands upon thousands of people will walk past Cliff singing his greatest hits" - Mark New (Australia).
May 4: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is at No.15 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling now for £7.99. www.amazon.co.uk
May 4: Music industry news. EMI owner, Guy Hands, has just 10 days in which to presuade investors to cough up fresh funds for the company or else he risks losing control of the music group. A number of Terra Firma backers (the company who own EMI) have promised Hands they will contribute £105 million to the business – enough to plug the breach of its borrowing agreement with Citigroup. But Hands still needs to secure the support of three quarters of the fund’s 200 investors by May 14 for the money to be drawn down. By then Terra Firma have to present a ‘compliance certificate’ to Citigroup which can prove EMI can meet the terms of its £3.2 billion loan.
May 4: Cliff talking about "Dreamin'".
"This was an unusual way of recording because the song was too high for me. But Alan Tarney, who co-wrote it, told me it was fantastic and asked me to try to sing it in this key. It's got a fantastic intro that lasts about 45 seconds. Leo Sayer helped write the lyrics. I got the first verse done. He wrote the second verse. I recorded it a verse at a time, which I've never done before or since."
May 4: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 3 to No.2 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. (21 weeks on the chart).
May 3: Did you know?... that Olivia Newton-John wanted to be a vet. Olivia: I haven't always thought about going into showbusiness professionally. I originally wanted to be a vet. I got as far as my 'O' level exam, then left school and started singing. I formed a duo with a friend from Australia - we were called Pat and Olivia - but we kept forgetting each other was on stage and the mike leads got
tangled up."
May 3: "Good to see that the Cliff and the Shadows concert DVD is still in the Top 40 - it is a piece of pop history to be enjoyed for years to come" - Mike Hancock.
May 3: Did you know?... what Real as I wanna be album producer Peter Wolf said about the album later. Peter: "EMI didn't spend much time promoting it. It didn't sell that well. As a good friend of mine once said, you can produce the best album in the world but it's only 30 per cent of the picture. The audience's perception of the artist is 30 per cent and the remaining 40 per cent is pure politics. You can never have total control. In this case it was the politics that let
the record down."
May 3: Cliff on 'Morecambe & Wise Show' DVD - out today.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website looks at this overdue but most welcome DVD release. Morecambe & Wise Show (Series 7) from early 1973 when Cliff was guest on the opening show of the series on 5th January. Cliff performs the wistful ballad 'Saturday Night at the Whirl' (a number he recorded at the Abbey Road Studios on 12th February 1974 but remains unreleased to this day) and takes part in a highly amusing and lengthy comedy sketch set in Eric and Ern's flat. The sketch concludes with the now very well known brilliant song and dance number 'The Fleets in Town' (originally from the 1949 musical film 'On The Town' starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra). The BBC release includes all 12 complete colour episodes from the 7th series of the 'Morecambe & Wise Show' on 3 DVD's and there are other guest appearances from Robert Morley, Lulu, Susan Hampshire, Frank Finlay, Roy Castle and Peter Cushing. The DVD is released today and costs £12.99. www.play.com
May 3: It was 50 years ago... May 3rd, 1960. Cliff's Sunbeam
Alpine car turns up 300 miles away in Dundee.
May 3: Cliff talking about "Congratulations".
"This was my Eurovision Song Contest entry and a funny experience. The contest had become a platform for all the top European rock artists - Lulu, Sandie Shaw, myself. But it didn't happen that way. I lost by one point to the Spanish entry. A documentary maker said she had evidence to prove I had been cheated out of it. If that's true the only thing I want is my award. It was an exciting time for me but the whole thing didn't become what I'd hoped it would."
May 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, 2, 2, 2, 5, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 10, 17, 18, 32, 23, 29, 26 and 31. (25 weeks on the chart).
May 3: The 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 21 to No.26 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1).
May 3: More on "Rare And Unseen" DVD - out now.
The Cliff DVD Rare And Unseen goes out of the official Top 40
Music DVD chart.
May 3: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD goes from 26 to No.31 in the official Top 40 music DVD chart this week. (25 weeks on the chart).
May 2: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
Cliff's 2nd guest is 22 year old Monica Zetterlund, a Swedish jazz singer and actress who sings "I Can't Give You Anything But Love". Monica enjoyed several hits in her homeland and went on to represent Sweden in the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest. She finished last, however, scoring the infamous null points. Cliff then joins Monica for an upbeat duet on 'You Got What It Takes' - a current hit for Marv Johnson. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com
email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
May 2: Did you know?... what Cliff thought about his 1998 Real as I wanna be album whilst in production. Cliff: "There are four fantastic singles on this album. If I can get any airplay, they are certain hits. If I don't get any airplay, I would rather do another musical. I would rather do something where you plan, spend your money, do it and have the instant gratification of a large audience. Why should I waste my time recording if no one is going to hear what I do?"
May 2: Cliff's Please don't tease played by Simon Bates in the 'Golden Hour' on the excellent GOLD radio MW98 today.
May 2: Cliff talking about "The Letter".
"The Box Tops hit from this year (1967) and was on the shelves at EMI somewhere. The Shadows and I used to live this kind of melodic rock'n'roll. We were influenced by the American scene and it sounds like an American song to me. We never had any intention of releasing it as a single but thought we'd use it on an album. But sometimes when you move on to recording a new album, you just forget
what you've done."
May 2: Cliff's In the country played by Simon Bates on the excellent GOLD radio MW98 today.
May 2: It was 50 years ago... May 2nd, 1960. Cliff's Sunbeam Alpine, worth £1,000, disappears in Derby.
May 2: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 16 to No.17 in the Australian Top 40 music
DVD chart this week. (23 weeks on the chart).
May 1: "Rockin' in the 50s" 2-CD - May 11th.
Another new Cliff Richard and The Shadows compilation 2-CD set Rockin' in the 50s. This is an import album and is due to be released on May 11th.
May 1: Did you know?... that Cliff's home in Barbados was completed in December 2001. He has used the house to escape the British winter every year. Cliff: "Barbados has the ideal weather for singers - the heat and humidity are good for the throat. I usually come here between January and April and set myself up as a base, so friends
can come to stay."
May 1: Cliff talking about "Visions".
"This was a hit. It was released at a time when I was getting over Elvis and trying to find my own voice, rather than trying to sound like him. He had this fabulous gentle, way of singing - a 'no projection' voice - and I had a lot of success with it. It's the same style I used on I'm Looking Out The Window and even Miss You Nights many
years later."
May 1: Cliff "Bold as Brass" album - Oct 11th.
You can pre-order Cliff's new album Bold as brass from HMV. Standard edition £8.99. Special £12.99. The Special edition which contains two extra tracks: "Sugar to tea" and "Every time we say goodbye". www.hmv.com
Amazon prices: Standard £11.99. Special £14.99. www.amazon.co.uk Play.com prices: £11.99. Special £14.99. www.play.com
May 1: Cliff Chart Site has had a total of 32,770,082 successful hits (upto April 30th 2010) since the website started back in 2002.
May 1: In April this website had 382,090 successful hits.
This is the 3rd highest monthly figure for April since the
website started in 2002.
It is the 36th highest monthly figure.
A huge and sincere THANK YOU for your continued support.
Apr 30: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
Following 'Back in Your Own Backyard' and 'Twenty Flight Rock' the lion's share of the show is then devoted to introducing each of Cliff's five guests. First up is actor David Kossoff in bowler hat and suit who appears as the hen-pecked husband Alf Larkin, his character in the popular TV soap opera 'The Larkins' first broadcast in 1958. In a 4-minute solo comedy spot Alf proudly refers to himself as Cliff's father and "Grand Master of the Sycamore Street Cliff Richard Fan Lodge" who takes credit for turning him into the big star he is today: " Do you know I was the first one to hold squealing lessons for the girls so they all did it at once - and on the right note! It was me that taught the girls how to tear off his buttons without tearing off his trousers." Later in the show David and Cliff perform a novelty song together called 'Open Up The Doghouse' which would feature in their forthcoming 'Stars In Your Eyes' season at the London Palladium which ran from June to December 1960. Considering this broadcast predates the Palladium season by 11 weeks, it's a stroke of luck that a unique song from it has been preserved on film for posterity. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Apr 30: Did you know?... that Cliff's home in Barbados saw Cliff pick the biggest plot on which to build the 50-acre resort's most expensive house. Cliff: "David Lloyd gave me first choice, so I went for the most mature one that felt the most cut off from the rest of the world. But I also like this developement because I'm surrounded by the tennis fraternity." John Lodge, from the Moody Blues, has a house nearby.
Apr 30: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 8 to No.9 in the Netherlands music
DVD chart this week. (24 weeks on the chart).
Apr 30: "Love reading all the news on all the various Cliff tv series. So much detail. Thanks Paul and Wiiliam" - Doug Allen.
Apr 30: "It is brilliant to have all the Cliff news and fascinating bits on your website. I never miss it" - Judy Harrison.
Apr 30: Cliff talking about Barbados:
"I didn't want to be near the beach because Barbados is a great British tourist destination and I spend my whole life with the public, so I wanted my home to be unobtainable. At least in my house I'm away from preying eyes. I can relax here with this fantastic view."
Apr 30: It was 50 years ago... April 30th, 1960. The coach taking Cliff and the other artists from Norwich to Bradford turns up three hours late, and three thousand fans chant "We want Cliff" at Bradford's Gaumont Theatre when the show starts two hours late.
Apr 30: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 8 to No.9 in the Sweden music DVD chart this week. (24 weeks on the chart).
Apr 30: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.2 in the Denmark music
DVD chart this week. (24 weeks on the chart, 14 at No.1).
Apr 29: Did you know?... that Cliff's home in Barbados has a tennis court in the garden, a large mosaic-tiled pool and a white pagoda. Cliff: "I'm a quarter of a mile from the beach and all I can see from my balcony is sea framed by palm trees that I planted six years ago and are now 40ft high."
Apr 29: Cliff on 'Morecambe & Wise Show' DVD - May 3rd.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website looks at this overdue but most welcome DVD release. Morecambe & Wise Show (Series 7) from early 1973 when Cliff was guest on the opening show of the series on 5th January. Cliff performs the wistful ballad 'Saturday Night at the Whirl' (a number he recorded at the Abbey Road Studios on 12th February 1974 but remains unreleased to this day) and takes part in a highly amusing and lengthy comedy sketch set in Eric and Ern's flat. The sketch concludes with the now very well known brilliant song and dance number 'The Fleets in Town' (originally from the 1949 musical film 'On The Town' starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra). The BBC release includes all 12 complete colour episodes from the 7th series of the 'Morecambe & Wise Show' on 3 DVD's and there are other guest appearances from Robert Morley, Lulu, Susan Hampshire, Frank Finlay, Roy Castle and Peter Cushing. The DVD is released on 3rd May and costs £12.99. www.play.com
Apr 29: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today a re-entry for the Cliff album: 91.Rare EP tracks 1961-1991 selling for £6.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 29: Did you know?... that Cliff's home in Barbados Sugar Hill resort saw him as the first buyer. He picked the biggest plot on which to build the 50-acre resort's most expensive house - at £6m the
most luxurious he has owned.
Apr 29: The Olivia Newton-John hits album The Definitive Collection is at No.73 in the Amazon 'Easy listening' music album chart today selling for £12.99.
Apr 29: Cliff talking about "The minute you're gone".
"This a real hidden gem in many ways because, although it reached No.1 in Britain, it wasn't even released in America. At that time, The Beatles were taking off in the States and anyone who had a No.1 here was guaranteed a top five there, including The Bachelors, who weren't rock artists as such but had a huge hit. I thought it was my big chance but the US record company said it wasn't right for their market. Hello? What wasn't right? It was No.1 in many countries."
Apr 29: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is back up to No.14 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling now for £7.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 28: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
Following 'Back in Your Own Backyard' Cliff joins the Shadows for a brief (1'40") but proficient version of Eddie Cochran's 'Twenty Flight Rock'. This track was one of the standouts on the 'Cliff Sings' LP of course released 4 months previously in November 1959. Apart from the Abbey Road version (recorded 6th September 1959) two alternate versions of this song can be found on the “Me and My Shadows” Radio Luxembourg series from 1960 & 1962. The earliest known recording of it was made during Cliff's residency at Butlins Holiday Camp in Clacton, Essex in August 1958. This performance was preserved on audio tape by Redcoat Stan Edwards and released on the 'Rock and Roll Years' CD Box set back in 1997. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Apr 28: Brian Bennett: (remembering touring with Eddie Cochran)
A Fast-Moving Beat Show opened at the Bristol Hippodrome on Monday, April 11th, 1960 for a week-long engagement. Brian: "All the dates were put in the diary for the next tour. He was going back for a little while and then we were going to meet up and rehearse for another tour." The Ford Consul carrying Eddie left the Bristol Royal Hotel around 11.pm on Saturday April 16th. The car went out of control and hit a concrete lamp-post. Eddie was propelled onto the road. An ambulance was immediately dispatched from Chippenham. At 1.am house physician Donald Pilton awaited the arrival of the Consul's passengers in the casualty department of St.Martin's Hospital in Bath. Eddie was unconscious and on examination showed signs of severe brain damage. Suffering from serious head and chest injuries, he was given artificial respiration, but his condition deteriorated rapidly over the next few hours. Eddie Cochran died on Sunday April 17th.
Apr 28: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - out now.
This new DVD (No.28 in the official Music DVD chart) contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage (See 'Exclusive!" review of this DVD in March 15th posting). The DVD is at No.73 in the Amazon Music DVD chart today. RRP: £15.99. Amazon price: £7.95. www.amazon.co.uk - The DVD is selling for £7.99 in
HMV High Street shops.
Apr 28: From Talking Retail: 'New sparkling rose from Sir Cliff Richard'. Chalié Richards has launched the first ever sparkling wine from Sir Cliff Richard's Adega do Cantor winery in the Algarve, Portugal. The Espumante, which has been released to celebrate Sir Cliff's 70th birthday later this year, is a sparkling rosé made using method traditional. The wine is part of the Vida Nova range and is made from 100 per cent Syrah grapes picked in 2008. Winemaker, Max Birch, commented: "We were keen to extend the Vida Nova range to include a sparkling wine and decided to make the first vintage to mark Sir Cliff's 50 years in music and to celebrate his 70th birthday. We are delighted with the first bottling and have already received a number of pre orders from ardent Cliff fans!" A limited volume of the Vida Nova Espumante Rosé will be released in May and will be available in the UK through importer, Chalié Richards.
Apr 27: Did you know?... that Cliff's album Me and my Shadows is one that Cliff is really proud of. Cliff: "I'm still really proud of that album. A lot of people like Eric Clapton and the guys in Fleetwood Mac were inspired by it because of Hank's guitar work; I think we invented our own English rock'n'roll. It wasn't American, but neither was it "Rock with the caveman".
Apr 27: Brian Bennett: (remembering touring with Eddie Cochran)
"The rock'n'roll records we did listen to were like Bill Haley and some Presley tunes that were very simple - four in the bass, one and three in the bass drum maybe - but then Eddie came and it was all "syncopated rhythms" as we used to call it. It was difficult and it was different, so it was a challenge. I would turn around and say, "I can't do that, it's impossible," and he'd say, "Well, hang on, have a look at this," and then he's play the thing!" More to come!
Apr 27: Music industry news. Terra Firma chairman Guy Hands is to ask investors for a further £360m to secure the future of EMI Group. Hands is reportedly hoping to triple the £120m the company needs to raise before June in an attempt to fund EMI through to 2015 when it can renegotiate its loans with Citigroup.
Apr 27: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 2 to No.3 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. (20 weeks on the chart).
Apr 26: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
Cliff's opening number is a swinging version of the 1928 song 'Back In Your Own Backyard' - popularized by both Al Jolson and later by Billie Holiday in 1938. Accompanied by the Jack Parnell Orchestra and the George Carden Dancers, Cliff sings against a backdrop of signs depicting famous London landmarks - which all convey how happy he is to be back in England following his recent American tour. No doubt this 'dated' choice of song was Tito Burns suggestion. In fact Cliff covered two other Al Jolson songs in his 1960 ATV shows -'Let Me Sing and I'm Happy' and 'Hungry Women'. Both proficiently sung and highly enjoyable to watch but hardly what young teenage fans riveted to their TV screens would consider rock 'n' roll! More to come!
(Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Apr 26: Cliff's The young ones played on the excellent
GOLD radio MW98 today.
Apr 26: Brian Bennett: (remembering touring with Eddie Cochran)
"When he first came over, he was very precise about how he wanted things to sound. He would say, "This is what I want," and he'd sit at my drums, or just tap me on the shoulder and say, "This is what the bass drum does." It was difficult to do those rhythms in Sweet little sixteen and Twenty flight rock the way he did it. We hadn't played like that before." More to come!
Apr 26: "Just catching up on your site after being away. Good to see photos of Cliff recording the 'Bold as brass' album, the TV series reviews and Cliff and Brian remembering that great rocker Eddie Cochran. Keep up the good work" - Terry Phillips.
Apr 26: Did you know?... that Cliff's 1976 album I'm nearly famous featured Cliff on the cover lying on a single bed with a notepad and pen transcribing the lyrics of Eddie Cochran's C'mon everybody which is spinning on an old-fashioned monophonic turntable
besides him.
Apr 25: "The Final Reunion dvd has passed the 30,000 salesmark in Australia so it is now certified Platinum X 2. Well done !!!!"
- Bernard Vandendreiscche (Belgium).
Apr 25: Did you know?... that Cliff's wine Vida Nova (meaning new life) Tinto 2004, one of 9,000 competing for honours, was awarded a coveted bronze medal at the International Wine Challenge in London, where the wines are all blind-tested by experts.
Apr 25: 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, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 10, 17, 18, 32, 23, 29 and 26. (24 weeks on the chart).
Apr 25: The 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 29 to No.21 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1).
Apr 25: More on "Rare And Unseen" DVD - out now.
In it's fourth week the Cliff DVD Rare And Unseen goes from 9 to No.28 in the official Top 40 Music DVD chart.
(4 weeks on the chart).
Apr 25: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD goes from 29 to No.26 in the official Top 40 music DVD chart this week. (24 weeks on the chart).
Apr 25: Brian Bennett: (remembering touring with Eddie Cochran)
As the 1960 tour reached its conclusion, Brian noticed a drastic change in Eddie's personality. "He changed from how he was at the beginning of the tour to how he was at the end. He was very homesick, there was no question about that. I guess he had a good family life because his mum used to write and he used to talk about her." More to come!
Apr 25: Did you know?... that Eddie Cochran, born October 3rd 1938/died April 17th 1960, had 12 hit singles in the UK singles chart, the biggest being: "Summertime blues" (1958-No.18), "C'mon everybody" (1959-No.6), "Somethin' else" (1959-No.22), "Hallelujah I love her so (1960-No.22), "Three steps to Heaven" (1960-No.1), "Weekend" (1961-No.15), "Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie" (1961-No.31), "My way" (1963-No.23) and "C'mon everybody" (re-issue 1988-No.14).
Apr 25: Cliff's Congratulations played by Simon Bates on the excellent GOLD radio MW98 today.
Apr 25: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.16 in the Australian Top 40 music
DVD chart this week. (22 weeks on the chart).
Apr 24: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
Manager Tito Burns was keen to sever Cliff's association with rock 'n' roll music and nurture his talent as a solo artist and all-round family entertainer. He encouraged Cliff to sing 'standards' by established American crooners like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Junior (all ably backed by Jack Parnell's Orchestra) to widen his appeal to a mass audience. Burns dislike of rock 'n' roll was well-known and he set strict limits on the number of songs The Shadows accompanied Cliff. He also banned The Shadows from performing their own instrumental hits on Cliff's shows - even 'Apache'- bluntly turning down Bruce Welch's request to perform it on Cliff's 30th July 1960 'Saturday Spectacular' when as a new release it had just crashed into the UK Charts for the first time at No.14. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Apr 24: Brian Bennett: (remembering touring with Eddie Cochran)
"In the late 1950s, if someone came over from America, it was magic to us. Trying to get room service after nine o'clock in a hotel in England meant a ham or cheese sandwich! There was nowhere for artists to go when they were on tour. We thought, because he was American, that he was gonna be "big time" and have a big ego, but he was great. Just a down-home American. (Gene) Vincent was a different bloke altogether. He was hard, but if you were good at your job you were all right and Gene was okay with you. But they weren't "big time"; they taught us a lot and were very gracious to us."
More to come!
Apr 24: Did you know?... that Cliff recorded Eddie Cochran's Twenty flight rock at Abbey Road Studio 2 on September 6th, 1959. It was recorded in a session that also included: "Choppin' and changin', "Dynamite", "I gotta know", "The snake and the bookworm" and "Here comes summer". "Twenty flight rock" was on Cliff's second album Cliff Sings released in November, 1959 and the E.P. Cliff Sings No.2.
Apr 24: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is back up to No.9 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £9.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 24: Cliff's Nine times out of ten played today on Brian Matthews "Sounds of the Sixties" on BBC Radio 2.
Apr 23: On Pick of the pops on Saturday, April 24th on Radio 2, 1.00pm-3.00pm, Dale Winton plays the hits from the chart this week in 1986. They include: George Michael, Falco, Queen, Cliff Richard and The Young Ones with "Living doll", Grange Hill Cast, Janet Jackson, Big Country, Five Star, Samantha Fox, Madonna, Whitney Houston and SOS Band.
Apr 23: Brian Bennett: (remembering touring with Eddie Cochran) "Gene (Vincent) was a very bad influence on Eddie. He was quite a hardnut, and I think he used to put quite a few Jack Daniels down Eddie's gob and get him into all sorts of mischief. In those days you had first-, second- and third-class carriages on British Rail. We were in third while Eddie and Gene were in first. We'd meet halfway in the buffet car and we'd get sent back. It was a case of the singer being the star, while we were the scumbags behind him. We would talk quite a lot backstage in the dressing-rooms, because we did two shows a night, 6.15pm and 8.15pm, so we'd hang out backstage and tell stories. Eddie was a very warm American." More to come!
Apr 23: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 14 to No.8 in the Netherlands music
DVD chart this week. (23 weeks on the chart).
Apr 23: "I am pleased to be able to make available the following new sets of photos: Cliff & The Shadows DVD signing at HMV, Oxford Street, London 30 Nov Set and Cliff & The Shadows 50th Anniversary Reunion Concerts - Cologne, Germany -Last night of the European Tour: Cliff only - Sets 1, 2, Cliff with The Shadows - Set 3. Also available Cliff & The Shadows UK Reunion Concerts: Cliff only - Sets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Cliff with The Shadows - Sets 6 & 7. The Shadows only- Sets 8 & 9. All these sets contain a mixture of Cliff in the various clothes he wore during these Reunion concerts. Each set costs £4.50 plus postage costs of £0.75 per set or £1.00 postage for 2-4 sets or £1.50 postage for 5-6 sets. All profits from the sale of my photo sets and items I donate to Cliff's Charitable Trust Fund as normal. To view/order please visit: www.sueandrewsphotos.co.uk" - Sue Andrews.
Apr 23: Did you know?... that Cliff sang Eddie Cochran's C'mon everybody in the "Oh Boy!" section of The Event at Wembley Stadium in 1989. It was included in the "Oh Boy!" medley on Cliff's "Saviour's day" chart-topping single in 1990. Cliff and The Shadows performed the song in their Reunion concerts in 2009 and 2010.
Apr 23: In this year's Sunday Times British Music Millionaires Chart: No.3.Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber(£700m). 4.Sir Cameron Mackintosh(£635m). 5.Sir Paul McCartney(£475m). 7.Sir Mick Jagger(£390m). 8.Sir Elton John(£185m). 9.Sting(£180m). 10.Keith Richards(£175m). 11.Simon Cowell(£165m). After a successful year the fortune of Sir Cliff Richard has returned to its pre-credit crunch
level of £50million.
Apr 23: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 17 back up No.8 in the Sweden music DVD chart this week. (23 weeks on the chart).
Apr 23: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.2 in the Denmark music
DVD chart this week. (23 weeks on the chart, 14 at No.1).
Apr 22: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
Cliff was fresh back from his American tour when this telerecording was made in early March at the Wood Green Empire in North London. For fans expecting an exciting Jack Good 'Oh Boy!' type production with non-stop rock 'n' roll music, all four of Cliff's 1960 ATV shows are something of a disappointment. They each had their highlights of course, but all Val Parnell's 'Saturday Spectaculars' were more variety and light entertainment than pop. Presentation style was formal and guests aplenty were rolled out one after the other - many now largely unrecognized who were working on the dying post-war variety theatre circuit at the time. After each performance Cliff would usually join his guests for the briefest of contrived chats swiftly followed by the customary duet. Cliff wasn't alone in this. Other 'Spectaculars' starring Shirley Bassey, Nat King Cole, Tommy Steele, Paul Robeson, Johnnie Ray, Connie Francis and Alma Cogan (to name a few) all followed the same well-worn format. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Apr 22: Brian Bennett: (remembering Eddie Cochran doing the "Saturday Club" shows) "Eddie used to cringe at Broadcasting House because there was only one microphone for the drum kit, and a couple for the guitars. His vocal mic was suspended from a large hook, which he thought was very funny. The songs were almost cut live. We'd play one title and Brian Matthew would say, "That was Eddie Cochran singing What did I say," and we'd go into another number. We'd do six numbers for Saturday Club and the band would pick up ten shillings and sixpence and then leave." More to come!
Apr 22: Cliff & The Shadows "Reunion" merchandise.
There are special offers on Cliff Richard and The Shadows Reunion tour official merchandise. For full details go to: www.chesterhopkins.co.uk
Apr 22: Cliff's The young ones played on the excellent
GOLD radio MW98 today.
Apr 22: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 39.Reunited selling for £3.99. 66.Rare EP tracks 1961-1991 selling for £6.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 22: Did you know?... that following Eddie Cochran's film performance of the song in The Girl Can't Help It, the waves created by Twenty flight rock spread far and wide. According to legend, John Lennon only agreed to allow Paul McCartney to join The Beatles on he strength of McCartney memorising the lyrics to Twenty flight rock. To this day, McCartney often uses the song during his live set. The Rolling Stones have also performed the song on tour, as have The Stray Cats. It has also been covered by a wide range of rockers and pop stars including Cliff Richard, Vince Taylor and Alvin Stardust among others.
Apr 21: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
Appearing with Cliff Richard on his debut show were; David Kossoff, Janette Scott, Monica Zetterland, Al Saxon, Peter Elliott and The Shadows. Cliff was supported by the George Carden Dancers, the George Mitchell Singers and Jack Parnell and his orchestra, who were all regulars throughout the 'Saturday Spectaculars' four-year run. The show was produced for ATV by Albert Locke but Cliff's manager Tito Burns was in charge of musical direction - largely dictating Cliff's choice of material in the show. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Apr 21: Brian Bennett: (remembering touring with Eddie Cochran) "Eddie was extremely helpful in showing me different drum patterns to suit his songs. He had this big orange Gretsch and I remember that the most important thing about the discussions, apart from my point of view getting the drum patterns right, was that Jim Sullivan couldn't bend the strings as he wanted to. Of course, I'm no guitarist, but Eddie had strings that weren't as thick-gauged as the ones we were using. In fact, he had thin strings on the low notes which enabled him to get these amazing bends, which he taught to Jim and Joe Brown." More to come!
Apr 21: On Pick of the pops on Saturday, April 24th on Radio 2, 1.00pm-3.00pm, Dale Winton plays the hits from the chart this week in 1986. They include: George Michael, Falco, Queen, Cliff Richard and The Young Ones with "Living doll", Grange Hill Cast, Janet Jackson, Big Country, Five Star, Samantha Fox, Madonna, Whitney Houston and SOS Band.
Apr 21: Did you know?... that after Cliff's two concerts at 'The Event' at Wembley Stadium in 1989, the police said there was no need for crowd control and that the only problem they had was that people gave the horses too many sticky buns.
Apr 21: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is at No.16 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £9.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 21: Cliff talking about Eddie Cochran.
"Most pundits looking into music think that rock'n'roll started with The Beatles. Well, it didn't. It started in the States and that's never going to change. The history books will show that people like myself were introduced to it by the American artists. The funny thing is, if you watch people in a stage show and they do a rock medley they go way beyond The Beatles. I never think of doing a Beatles song actually, but I'll go back and I'll do Jailhouse rock or Twenty flight rock. You have to go back to that era to get the feeling of basic rock'n'roll because that's where it all started."
Apr 20: Cliff's The twelfth of never is included on the 2-CD set Sixties Summer Love, which contains 50 greatest love songs of the decade. Some of the classics include: "A whiter shade of pale"-Procol Harum, "Waterloo sunset"-The Kinks, "Jesamine"-The Casuals, "God only knows"-The Beach Boys, "House of the rising sun"-The Animals,
"I heard it through the grapevine"-Marvin Gaye, "I say a little prayer"-Aretha Franklin, "The tracks of my tears"-Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. Catalogue no.564 271-2. Universal Records.
Apr 20: Brian Bennett: Brian, The Wildcats' drummer, remembers Eddie Cochran at the N.M.E. Poll Winners Party well. Brian: "There was a red rope where the conductor used to stand and it was still up there, and in all the famous pictures of the band with Gene (Vincent) and Eddie you can see that red rope. Both of them wanted the drums right up their backsides because there were no fold-back speakers in those days, so they stood right in front of me. The only reason (the sound from) my kit carried, as my drums weren't mic'd at all, was because it all went through their vocal mics. That's the only reason you could hear it was at the back of the hall." More to come!
Apr 20: "It was brilliant seeing the photos of Cliff recording his "Bold as brass" album. Another first. Looks as if there is going to be a BIG sound to these tracks and could well sound a whole lot different to how those songs have sounded in the past" - Sheila Barnes.
Apr 20: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.2 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. (19 weeks on the chart).
Apr 20: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 20.Rare EP tracks 1961-1991 selling for £6.99. 31.Reunited selling for £3.99. 69.50th anniversary album selling for £6.73. 99.The early years selling for £6.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 20: Cliff talking about Eddie Cochran.
Faced with a tough touring schedule, Cliff Richard had flown in to London for the New Musical Express Poll Winners' Party at the Empire Pool in Wembley, briefly leaving his United States tour. After the Poll-Winners' Party, Cliff still had to perform at the London Palladium that evening before returning to the States the following day, but he made a special effort, despite being jet-lagged, to greet the American star. Cliff: "I met Eddie only once. It was backstage at Wembley Arena. He'd been on tour and was very tired. But I'm glad I met him and shook his hand. We never saw anything on the stage, we just knew that they were all there and we wanted to say hi."
More to come!
Apr 19: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - out now.
This new DVD (No.9 in the official Music DVD chart) contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage (See 'Exclusive!" review of this DVD in March 15th posting). The DVD is at No.39 in the Amazon Music DVD chart today. RRP: £15.99. Amazon price: £7.95. www.amazon.co.uk - The DVD is selling for £7.99 in
HMV High Street shops.
Apr 19: "I remember the music of Eddie Cochran very well. There was a feature on our local TV news at the weekend where many fans visited the spot where he had crashed back in 1960. Eddie made some cracking music" - Steve Watkins.
Apr 19: Music industry news. Musicians and music industry executives have been forced to cancel trips to America after the cloud of volcanic ash hanging over Europe showed no signs of dispersing. Organisers of the Coachella tweeted some acts were forced to pull out of the weekend event. UK musicians The Cribs, Bad Lieutenant, Delphic, Talvin Singh and Gary Numan as well as Scottish rockers Frightened Rabbit and Chicago brass group Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, who were on tour in Europe, were not able to attend the festival over the weekend.
Apr 19: Cliff talking about Eddie Cochran.
"You won't find any of us who weren't influenced by what was going on at the time, and there's no doubt that the sound of Eddie Cochran's records has been emulated on other people's recordings. Even if you don't know what you're doing, I always think that you can be influenced without plagiarising. You don't have to go around stealing other people's ideas, but somewhere on your records you'll find a sound on your voice that's like a slap-back echo that he and Elvis used to use. Somehow or other, you'll find that the records that affected you affect how you make your own records. I'm not suggesting that if you listen to a Cliff Richard record I'll sound like Elvis or Eddie Cochran, but somewehere along the line there'll either be a drum sound or a vocal sound, or a guitar sound that takes you back to that." More to come!
Apr 18: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website continues his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
Here are the full contents to the show: 1. Opening Instrumental -Voiceover Intro - Cliff Opening Speech. 2. Back In Your Own Backyard (Cliff,Dancers & Orchestra). 3. Twenty Flight Rock (Cliff & The Shadows). 4. David Kossoff (Alf Larkin Sketch). 5. I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Monica Zetterlund). 6. You Got What It Takes (Cliff & Monica Zetterlund). 7. Cliff & David Kossoff (Short Sketch). 8. Open Up The Doghouse (Cliff & David Kossoff). 9. They Call Him Cliff (Peter Elliott and Al Saxon). 10. Cliff's Home Movie - Sketch (Cliff, Peter Elliott and Al Saxon). 11. Hungry Women (Cliff, Peter Elliott and Al Saxon). 12. I'm Past My Prime (Cliff & Janette Scott). 13. Kansas City (Cliff and The Shadows). 14. Willie and the Handjive (Cliff and The Shadows). 15. A Teenager's Romance (Cliff and The Shadows). 16. Fall In Love With You (Cliff and The Shadows). 17. Mean Woman Blues (Cliff & The Shadows). 18. Goodbye, Farewell, So Long (Cliff, Full Cast & Orchestra). More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Apr 18: "It's surprising to see "The Rare And Unseen" video going up again into the top 10. Anyway, well done" - Bernard Vandendreissche (Belgium).
Apr 18: The 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 26 to No.29 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1).
Apr 18: More on "Rare And Unseen" DVD - out now.
In it's third week the Cliff DVD Rare And Unseen goes from 17 to No.9 in the official Top 40 Music DVD chart.
(3 weeks on the chart).
Apr 18: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD goes from 23 to No.29 in the official Top 40 music DVD chart this week. (23 weeks on the chart).
Apr 18: "Here I am to tell you that I really enjoyed the message by Michael Mann about Terry Christian's website especially for the wonderful pictures from the record sessions showing our CLIFF 100% busy with his job...I loved the picture showing his hands... and the one he's smiling at the camera... well they are all interesting, can't wait to hear the result and to see him at the Royal Albert Hall wearing this patchwork jacket he bought down under for that occasion. I love those snippets of information...it makes me take part a bit at his life, without entering too much his privacy. We get information from everywhere... I thought it was clever from a Danish fan to tell us that after his performance to the Danish Queen, he left Denmark for Barbados just in time, two hours later the airport got closed because of the paralyzed air travel across much of Europe. We simply want to know that CLIFF is safe and sound, it's only human, isn't it? I don't get tired to say that you do a wonderful job William! Thank you!"
- Liliane Ackermann (Luxembourg).
Apr 18: "A big THANK YOU for Michael Mann's pics of Cliff and his musicians in Nashville at the BOLD AS BRASS sessions. A real joy. I'll be fascinated to hear Cliff on Lazy River the script of which is visible in one of the pics. Another winner William" - John Patrick.
Apr 18: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 21.Rare EP tracks 1961-1991 selling for £4.99. 38.Reunited selling for £3.99. 48.Just about as good as it gets selling for £6.97. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 18: Today Sunday, April 18th The Best of the Royal Variety on ITV 3 (Freeview 10, Freesat 115, Sky 119, Virgin 117), 8.00pm-9.00pm. A look at the performers who have appeared in the show. With contributions from Cilla Black and Cliff Richard.
Apr 18: Cliff talking about Eddie Cochran.
"We cannot afford to forget people like Eddie Cochran. Although he died early, his music is still being played today. If you play "Summertime blues", if you play "Three steps to Heaven", if you play "Twenty flight rock" and "Sittin' in the balcony", they still sound fantastic. In fact, if you put the volume up on those tracks, you wonder if we actually ever improved at all." More to come!
Apr 18: It was 50 years ago... April 18th, 1960. Cliff starts a week of variety at the Sheffield Lyceum.
Apr 18: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 19 to No.16 in the Australian Top 40 music
DVD chart this week. (21 weeks on the chart).
Apr 17: "Thank you Michael Mann for finding and William for publishing those pictures of Sir Cliff emersed in the creative process for Bold as Brass!! What a priviledge to see the creative process at work!" - Claudette Moody (USA).
Apr 17: Cliff in Denmark on YouTube.
You can view Cliff singing Congratulations in Denmark recently by clicking on this direct link: www.youtube.com
Apr 17: Cliff's Wired for sound played on the excellent
GOLD radio MW98 today.
Apr 17: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is at No.22 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £9.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 17: "Thanks for that - looks like a big band alright. There will certainly be a very full sound to the album and the concerts"
- Sean Warner.
Apr 17: "Found a website by Terry Christian he's a recording engineer who has worked for Michael Omartian and Cliff Richard he has a website www.terrychristian.com and click on Photos et cetera it has pics of Cliff in studio recording what looks like his "Bold As Brass" CD the heading is Cliff Richard Big Band" - Michael Mann (Australia).
Apr 17: Cliff talking about Eddie Cochran.
50 years ago on April 17th, 1960, rock'n'roll singer and guitarist Eddie Cochran died after a car crash in Chippenham, Wiltshire.
Cliff: "Eddie Cochran can never be forgotten because he created a sound and an image that to me will always be rock'n'roll, that's the look and that was the sound and the rest of us have messed around with it." More to come!
Apr 17: "The time in between - I understand that this track was originally considered by the Shadows but that Cliff took it for his own and the Shads released DON'T MAKE MY BABY BLUE instead. Incidentally one of the co writers of The Time In Between George Aber wrote french lyrics to FOOT TAPPER recorded by Petula Clark under the title Mon bonheur danse. Keep up the great work you do"
- John Patrick.
Apr 17: It was 50 years ago... April 17th, 1960. Six and a half thousand people pack Blackpool's Opera House to see Cliff and The Shadows. Several hundred fans smashed down a side door in an attempt to get to their idol.
Apr 16: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Starting today, Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website begins his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
50 years ago Cliff Richard starred in the first of his own television spectaculars for the ATV network. Broadcast at 8pm on the Saturday evening of 19th March 1960 'The Cliff Richard Show' ran for 50 minutes under the banner of 'Val Parnell's Saturday Spectacular'- a long running variety series (1956 - 1961) which showcased a different star attraction each week. Cliff had previously appeared on ATV as guest of Alma Cogan on her 'Saturday Spectaculars' on 5th September and 19th December 1959, and also on 'Starlight Hour' on Saturday 15th August 1959 (when he serenaded American sex siren Jayne Mansfield) but this was the first time he was star of his own show. Cliff made four 'Spectaculars' during 1960 - the other three broadcast on the Saturday evenings of 21st May, 30th July and New Year's Eve (31st December) 1960. Publicity for this debut show included Cliff appearing on the front cover of the current TV Times, looking mean, moody and sporting an impressive turreted quiff! More to come!
(Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Apr 16: Cliff's The young ones played on the excellent
GOLD radio MW98 today.
Apr 16: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 9 to No.14 in the Netherlands music
DVD chart this week. (22 weeks on the chart).
Apr 16: Did you know?... that Bruce Welch recognised We don't talk anymore as a potential monster hit and felt it was tailormade for Cliff. He immediately rang Peter Gormley to express his excitement, but stressed that if Cliff wanted to record it, then the proviso was that he, Bruce Welch, would be the producer.
Apr 16: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD remains out of the Belgium music
DVD Top 10 chart this week after a 20 week stay.
Apr 16: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 19.Rare EP tracks 1961-1991 selling for £4.99. 33.Reunited selling for £3.99. 69.Just about as good as it gets selling for £6.97. 75.The early years selling for £4.99. 79.Cliff Live in Japan 1972 selling for £6.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 16: Did you know?... that "our vocalist" as the Shadows used to refer to Cliff, wrote two original instrumentals for the group back in the 60's? Some Are Lonely and With a Hmm Hmm On My Knee, the latter from the album JIGSAW and the former from the album OUT OF THE SHADOWS - John Patrick.
Apr 16: "My Danish friends on Facebook posted video clips of Cliff singing "Congratulations" during the 70th birthday celebration of the Queen of Denmark, and an interview with Cliff after the performance. Wonderful!" - Niñez McConnell (USA).
Apr 16: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 12 to No.17 in the Sweden music
DVD chart this week. (22 weeks on the chart).
Apr 16: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.2 in the Denmark music
DVD chart this week. (22 weeks on the chart, 14 at No.1).
Apr 15: Did you know?... that when at his Portugal home, bought in 1991, usually the cockerel will wake Cliff at five in the morning, and in the early morning light he will venture out on to the terrace simply to gaze over the vineyards and revel in the tranquillity of the oasis of calm he has created for himself.
Apr 15: A new Shadows related CD album release Two of our Shadows are missing by Barry Gibson’s Local Heroes. Vol.2 from the Local Heroes. Recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in N.W. London, Barry Gibson has got together Jet Harris, Brian ‘Licorice’ Locking and Clem Cattini, to join them for this ‘follow up’ CD to “One of Our Shadows is Missing”. Interesting and informative sleeve notes with details and pictures of guitars, amps, etc. used for the CD. Tracklisting: The Miracle, Run, Alone, Hotel California, A Place In The Sun, California Dreaming, Midnight Cowboy, Warlord, Sylvia, BoogieToo, Blue Guitar, Two of Our Shadows Are Missing, Clash of the Tight-Uns, Sabre Dance. £12.99 including UK post and packing from the excellent Cliff Richard and The Shadows record specialists
Leo's Den (Links page).
Apr 15: Cliff's Devil woman was played by Dale Winton today, standing in for Steve Wright, on BBC Radio 2.
Apr 15: Cliff: "I have a very sweet tooth. I like cookies and chocolate, especially Bounty bars. I probably drink more wine than anything else. I'm not adverse to a bourbon and coke or a gin and tonic. I only drink beers and lagers if I'm particularly hot, so if I'm in Portugal or Barbados that's when I want something particularly cool."
Apr 15: The Record Collector Rare Record Price Guide 2012 contains the world's most comprehensive record guide featuring over 100,000 entries with full colour illustrations. Fully revised and updated, it will be published on Friday, October 1st.
Apr 15: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - out now.
This new DVD (No.17 in the official Music DVD chart) contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage (See 'Exclusive!" review of this DVD in March 15th posting). The DVD is at No.23 in the Amazon Music DVD chart today. RRP: £15.99. Amazon price: £7.95. www.amazon.co.uk - The DVD is selling for £7.99 in
HMV High Street shops.
Apr 15: Theme For A Dream and Jimmy Jemain Productions present their Cliff Richard & The Shadows Convention on Sunday, June 27th, 5.00pm-10.00pm, at Broxbourne Civic Hall, High Street, Hoddeson, EN11 8BE. Tributes to Cliff Richard: Jimmy Jemain, Simon Goodall and Cliff As If. Tributes to The Shadows: The Shaduows, Josh Doyle and Jimmy Jemain & The Knight's Shadows. Hosted by Kak. Plus stalls, photos & autograph opportunities, Raffle & Auction. Profits & Donations to The Caron Keating Foundation www.caronkeating.org - For tickets & more information Tel. 07794888531 or visit: www.themeforadreamevents.co.uk
Apr 15: Tomorrow Friday, April 16th on More4 TV (Freeview 14, Freesat 124, Sky 138, Virgin 147), 11.05pm-12.10am, Heroes of Comedy is a celebration of the life and career of British comedian Arthur Askey. It features contributions from Pete Waterman, Cliff Richard and Bob Monkhouse.
Apr 14: Hank Marvin: (Advice for up-and-coming guitarists)
"Any musician or singer needs to know how to phrase their music, they need a good teacher and to put time into practising. It pays
off ultimately."
Apr 14: "I got the Cliff 'Live in Japan '72' and 'Rare EP tracks' as I thought they looked the most interesting. There were songs that I hadn't heard in a long time and virtually forgotten and on the Japan one I liked the unusual tracks. At these prices, I find them a really good buy" - Nigel Wilkinson.
Apr 14: Cliff talking about Portugal:
"Portugal has a peaceful feel to it. I sit on the kitchen terrace overlooking the vineyard and I feel cut off from the world. I need that sort of thing, and when I come back I'm really ready to work again. I find a great peace in the Algarve. In Portugal I can live like a recluse for a couple of weeks. I don't go out much and there's no need to shave. There are times when I need to withdraw and be ordinary."
Apr 14: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 16.Rare EP tracks 1961-1991 selling for £4.99. 23.The early years selling for £4.99. 39.Reunited selling for £3.99. 48.Cliff Live in Japan 1972 selling for £6.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 13: Did you know?... Cliff's favourite place to kick back is Portugal. Just recently Cliff said: "The last place I would sell would definately be my Portugal house."
Apr 13: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is at No.12 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £9.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 13: Hank Marvin: (playing a 'crappy' guitar in '58 & '59) "But we decided that I would get a Fender Stratocaster. There had been an embargo from the States since World War 11. But, Cliff ordered it straight from the factory. He bought me that first wonderful Strat, which I received in the spring of 1959." At some point Cliff lent it to Welch. "He never gave it back. We have this pact - if I die first he gets it and vice versa."
Apr 13: Music industry news. Apple has sold more than 50m iPhones and 35m iPod Touch devices to date. It's imminent OS 4.0 update will allow multitasking between apps.
Apr 13: EXCLUSIVE! New DVD release.
Cliff on 'Alma Cogan on TV' DVD - May 24th.
The 2nd DVD release of interest is a compilation of the best of 1950's singing legend Alma Cogan's TV appearances. Included on the disc is Alma's performance of 'Hello Young Lovers' from Cliff's first ATV series in March 1961 and (with 90% certainty) will include her duet with Cliff on 'Happy To Make Your Acquaintance' (originally a song from the 1956 Broadway musical 'The Most Happy Fella').
Alma Cogan On TV is also priced at £12.99 and is released on 24th May.
www.play.com
Apr 13: EXCLUSIVE! New DVD release.
Cliff on 'Morecambe & Wise Show' DVD - May 3rd.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website looks at 2 overdue but most welcome DVD releases fans can look forward to in the coming weeks. A couple of Cliff Richard's notable vintage TV performances get their first official release on DVD next month. First up is the fondly remembered Morecambe & Wise Show (Series 7) from early 1973 when Cliff was guest on the opening show of the series on 5th January. Cliff performs the wistful ballad 'Saturday Night at the Whirl' (a number he recorded at the Abbey Road Studios on 12th February 1974 but remains unreleased to this day) and takes part in a highly amusing and lengthy comedy sketch set in Eric and Ern's flat. The sketch concludes with the now very well known brilliant song and dance number 'The Fleets in Town' (originally from the 1949 musical film 'On The Town' starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra). The BBC release includes all 12 complete colour episodes from the 7th series of the 'Morecambe & Wise Show' on 3 DVD's and there are other guest appearances from Robert Morley, Lulu, Susan Hampshire, Frank Finlay, Roy Castle and Peter Cushing. The DVD is released on 3rd May and costs £12.99. www.play.com
Apr 13: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.2 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. (18 weeks on the chart).
Apr 12: 'Saturday Spectacular' TV series.
Commencing shortly, Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website begins his review of Cliff Richard's first-ever ATV Saturday Spectacular, broadcast 50 years ago on 19th March 1960.
Coming soon!
Apr 12: Cliff's chart-topping book My life, My way (paperback) is now available from Amazon for £4.56. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 12: "I have just got the 'Rare EP tracks' album and have really enjoyed listening to these songs. I used to have these on some EPs, but there are many here that I hadn't heard before. A neat collection" - Jackie Hawkins.
Apr 12: Did you know?... that when Tesco released 3,000 bottles of Cliff's Vida Nova on it's website in 2002, 24 hours later all 500 six-bottle cases (at £45.54) completely sold out. Cliff's wine was the fastest-selling product ever on Tesco.com knocking the DVD release of "Lord of the Rings" into second place.
Apr 12: Hank Marvin: (Reunion - the last world tour for Cliff and The Shadows?) "It's huge in anyone's life to still be performing 50 years on, but I think we will call a halt after this."
Apr 12: Did you know?... that Cliff's neighbours in Sugar Hill, Barbados include: Simon Cowell, Michael Winner, Andrew Lloyd
Webber and Cilla Black.
Apr 12: On Friday, April 16th on More4 TV (Freeview 14, Freesat 124, Sky 138, Virgin 147), 11.05pm-12.10am, Heroes of Comedy is a celebration of the life and career of British comedian Arthur Askey. It features contributions from Pete Waterman, Cliff Richard and
Bob Monkhouse.
Apr 12: Cliff CD Re-issues - out today.
In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums (full track listings already posted) released today:
16.The early years selling for £4.99.
22.Rare EP tracks 1961-1991 selling for £4.99.
65.Cliff Live in Japan 1972 selling for £6.99.
www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 11: Cliff talking about Portugal:
"I love Portugal. This is not to say that I don't have a great time in Barbados, but I have more friends in the Algarve. The whole area has a time warp factor thing going for it. I really enjoy this aspect. Visiting an old village where a donkey and cart is passing through and an elderly woman in black is sitting in her doorway -it's so peaceful."
Apr 11: The 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, has gone from 25 to No.26 in the UK album compilation chart (75 weeks on the chart. Peak: No.1).
Apr 11: More on "Rare And Unseen" DVD - out now.
In it's second week the Cliff DVD Rare And Unseen goes from 4 to No.17 in the official Top 40 Music DVD chart.
(2 weeks on the chart).
Apr 11: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD goes from 32 to No.23 in the official Top 40 music DVD chart this week. (22 weeks on the chart).
Apr 11: Did you know?... that in the middle of Cliff's forehead is this tiny scar, which he got when - as a boy in India - he decided to steal some chocolate. Cliff: "We lived in an apartment above a place where they made chocolate. The tub was packed in ice to keep the hot chocolate from melting. I sneaked in, fell and hit my head."
Apr 11: On Tuesday, April 13th Cliff will perform Congratulations at the 70th birthday celebrations of Queen Margrethe II in Denmark at the Banquet Dinner at Christiansborg Palace.
Apr 11: Hank Marvin: (any regrets as far as your professional life is concerned?) "We all do I suppose - the fact that we missed out in the US will always rankle. I found it strange when we were having amazing international success, it was still difficult to be taken seriously as musicians. The Shadows didn't get much support from record companies, we could've done so much better."
Apr 11: Cliff: "I must consider myself one of the most fortunate pop singers that ever existed to have someone like Alan Tarney write you songs like "We don't talk anymore", when you know almost anybody else on the planet who sings would be able to do just as good a version of all the songs I've recorded, in terms of being a pop singer, singing something that is so purely pop and wonderful."
Apr 11: It was 50 years ago... April 11th, 1960. Cliff starts a week of variety at the Coventry Theatre.
Apr 11: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 11 to No.19 in the Australian Top 40 music
DVD chart this week. (20 weeks on the chart).
Apr 10: Cliff chatting in South Africa: (Have you done it all?)
"I'm pretty happy really. I have no desire to fly to the moon, jump off Everest or hang-glide. I just hope I can keep on doing the things I enjoy, as long as I can."
Apr 10: Did you know?... that in the 1980s and the early 90s,
Cliff loved the ZZ Top albums: "Eliminator" (1983-No.3), "Afterburner" (1985-No.2) and "Recycler" (1990-No.8).
Apr 10: "I did not get the Cliff 8-CD box set as it was too expensive for me at the time, so I am pleased that they are being released singly. I'm looking forward to getting the 'Live in Japan' album. I think it is a good idea to release these CD albums like this" - Marc Peters.
Apr 10: Cliff's In the country played on the
excellent GOLD radio MW98 today.
Apr 10: Cliff: "The period with Bruce and with Terry Britten gave me a period when I was taken seriously as an album artist. Those guys played such a major role in my life. I'm very grateful to them because they pushed me and pushed me."
Apr 10: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 17.Rare EP tracks 1961-1991 selling for £4.99. The early years selling for £4.99 (both released on Monday, April 12th). 38.Reunited selling for £3.99. 55.Cliff Live in Japan 1972 (April 12th) selling for £6.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 10: In today's Daily Mail: 'Cliff's love torment' by Paul Harris. The letter that Cliff sent to his girlfriend Delia Wicks, is re-printed, half a century later, as Delia has died from cancer at the age of 71. Early black and white photo of Cliff and Delia in 1961 and colour photo of Cliff from 1962. Yesterday after Sir Cliff was told of her death, he revealed that the letter was not a final farewell. They met briefly at a function in the 70s and he happily posed for a photograph with her.
Apr 10: "Blue turns to grey - Funny little aside to this tune. On the old Light Programme at the time dear old Sam Costa referred to the song by singing Cliff's praises with the the throwaway line........and this boy (Cliff) is so talented he even half wrote it himself!!...mixing up Keith R with Cliff R. I was in school at the time and that comment got a lot of laughs!...incidentally the song also appeared on the Stones December (US) album of 1965 called "December's Children". A version by Dick and Dee Dee made #37 in the UK charts. Keep up the good work" - John Patrick.
Apr 10: Tomorrow 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.
Apr 9: Did you know?... that the Jagger/Richard song Blue turns to grey, a No.15 hit for Cliff Richard in 1966, later appeared on The Rolling Stones album "Stone Age", released in April 1971.
Apr 9: Cliff: (talking about "The minute you're gone" hitting No.1 in the UK) "I'd thought now that I'd made number one smack in the middle of The Beatles period, that's all it took. At that period anyone who was number one over here made the Top Ten or Top Twenty over there (USA). But my company didn't even release it in America. They said: "Oh no, it's a B-side. It's not suitable for our market!
That whole America scene dogged me for years."
Apr 9: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 10 to No.9 in the Netherlands music
DVD chart this week. (21 weeks on the chart).
Apr 9: "William, Your site is still Clifftastic full of interesting information. Cliff Richard was shown on Top Gear here in Australia on GO! Channel 4/4/10. The Muses which is a record store here in Oz has imported the Singing The Blues CD Single $13. The record stores here have got in more stock of Cliff Richard & The Shadows- Reunited CD because it sold out as well as Platinum Collection (which also sold out) and Private Collection the other unknown unofficial Cliff Early Recordings are appearing in stores now. I would like to say a big thank you for all the years of effort you have put into this website. It is always interesting even when Cliff is not doing anything there's always interesting facts, quotes and memories to look at. I would not have a lot of the Cliff CDs I do now without seeing your notes on release dates and thanks for keeping us posted on all the chart runs. Your site is still fantastic and I look forward to viewing it for many years to come. Thank you William" - Michael Mann (Australia).
Apr 9: Cliff "Bold as Brass" album - Oct 11th.
You can pre-order Cliff's new album Bold as brass from HMV. Standard edition £8.99. Special £12.99. The Special edition which contains two extra tracks: "Sugar to tea" and "Every time we say goodbye". www.hmv.com
Amazon prices: Standard £11.99. Special £14.99. www.amazon.co.uk Play.com prices: £11.99. Special £14.99. www.play.com
Apr 9: Cliff: (talking about the children in Umthombo, South Africa): "It's devastating to think of what these kids have faced. And amazing to see them still smiling. No child should go through the pain that some of these children have. It is truly humbling to meet them."
Apr 9: Cliff's Lucky lips played on the
excellent GOLD radio MW98 today.
Apr 9: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD has gone out of the Belgium music
DVD Top 10 chart this week after a 20 week stay.
Apr 9: "Cliff Live in Japan '72" - Apr. 12th.
The Cliff CD re-issue Cliff Live in Japan 1972 (originally part of the "And they said it wouldn't last" 8-CD box-set) is released on Monday, April 12th. Tracklisting: Backscatcher, Can't let you go, Have a little talk with myself, Sunny honey girl, The minute you're gone, Flying machine, The day I met Marie, Silvery rain, My way, Move it, Living in harmony, Walk on by/The look of love, Early in the morning, Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha, Living doll, Bachelor boy, The young ones, Congratulations, Medley: The girl can't help it, Great balls of fire, Lucille, Jailhouse rock, Good old rock'n'roll, Do you wanna dance, Sing a song of freedom. Available to pre-order for £6.99 (free delivery in the UK) from: www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 9: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - out now.
This new DVD (No.4 in the official Music DVD chart) contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage (See 'Exclusive!" review of this DVD in March 15th posting). The DVD is at No.13 in the Amazon Music DVD chart today. RRP: £15.99. Amazon price: £9.99. www.amazon.co.uk - The DVD is selling for £7.99 in
HMV High Street shops.
Apr 9: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 9 to No.12 in the Sweden music
DVD chart this week. (21 weeks on the chart).
Apr 9: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.2 in the Denmark music
DVD chart this week. (21 weeks on the chart, 14 at No.1).
Apr 8: "Thank you Paul and William for the wonderful journey through these shows. It is a shame the tapes were not preserved, but there are so many performances where this is true. I never saw Laurence Olivier live in the theatre but that does not make his performances less worthy or his rehearsals a waste of time and talent. The lucky 17 million or so who watched the Cliff Richard shows still remember them, just as I often remember a great theatre performance I have seen or that wonderful Manchester concert with Sir Cliff and the Shadows! I really look forward to reading more about these shows later this year!" - Claudette (USA).
Apr 8: Cliff: "Now, if I was asked to leave something behind or if, for instance, somebody came from outer space and wanted to know what I did for a living, I'd be tempted to play them Devil Woman."
Apr 8: Did you know?... that following artists such as Harry Connick Jr, Robbie Williams, Jamie Cullum, Rod Stewart, Barry Manilow, Michael Buble, there is yet another new album of the American songbook. Tony Bennett releases The Ultimate American Songbook album on Monday, April 19th on Sony Records.
Apr 8: Did you know?... when asked if he would consider going on a charity version of The Weakest Link Cliff said: "I might just as well not be on it from the start, I am the weakest link."
Apr 8: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is at No.11 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £9.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 8: "I have enjoyed reading all the details and news on the Cliff TV series. Very enlightening. Thankyou Paul and thank you William"
- Alan Lister.
Apr 8: "Many thanks again to Paul Rumbol for an entertaining and informative read on It's Cliff Richard. I look forward to its resumption at year-end" - Pat Murphy (Canada).
Apr 8: Music industry news. HMV is to roll out bespoke areas concentrating on fashion and artist merchandising in 40 of its larger stores throughout 2010. The concept departments will go under the name "The Studio".
Apr 7: "It's Cliff Richard" TV series.
Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website CONCLUDES his review of the first-ever series of It's Cliff Richard which debuted on the BBC 40 years ago in January 1970.
Well this concludes my review of Cliff's debut series on the BBC. I hope you have enjoyed this three-month odyssey and for some of you it has refreshed fond memories of this often overlooked yet very important chapter in Cliff's illustrious career. It's certainly been a voyage of re-discovery for me and I hope many of you who either weren't born in 1970 or lived outside the UK - now have a clearer idea of how enjoyable and refreshingly wholesome these shows were to watch. It seems such a waste they were all randomly wiped so soon after the many months of hard graft, sweat and rehearsals that went into their production. It's sad to say but for all intents and purposes they need never have been made. Broadcast once and once only - only a single generation witnessed their brief and fleeting existence. The 2nd series of It's Cliff Richard which ran from early January to late March 1971 began with a Christmas Eve Special broadcast by the BBC on 24th December 1970. This was the series that brought us the wonderful music of Marvin, Welch & Farrar and also the first appearances of Olivia Newton-John. I will begin my review of each of the 13 shows in that series at the end of this year,
exclusively on 'William's Chat'. Bye for now!
(Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Apr 7: Cliff: "I always feel that rock'n'roll is beyond years. You know, you can be a 10-year-old and enjoy tracks from Jerry Lee Lewis or Cliff and The Shadows or you could be 90 and enjoy these tracks too. The problem is, our young listeners don't hear our music so easily because the radio stations prefer playing contemporary music and they don't listen to us at all. I'm always pleased when I see some young people at my concerts. I feel happy and privileged that they have taken the trouble and it makes me work even harder to prove that age is not a boundary in rock'n'roll music."
Apr 7: On Friday, April 16th on More4 TV (Freeview 14, Freesat 124, Sky 138, Virgin 147), 11.05pm-12.10am, Heroes of Comedy is a celebration of the life and career of British comedian Arthur Askey. It features contributions from Pete Waterman, Cliff Richard and
Bob Monkhouse.
Apr 7: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 27.Rare EP tracks 1961-1991 selling for £4.99. 35.Reunited selling for £3.99. 74.50th anniversary album selling for £6.73 and 98.Just about as good as it gets selling for £6.97. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 7: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.2 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. (17 weeks on the chart).
Apr 7: Up-coming gig for Cliff look/soundalike Ricky Aron:
Saturday, April 10th-The Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex,
Tel. 01903-206206.
Apr 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 early 1990's Cliff expressed his opinion on discovering how his television legacy at the BBC had been virtually wiped out. "I'm horrified to think that the BBC actually destroyed all those tapes. Those were record-breaking days when Hank and Una, myself and Olivia used to get regularly 17 million, sometimes 19 million viewers". Talking of today's TV shows and viewing audiences, Cliff said: "When you think today 8 million is supposed to be really good, 4 million is acceptable, 2 million is fine! To think they actually wiped those record breaking performances!" More to come! (This series concludes tomorrow). Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Apr 6: In this week's Hello magazine - no. 1118, April 12th, there is a two page spread about Cliff's visit to the Umthombo charity in South Africa recently, including two large photos of Cliff.
Apr 6: There is a piece in the current (April) issue of The Beat written by Pat Murphy on the Southern Hemisphere leg of the Cliff/Shadows tour.
Apr 6: Did you know?... what happens to the gifts, cuddly toys and bottles of wine he is given on stage? Cliff: The bottles of wine are drunk and the cuddly toys go to a local children's home."
Apr 6: "I enjoyed the Cliff 'Rare' DVD. I had it as a Easter present so it cost me nothing. Had a glass of wine and watched it with my daughter. There was quite a bit on it that I had never seen before. So, I was a very happy (Easter) bunny" - Mary Harris.
Apr 6: "Rare and unseen DVD - Have to say that I have never seen the Newcastle City Hall clips anywhere before. I did like the recent Cliff and Shadows interview. Again I had never seen that before either. So, all in all, a welcome addition to my Cliff DVD collection. To get into the chart at No.4 was certainly a good result" - John Brogan.
Apr 6: "The Early Years" - Apr. 12th.
The Cliff CD re-issue The Early Years (originally part of the "And they said it wouldn't last" 8-CD box-set) is released on Monday, April 12th. Tracklisting: Move it, Schoolboy crush, High class baby, My feet hit the ground, Apron strings, Livin' lovin' doll, Never mind, Mean woman blues, Don't bug me baby, Blue suede shoes, Dynamite, Mean streak, She's gone, I cannot find a true love, Willie and the hand jive, 'D' in love, Nine times out of ten, Choppin'n'changin', Mumblin' Mosie, Tough enough, Gee whiz it's you, Now's the time to fall in love, Nine times out of ten, A girl like you, Fall in love with you, Never mind, I love you, Dynamite, Michelle, Poor boy. You can pre-order for £6.99 (free delivery in the UK). www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 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.
In fairness, Cliff was not the only casualty of the BBC's mass-wiping policy. Nearly everything labelled 'ephemera' was wiped - variety and music shows, 'Top Of The Pops' (only 4 complete editions from the 1960's officially exist!) and the cult series 'Doctor Who' which has over 100 missing episodes. Programmes copied from quad tape on to 16mm film (for overseas broadcast) didn't escape the carnage either. These were randomly junked by the BBC. Deemed a fire hazard, the BBC embarked on a mass-purge during a fortnight in 1972 allegedly sending thousands of film cans to an Essex landfill site. Rumours abound of workmen picking up cans and ferreting among the debris randomly salvaging what little they could before the bulldozers moved in. Surprisingly however (as if to fly in the face of logic!) a poor quality video recording of part of show 12 from the 1970 season has come to light (origin unknown) which gives hope that at least one of the shows survives in private hands. This topic has been covered in my earlier posts. More to come! (This series concludes on Wednesday). (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Apr 5: "Great to know that Cliff has another Top 10 DVD in the charts! I got mine from Amazon.co.uk, which I guess does not count, and I'm enjoying it, especially since I found Cliff again only a couple of years ago. I, too, wish there were more clips. Maybe next time, a DVD of concert snippets from all the venues, including the tours outside the UK, will be put together. I'd love to see Cliff's birthday during the "Reunited" concert and his sisters dancing in front of the stage at Wembley. Oh, how I'm really looking forward to the "Bold As Brass" concert" - Niñez McConnell (USA).
Apr 5: Cliff and The Shadows The Final Reunion DVD has now sold over 350,000 worldwide.
Apr 5: Cliff and The Shadows Reunited album has now sold over 250,000 worldwide.
Apr 5: Cliff: (talking about Elvis) "I nearly met him when me and The Shadows were touring the States. One night we were in Memphis and an old man came to the theatre door and said, "Hi, ah'm Elvis's pa, d'ya wanna come over and see his place?" We all said in amazement, "Elvis's DAD!" So we all leapt off and saw his house. Unfortunately, Elvis was filming in Las Vegas. When we entered his house we wiped our feet on an effigy of Elvis on a mat and inside there were pictures, and awards everywhere like: "Elvis coughed here in 1968". And he had all these gold discs, even for B-sides. It was amazing."
Apr 5: Cliff's The young ones played on the
excellent GOLD radio MW98 today.
Apr 5: Did you know?... that when asked about listening to records Cliff said: "Mostly I listen to records to relax and simply enjoy them, but if a song hits me as one I could possibly do, I do start to think about how I might have done it."
Apr 5: "I've watched the 'Rare and unseen' DVD a couple of times now. Do like The Tube clips - wish there had been a bit more of that. Cliff looks just fantastic in those 70's clips" - Debbie Woods.
Apr 5: "Wonderful news! As one Cliff DVD goes out of the chart, another soars in to take it's place" - Malcolm Owen.
Apr 5: The original cast recording of the hit musical Dreamboats and Petticoats enters the official Top 75 UK artist album
chart this week at No.68.
Apr 5: Music DVD/Video chart Chat.
The new Cliff DVD Rare and unseen, in the Music DVD chart this week at No.4 is Cliff's 2nd Top 4 hit, 28th Top 5 hit, his 33rd Top 10 hit and his 40th Music Video/DVD hit to date.
Apr 5: Music DVD chart - Cliff No.4.
The Cliff DVD Rare and Unseen enters at No.4 in this week's official music DVD chart. Here is the Top 10: 1.(1)Michael Jackson. 2.(2)Andre Rieu. 3.(3)Michael Jackson. 4.(-)CLIFF RICHARD. 5.(4)Andre Rieu. 6.(5)Take That. 7.(7)Les Miserables in concert. 8.(8)Anvil. 9.(6)Blur. 10.(16)High School Musical- The concert.
WELL DONE CLIFF!
Apr 5: Cliff and The Shadows The Final Reunion has dropped out of the official Music DVD Top 20 chart this week after a 20 week stay. (Peak:No.1).
Apr 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 wiping of all the It's Cliff Richard shows by the BBC is nothing short of carnage. Unfortunately the BBC labelled most music and variety shows as expendable ‘ephemera’ with no long-term value. More to the point negotiating repeat performance fees with all cast members made the costs of repeating such shows prohibitive. It became such a legal and financial minefield for the BBC that very few shows of this genre were ever repeated again. Moreover,the master 2-inch Quadruplex tapes on which the shows were recorded were expensive (allegedly £180 for a 60-minute tape back in 1970!) and were systematically wiped after broadcast for cost saving reasons so they could be reused again. To put the final nail in the coffin, the series surprisingly did NOT sell abroad so the chances of lost shows surfacing elsewhere in the world appear extremely remote.
More to come! (This series concludes on Wednesday).
(Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Apr 4: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 52.Reunited selling for £3.99. 95.Rare EP tracks 1961-1991 selling for £6.99 and 96.50th anniversary album selling for £6.73. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 4: Did you know?... that when asked who comes up with the concept for his shows Cliff said: "I usually come up with the concept of a show for myself, but very often of course, one of the members of the band or someone at the office will come up with an idea for a song and it's often added into the show."
Apr 4: Cliff's Lucky lips and The Shadows Apache played on the excellent GOLD radio MW98 today.
Apr 4: Cliff: (talking about Elvis) "A friend of mine knew someone who worked with Elvis close to his death and they said he was like a lost soul. I find that very, very sad. The love of fans is very different from that of family and friends - which is what I've got. The trouble was, Elvis had no one close enough to take him to one side and blow a raspberry at him when he was in the wrong."
Apr 4: It was 50 years ago... April 4th, 1960. Cliff starts a week of variety at the Glasgow Empire. The crowds create traffic chaos and national press coverage follows.
Apr 4: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 5 to No.11 in the Australian Top 40 music
DVD chart this week. (19 weeks on the chart).
Apr 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.
When the 3rd and final season of It's Cliff Richard ended on Saturday 18th March 1972, fans assumed the curtain had been brought down on it for good. However two-and-a-half years later in August 1974 Cliff returned to the BBC studios to make a final mini-series of six 50-minute shows. Hank and Una -so much a beloved feature of the original series - were absent however. Ex-Flirtations singer Pearly Gates joined Cliff each week, as did the Nolan Sisters - who were making their television debut. Unusually, all six shows survive in the BBC archives, and it is from this series that occasional clips have been used in TV documentaries. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Apr 3: "Peter Howarth isn't the only band member on tour at the moment. Keith Murrell is on the road with his band, Airrace. They're supporting Winger - the tour is nearly over. But if you want to see Keith in his "normal" job as a very powerful rock singer, then I hope you enjoy some of these links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1Dax8me38s, there are plenty more on YouTube. All the songs come from the only album Airrace have made to date: Shaft of Light. It was released over 25 years ago and still sounds fresh; I upgraded my original copy to the remastered version last October. And they are currently writing and recording a new album" - Suzanne Peedell.
Apr 3: "What an informative site the Cliff chart site is. I've check it out several times a day and really look forward to it - like all the news and the endless snippets you provide" - Andy Holmes.
Apr 3: Music industry news. Apple has added the Gift This App option to its App Store. It lets customers sends apps to friends as gifts, something they can already do with songs through iTunes.
Apr 3: Did you know?... that when asked what words of advise he would give to someone trying to follow their dreams and their heart, Cliff said: "Listen to your head as well, because the problem with dreams is that you can wake up and nothing is real."
Apr 3: Cliff: (talking about Elvis) "Elvis was undoubtedly religious. He came from a religious background. But unless you discover how to find God, which I have discovered, it's a pointless exercise."
Apr 3: The brand new re-issue 2-CD Live at Knebworth is remastered and out now. This 1990 concert, staged in the grounds of Knebworth house in June 1990, described as "The best British rock concert of all time" includes Cliff Richard and the Shadows live with "Do you wanna dance" and "On the beach". Other acts include Pink Floyd, Status Quo, Paul McCartney, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Genesis & Phil Collins, Robert Plant and Tears For Fears.
2CD: EDGCD40. Eagle Records. Also available on DVD - 2 DVD: EREDV273. Eagle Vision.
Apr 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.
The 1st series of It's Cliff Richard ran for 13-weeks on BBC1 from Saturday 3rd January until 28th March 1970. Its popularity was such that Cliff was commissioned to produce a 2nd series of 13 shows which were broadcast from 2nd January to 27th March 1971. The running time for each show was also extended from 35 minutes to 45 minutes. Cliff's series would continue to act as a vehicle for the 'The Song For Europe' competition featuring Clodagh Rodgers in 1971 and the New Seekers in 1972. My reviews of those series will follow in due course. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com
email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Apr 2: Did you know?... that when if he ever got scared about fans reactions Cliff said: "No, I was never scared because I was kept away from it. Even London was supposedly sophisticated and everyone held back. But what I've noticed over the years is the audiences now have levelled off. No matter where you go there's an exuberance. It's less obvious - the attitude of the audience - even though they may like you. I can remember going to a place in the West Country and the tickets had sold out so fast that I thought, 'Wow, this is going to be a crazy show.' But they were so polite. You could barely tell they were there! There are no rules. If you want to sit there and don't want to scream and shout, then please don't scream and shout. There are absolutely no rules any more."
Apr 2: On Pick of the pops Tomorrow Saturday, April 3rd on Radio 2, 1.00pm-3.00pm, Dale Winton plays the hits from the chart this week in 1973. They include: Donny Osmond, Slade, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Cliff Richard with "Power to all our friends", T.Rex, The Detroit Emeralds, Dawn featuring Tony Orlando, David Cassidy, Roberta Flack, Shirley Bassey and Roxy Music.
Apr 2: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - out now.
This new DVD contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage (See 'Exclusive!" review of this DVD in March 15th posting). The DVD is at No.12 in the Amazon Music DVD chart today. RRP: £15.99. Amazon price: £9.99. www.amazon.co.uk - The DVD is selling for £7.99 in HMV High Street shops this week.
Apr 2: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.6 in the Belgium music
DVD chart this week. (20 weeks on the chart).
Apr 2: Cliff's We don't talk anymore played on "The Ken Bruce Show" today on BBC Radio 2. It was the choice of pop songwriter Roger Greenaway who selected it as one of his 'Tracks of my years'.
Apr 2: Cliff: (talking about Elvis) "Elvis was the best, the greatest. he had material success, but there must have been something missing. I think the difference between us was that I had the genuine love and support of friends and family,not to mention my Christianity, whereas no one really loved Elvis. He had nothing to sustain him."
Apr 2: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 21.Reunited selling for £3.99 and 90.Rare B-sides 1963-1989 selling for £4.97. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 2: It was 50 years ago... April 1960. Cliff moves into a semi-detached corner house in Winchmore Hill with his parents and three sisters. The dining-room has a 1960 Design Award mahogany suite with red upholstery. The kitchen floor is covered in grey lino with harlequin colurs on the chairs and pink wallpaper. Cliff's bedroom wallpaper is green at one end of the room, with natives and yaks all over it, the other three walls being sunshine yellow. By the side of his bed is a reading lamp presented by the 59 Teenage Club of the Eton Mission in Hackney Wick. Cliff's youngest sister Jacqueline and Joan share a bedroom, while Donna has her own room with a little balcony. Cliff's grey Sunbeam Alpine sports car is invariably parked outside.
Apr 2: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 5 to No.10 in the Netherlands music
DVD chart this week. (20 weeks on the chart).
Apr 2: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 11 to No.9 in the Sweden music
DVD chart this week. (20 weeks on the chart).
Apr 2: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.2 in the Denmark music
DVD chart this week. (20 weeks on the chart, 14 at No.1).
Apr 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.
Following the final show of the 1st series on 28th March 1970, Cliff produced a couple of one-off specials for the BBC over the summer months. There was a 50-minute 'Bank Holiday' Special' broadcast on 31st August (with star guest Aretha Franklin) followed by an hour-long spectacular 'Cliff in Scandinavia' - a lively and entertaining joint Anglo/ Scandinavian production filmed on location in Norway, Sweden and Finland in late July and broadcast in the UK in October.
More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com
email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Apr 1: "Cliff Sings again" 2-CD - May 10th.
Another new Cliff compilation 2-CD set Cliff Sings again is released on Monday, May 10th. Contains 52 tracks in total. Disc 1: 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, Mean streak, Livin' lovin' doll, Steady with you, High class baby, My feet hit the ground, Move it, Schoolboy crush, Lonesome fella (The Shadows), Saturday dance (The Shadows). Disc 2: Apron strings, My babe, Down the line, I got a feeling, Jet Black (The 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 (with The Drifters), Danny, Whole lotta shakin' goin' on, Living doll, No turning back, Mad about you, Chinchilla (The Drifters), Travellin' light, Feelin' fine, Don't be a fool (with love), Driftin' (single version), Jet black (single version). You can pre-order from Amazon for £6.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 1: Cliff: (talking about Elvis) "The media and others tried to build me up as Britain's answer to Elvis, which I was never was. I admired him and I still do, but I think of that magical man who came from nowhere and changed the world. The sick and sad man who died full of drugs is something else."
Apr 1: Music industry news. The fate of the beleagured music group EMI was cast back into doubt after it abandoned talks over a rescue deal. The firm behind The Beatles, Cliff Richard and Coldplay ditched discussions with Universal and Sony Music over a deal to sell off its distribution rights in the Americas, leaving it on course to breach its load covenants. The developement will make it harder for EMI's embattled private-equity owner Terra Firma to avoid surrendering control to Citigroup, which holds its £3.2bn of debts.
Apr 1: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is at No.11 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £9.38. www.amazon.co.uk
Apr 1: It was 50 years ago... April 1st, 1960. Cliff and The Shadows are in Abbey Road Studio 2 recording tracks for Me and my Shadows album: "Working after school" and "You and I". They also record "I live for you", which will go on future "Listen to Cliff" album.
Apr 1: Cliff Chart Site has had a total of 32,387,992 successful hits (upto March 31st 2010) since the website started back in 2002.
Apr 1: In March this website had 451,912 successful hits.
This is the 2nd highest monthly figure for March since the
website started in 2002.
It is the 21st highest monthly figure.
A huge and sincere THANK YOU for your continued support.
Mar 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.
The final comedy play in this 1st Series is 'Octavius' and stars Cilla Black as the beautiful Queen Cleopatra of Egypt, Una as her devoted equerry, and Hank as the merciless slave driver 'Mr Whippy'. Una approaches the Queen with some urgency: "Your Majesty there's grave news from Mecca. Nine more Bingo halls have been closed down!" Cleopatra is agasp: "Bang goes me Saturday Night out!" A breathy Una continues: Octavius the slave awaits outside. He wishes another audience." "Why what's wrong with the one we've got?" quips Cleopatra. Octavius (Cliff in a toga) heavily manacled and weighed down with a ball and chain limps in: "Can I start off with a round of applause?" he requests. "I've always fancied being clapped in irons!". Cleopatra's cunning plan is to get Octavius to consent to marriage - but he's blindly unaware that it's servant Una she is trying to pair him off with! "Tell me Octavius why do you play so hard to get? Don't you like your Cleopatra?". "Well to be honest you don't play the part half as well as Liz Taylor!" Cleopatra is enraged. "Well let's face it I've only got half the man haven't I? She had Richard Burton!" (laughter). Octavius retaliates: "Well you just tell me one thing that old Burton's got that I haven't got?" (even louder laughter). Cilla finds it hard keeping a straight face as she rattles off from a seemingly endless list! Cleopatra threatens to clap Octavius in red-hot irons, gouge his eyes out, and "twist his little finger" unless he consents to marriage. "I give in, I give in" screams Cliff. Cilla gives an ecstatic Una the 'thumbs up' sign and the theatre audience erupts at the news that she's finally bagged her man. Una is overcome with glee as Octavius embraces her in his arms and kisses her. The happy ending is complete as a love struck Una, her voice aquiver, looks into camera for a variation on the now-familiar punch line..... "Just think, I don't have to say 'Guess who's the gooseberry again' - ever again!"
More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com
email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 31: Cliff has accepted an invitation to perform Congratulations at the 70th birthday celebrations of Queen Margrethe II in Denmark on Tuesday, April 13th at the Banquet Dinner at Christiansborg Palace.
Mar 31: "Nick Caruso was commenting about the song Move It in his post on March 29. It got me thinking. Cliff has recorded Move It so many times. I’d be interested to know what are people’s favourite version and why. Was it the original, the live version on the Album ‘Cliff’, the one with Brian May, the latest on the Reunion album, or any of the others? My favourite is the version on the CD Hank Plays Cliff. Cliff is very good but Hank is terrific. If you haven’t heard it, give it a listen" - David Colman (Canada).
Mar 31: "On www.amazon.de I found a double CD "Rote Lippen Soll Man Küssen" with a total of 58 tracks of Cliff singing in German at a price of Euro 15.99. As always thanks for your great site. I check it every day" - Guus Zwaan (The Netherlands).
Mar 31: Did you know?... that when they were looking for a new name, The Drifters were nearly named after a Ford car. Jet Harris: "We were mulling around The Zephyrs, Zodiacs - all the Ford cars of the time. Nothing sounded right and then we started going off at tangents. The Plastic Armadillos was one of those. After about an hour, I came up with The Shadows."
Mar 31: "William, what an amazing site, congratulations"
- Ken Beasley.
Mar 31: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 26.Reunited selling for £3.99. 40.Rare EP tracks 1961-1991 selling for £6.99 and 92.50th anniversary album selling for £6.49 www.amazon.co.uk
Mar 31: It was 50 years ago... March 31st, 1960. Cliff is the guest of Eamonn Andrews on BBC'TV's Crackerjack.
Mar 31: Cliff sound/lookalike Jimmy Jemain performs at the Killingworth Social Club on Wednesday, April 21st, 7.00pm to 11.00pm. Tickets £8.00 each. Tel. 01912566352.
Mar 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.
In this week's final show Hank Marvin performs the Jerry Lordan instrumental 'Sacha' - taken from Hank's first solo LP released in 1969. It was Jerry Lordan who composed some of The Shadows greatest hits, including 'Apache', 'Wonderful Land' and 'Atlantis'. Hank would perform this track again on Cliff's August Bank Holiday BBC Special later in the year. For both TV versions, coastal location film footage of waves crashing against the shore, was added to the final edit, to supplement Hank's live performance on stage. More to come!
(Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 30: Cliff: (looking back on Heathcliff) "Of course, I did get the whiplash and it doesn't really matter now. But I'm so glad I did it, because I think we have a product we can use again."
Mar 30: "Hi, I'm another fairly new reader of your site and I love it. I discovered it the other day and am now totally hooked on all your Cliff news, chart stuff and trivia. Well done" - Tim Sharpe.
Mar 30: On Pick of the pops on Saturday, April 3rd on Radio 2, 1.00pm-3.00pm, Dale Winton plays the hits from the chart this week in 1973. They include: Donny Osmond, Slade, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Cliff Richard with "Power to all our friends", T.Rex, The Detroit Emeralds, Dawn featuring Tony Orlando, David Cassidy, Roberta Flack, Shirley Bassey and Roxy Music.
Mar 30: Cliff: (Ever had a romance with Olivia Newton-John?)
"Well, we didn't officially but all of us were in love with Olivia anyway. She was in fact in a relationship with one of The Shadows Bruce Welch. But we were really good friends and I still love her dearly. We're still really good friends. She was one of the sweetest girls, and you know when some people ask 'has fame changed you', it certainly didn't change her."
Mar 30: Music industry news. The price of a CD in UK stores is finally settling down at around £8, as retailers ease back from aggressive price-led campaigns. New figures from the Entertainment Retailers Association reveal that the average price of a CD album fell from £8.10 in 2008 to £7.99 in 2009, down just 11p. This ends a series of sharp price falls for CD albums - the average price of which was £8.65 in 2007, £8.92 in 2006 and £9,74 in 2005.
Mar 30: It was 50 years ago... March 30th, 1960. Cliff and The Shadows are in Abbey Road Studio 2 recording tracks for Me and my Shadows album: "Tell me", "Lamp of love", "I'm gonna get you" and
"I cannot find a true love". They also record "Where is my heart", the
B-side to "Please don't tease".
Mar 30: "Shadowmania" 2010 - Sept. 18th.
Tickets go on sale today for this year's Shadowmania event, which takes place on Saturday, September 18th at the Lakeside Complex, Wharf Road, Frimley Green, Surrey. 3.00pm till late. Doors open 2.00pm. Acts include: Bruce Welch's Shadows, Jet Harris, Brian 'Licorice' Locking, Warren Bennett and Friends. More acts to follow. Tickets: £34. on sale from 10.00am today Tuesday, March 30th. Booking office Tel. 0044 - 01252-836464. Hotel reservations Tel. 0044- 01252-838000.
Mar 30: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.2 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. (16 weeks on the chart).
Mar 30: Cliff and The Shadows Reunited album goes from 24 to No.34 in the New Zealand album chart (10 weeks on the chart).
Mar 29: "I thought I would drop you a line to say "well done" on your site. I have only just come across it and I found it great. I'm not the usual Cliff fan, I am a 36 year old man and I am a professional singer/guitarist and I always play quite a few of Cliff's songs when I play 5 or 6 nights a week, I have found the general public much appreciating with his music but after this latest tour with the Shads there definately seems to be a fresh verve about their music. I have heard Cliff say many times about playing Move It and thinking it still feels good to play and as a pro singer/guitarist, I get it. People love it, although I do tend to play their more rockier hits as it gets them all dancing! Anyway, keep up the fantastic work, look forward to more!" - Nick Caruso.
Mar 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.
Cliff gets the cold-shoulder treatment from this week's special guest Cilla Black: "I always do my ironing when you're on!" retorts Cilla smugly. However her eyes light-up when golden-boy Hank walks onto set: "Ooooh I do like him. Hank's my favourite. I think he's dead funny!" Cliff looks bemused: "How would you know? You don't watch the show". "Oh I never do me ironing when Hank's on!" replies Cilla, who then extends an invitation to both Hank and Una to guest on her next series. Cilla falls deeper under Hank's spell when he serenades her with a little song he has written specially in her honour. Meanwhile, a star struck Una grovels sycophantically. "I think you're fantastic, I think you're marvellous Miss Cilla". "Don't overdo it" interjects Hank. "She's already said she'll have us!" More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 29: "Wow ... thank you!!" - Linda West
(Competition winner).
Mar 29: "It is marvellous that the Cliff and the Shadows Final Reunion DVD is still in the chart. That's from November right through to Easter. A wonderful run and well deserved" - Trevor Callan.
Mar 29: Cliff "Bold as Brass" album - Oct 11th.
You can pre-order Cliff's new album Bold as brass from HMV. Standard edition £8.99. Special £12.99. The Special edition which contains two extra tracks: "Sugar to tea" and "Every time we say goodbye". www.hmv.com
Amazon prices: Standard £11.99. Special £14.99. www.amazon.co.uk Play.com prices: £11.99. Special £14.99. www.play.com
Mar 29: Did you see?... Cliff's Congratulations being sung by the passengers on Coach Trip on Channel 4 TV today.
Mar 29: "Rare and unseen" DVD Competition.
The draw has taken place for one lucky winner of the new Cliff DVD Rare and unseen out today. The correct answer is: 1958.
Lots of correct answers received.
Thanks to all who took part.
The first correct answer drawn and the winner of this competition is LINDA WEST.
WELL DONE LINDA!
Mar 29: "Hi William, Found this site just a few months ago and it's the first time I've got in touch. Thought I'd say how amazing this is for being kept up to date with everything CLIFF and what a great job you do. Also looking forward to the "Bold as Brass" album and concerts, managed to get tickets for the front arena section. Also it's my 20th anniversary as a Cliff fan this year, I was just a 14 year old lad when I bought 'Saviours Day' in 1990, it's been worth all the stick I've had to put up with from friends for being a Cliff fan (they have no taste!) as he's just got better and better. Best wishes from a 'Young One'"
- Michael Cushing.
Mar 29: Did you know?... when asked who is his favourite Heathcliff, Cliff said: "It has to be Laurence Olivier's version of it. It was a very romantic version. Reading the book now, it is obvious that Heathcliff was not a romantic character, but quite a vindictive character."
Mar 29: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 29.Reunited selling for £3.99. 63.Rare EP tracks 1961-1991 selling for £6.99 and 96.Small corners selling
for £4.99 www.amazon.co.uk
Mar 29: "Rare and unseen" DVD Competition.
The DVD is in the shops today. Good response to the competition. You can WIN a free copy in the competition. The draw takes place later today. Have you entered yet?
Mar 29: Cliff's The young ones played on the excellent
GOLD radio MW98 today.
Mar 29: 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, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 10, 17 and 18. (20 weeks on the chart).
Mar 29: Music DVD chart - Cliff & Shads No.18.
Cliff and the Shadows The Final Reunion goes from 17 to No.18 in this week's music DVD chart. Here is the Top 10: 1.(1)Michael Jackson. 2.(2)Andre Rieu. 3.(3)Michael Jackson. 4.(5)Andre Rieu.
5.(4)Take That. 6.(6)Blur. 7.(7)Les Miserables in concert. 8.(8)Anvil. 9.(-)Jon Chappell. 10.(10)Various artists. Outside top ten:
18(17)CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS.
Mar 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.
It's Cliff Richard Show Thirteen. Saturday 28th March 1970 (Final Show) 6.15 -6.50pm. Guest Cilla Black. 1.The Joy of Living (Opening Introduction). 2.The Joy of Living (Cliff, Hank, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 3.Introductions/Cilla/ Hank’s song for Cilla (Cliff, Cilla, Hank and Una). 4.Una’s Lovelorn Spinster Song (Una and BBC Orchestra). 5.Sweet Inspiration (Cilla Black and BBC Orchestra). 6.Hank’s Sweater Comedy Sketch (Cliff, Hank and Una). 7.Slippin’ n Slidin’ (Una & Dancers with BBC Orchestra). 8.Cliff’s Hat Sketch (Cliff, Hank and Una). 9.Sacha (Hank Marvin and BBC Orchestra). 10.Play: Octavius (Cliff, Hank, Una & Cilla). 11.Hit Medley (Cliff, Hank,The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 12.Final farewells and Visions (Cliff, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 28: Did you know?... when asked when the time comes for him to go the great rock'n'roll concert in the sky, his question to Elvis? Cliff: "Now that I'm here - can we possibly do a duet?"
Mar 28: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - March 29th.
Released on Monday, March 29th this contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage and photographs from private collections. (See 'Exclusive!" review of this DVD in March 15th posting). The DVD is at No.5 in the Amazon Music DVD chart today. RRP: £15.99. Pre-order Amazon price: £5.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Mar 28: Cliff: "I'm really lucky in that I've fulfilled most of my ambitions. How good is another question, but it seems to me in this industry it's not a matter of finding a new ambition, it's all about doing the old ones over and over again - until you get it right!"
Mar 28: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is back up to No.6 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £7.97. www.amazon.co.uk
Mar 28: In today's Sunday Express: "Sir Cliff Richard is a fine figure of a man, as spectators lolling on their sunbeds at a hotel in South Africa can attest,after watching the cream- checked crooner discard his clothes by the pool for a spot of skinny-dipping the other night. After dining at the Westcliff Hotel in Johannesburg (where he had appeared on the Cliff and the Shadows "Final Reunion" tour) the singer, who will be 70 this year, went to the pool, dropped his skimpies and executed a perfect dive. "He stripped off everything and dived in; and he's got a lovely physique, nothing needs ironong," observed an approving female onlooker. But then she adds, disappointingly, "Actually, I thought he was in the buff but when he came out of the pool I could see he was wearing some tiny skin- coloured briefs." A Thong for Europe, maybe?"
Mar 28: "Rare and unseen" DVD Competition.
You can win a FREE copy of the brand new Cliff Rare and unseen DVD. It is released on Monday, March 29th. This 60 minute DVD contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage. All you have to do is answer this simple question:
When did Cliff begin his career?
Send to e-mail on 'Links' page. Draw takes place on Monday, March 29th. First correct answer drawn wins. One lucky winner will win
this new Cliff DVD for FREE (courtesy of Wienerworld).
Best of luck!
Mar 28: It was 50 years ago... March 28th, 1960. Cliff is presented to Prince Philip, the Duchess of Kent and Princess Alexandra at the Royal Film Performance at Leicester Square Odeon. Prince Philip: "How long have you been back from America and was it hard work?". Cliff: "Yes, it has been." Prince Philip: "Yes, I know, work doesn't seem to stop." Cliff: "it's a good job it doesn't sir."
Mar 28: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes stays firm at No.5 in the Australian Top 40 music
DVD chart this week. (18 weeks on the chart).
Mar 27: "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 final 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 26th March 1970, Cliff sings his current single 'The Joy of Living' (the fourth time in this series!) and performs a medley of his hits including 'Dancing Shoes / Bachelor Boy / Living Doll / Do You Want To Dance'. Cliff, Hank and Una are joined by their special guest Cilla Black who sings 'Sweet Inspiration' and takes part in the comedy play 'Octavius'.
More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com
email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 27: "First of all I want to thank you for an excellent website, which I now have been following for 5 years. Please stay well, because we need you to keep us up with the latest Cliff & Shadows news. I live in Bergen, Norway and remember when Cliff was here. Actually it only rains 260 days a year. Cliff and Hank went to see Richard Harris “The Horse” (I think this was the title) and seemed to enjoyed themselves very much. Also Cliff was in Bergen in 1987 with the Always guaranteed tour. The reviews simply said BRILLIANT.
Keep up the good work" - John B. Helmersen (Norway).
Mar 27: Cliff: "In San Francisco I was able to walk around the streets freely and did so for about a week. It was great! The other city I would recommend for walking and shopping is New York - it has
a great vibe."
Mar 27: Music industry news. A shake-up at HMV will see the High Street retailer focus on live music and new product ranges in a bid to stem sales migrating to the Internet. The music group, which also owns book chain Waterstone's, has seen sales disappear to sites such as Amazon and iTunes. It has unveiled a new strategy to win back shoppers, selling merchandise linked to recording studios in special zones within HMV. The group, which owns music venues including the Hammersmith Apollo, will also acquire three new concert halls a year and expand its high-margin tickets business.
Mar 27: "Rare and unseen" DVD Competition.
You can win a FREE copy of the brand new Cliff Rare and unseen DVD. It is released on Monday, March 29th. This 60 minute DVD contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage. All you have to do is answer this simple question:
When did Cliff begin his career?
Send to e-mail on 'Links' page. Draw takes place on Monday, March 29th. First correct answer drawn wins. One lucky winner will win
this new Cliff DVD for FREE (courtesy of Wienerworld).
Best of luck!
Mar 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.
It's Cliff Richard was singled out for special praise in 1970 when Cliff received Mary Whitehouse's 'National Viewers and Listeners Association' annual award for his "Outstanding Contribution To Religious Broadcasting and Light Entertainment ". The association particularly praised the 'It's Cliff Richard' Series on BBC1, and also the 'Life with Johnny' series (starring Cliff and The Settlers) produced by Tyne Tees Television in 1969. Cliff was presented the award by Malcolm Muggeridge in London on 9th October 1970. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 26: "Thanks for the DVD competition. Even I have the right answer! Sounds like a neat prize to have" - Shirley James.
Mar 26: Cliff: "Quite often people do not realise that some of us who have made our mark in life ... they assume that it has always been like that for you ... which it hasn't. Most of us are self-made people and we struggle to make a beginning."
Mar 26: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 6 to No.5 in the Netherlands music
DVD chart this week. (19 weeks on the chart).
Mar 26: The Cliff CD re-issues Rare EP tracks 1961-1991 and Live in Japan '72 (originally part of the "And they said it wouldn't last" 8-CD box-set) are available from HMV singly at £4.99 each or you can buy both along with the Cliff and Shadows single Singing the blues for £11.97 (with free UK delivery). www.hmv.com
Mar 26: On Pick of the pops tomorrow Saturday, March 27th on Radio 2, 1.00pm-3.00pm, Dale Winton plays the hits from the chart this week in 1966. They include: The Walker Brothers, The Hollies, The Yardbirds, The Beach Boys, The Kinks, The Mindbenders, Bob Lind, Gene Piteny, Eddy Arnold, Sonny and Cher and Cliff Richard with "Blue turns to grey".
Mar 26: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 7 to No.6 in the Belgium music
DVD chart this week. (19 weeks on the chart).
Mar 26: "Shadowmania" 2010 - Sept. 18th.
Bruce Welch has confirmed this year's Shadowmania event. It takes place on Saturday, September 18th at the Lakeside Complex, Wharf Road, Frimley Green, Surrey. 3.00pm till late. Doors open 2.00pm. Acts include: Bruce Welch's Shadows, Jet Harris, Brian 'Licorice' Locking, Warren Bennett and Friends. More acts to follow. Tickets: £34. on sale from 10.00am on Tuesday, March 30th. Booking office Tel. 0044 - 01252-836464. Hotel reservations Tel. 0044- 01252-838000.
Mar 26: "This new Cliff DVD looks quite interesting looking at your review. Wouldn't mind it for free. Certainly worth a go" - Matt Davies.
Mar 26: "Well, that's an easy question, so I could be in with a chance - you never know!" - Wendy Norman.
Mar 26: "RARE AND UNSEEN" DVD COMPETITION.
You can win a FREE copy of the brand new Cliff Rare and unseen DVD. It is released on Monday, March 29th. This 60 minute DVD contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage. All you have to do is answer this simple question:
When did Cliff begin his career?
Send to e-mail on 'Links' page. Draw takes place on Monday, March 29th. First correct answer drawn wins. One lucky winner will win
this new Cliff DVD for FREE (courtesy of Wienerworld).
Best of luck!
Mar 26: Cliff "Bold as Brass" album - Oct 11th.
You can pre-order Cliff's new album Bold as brass from HMV. Standard edition RRP: £15.99. Price: £8.99. You can also pre-order the Special edition which contains two extra tracks: "Sugar to tea" and "Every time we say goodbye". RRP: £17.99. Price:£12.99. www.hmv.com
Mar 26: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 7 to No.11 in the Sweden music
DVD chart this week. (19 weeks on the chart).
Mar 26: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.2 in the Denmark music
DVD chart this week. (19 weeks on the chart, 14 at No.1).
Mar 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.
Cliff sported the latest in 1970 fashions for this series - a selection of colourful shirts (both plain and floral) with either a loosely-worn neck scarf or a kipper tie. In the surviving show from 31st January, Cliff wears a shiny bright yellow shirt with matching neck scarf, and substitutes these for a black polo-neck shirt and dark silver-grey neck scarf for his dance routine on 'Foot Tapper' with Una. Throughout the series, Cliff was rarely seen without some form of neck-wear. In a few of the shows he adopted a more formal look. Recently discovered footage from the 21st March (Show 12) reveals Cliff dressed rather conservatively in grey suit-trousers and a matching waistcoat with white shirt and patterned tie. Black and white pictures from Show 6 on 7th February reveal Cliff looking very smart in a dark (possibly velvet) suit, with a large white jabot - a sartorial favourite from his Eurovision days back in 1968! More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 25: Specialists in rock and pop memorabilia J.W.S.Collectables have the Cliff 1979 album Rock'n'roll juvenile, signed by Cliff, for sale at £65. If interested, Tel. 01482-509785.
Mar 25: Cliff: "I am such an Elvis fan, and I would love to do an Elvis album, but I feel everyone would compare it to his original great versions, and that frightens me a little. But it's a great idea and
I'd like to think that one day I'll do it."
Mar 25: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - March 29th.
Released on Monday, March 29th this contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage and photographs from private collections. (See 'Exclusive!" review of this DVD in March 15th posting). The DVD is at No.3 in the Amazon Music DVD chart today. RRP: £15.99. Pre-order Amazon price: £5.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Mar 25: Music industry news. Music sales in 2009 were down just 0.6% by volume and 0.8% by value on 2008, the smallest fall for five years according to the Entertainment Retailers Association. The retail organisation’s Annual Yearbook, just published, reveals that music sales were worth £1.314bn in 2009, down from £1.324bn in 2008. By volume, 154.8m units (including music video) were sold in 2009, compared to 155.7m in 2008. The results come despite the closures of Woolworths and Zavvi at the start of 2009, poor economic conditions and intense price pressure on music.
Mar 25: It was 50 years ago... March 25th, 1960. Cliff and The Shadows are in Abbey Road Studio 2 record Please don't tease, which will become another chart-topper for Cliff later in the year.
Mar 25: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD has re-entered at No.10 in the Norway music DVD chart
this week. (11 weeks on the chart).
Mar 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.
During his farewells in tonight's penultimate show (21st March) Cliff wishes the best of luck to Mary Hopkin, who later that night represented Great Britain at the Eurovision Song Contest held at Hilversum in Holland. 'Knock Knock Who's There?' came 2nd to 'All Kinds of Everything' performed by Irish singer Dana.
More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com
email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 24: "Thanks for the news about the 'Knebworth' CD and DVD. I used to have the video but have ordered the DVD now. Love Cliff's performance in this concert - the way he jumps around on 'It'll be me' - I remember that some of the artists had rain while they were on, but not for Cliff and the Shadows" - Mike Hancock.
Mar 24: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 61.Just about as good as it gets selling for £6.97 and 74.Wanted selling for £8.97. www.amazon.co.uk
Mar 24: Cliff's The young ones played on the excellent GOLD
radio MW98 today.
Mar 24: Did you know?... how Pete Howarth came to be the lead singer with The Hollies. Original member Tony Hicks: "We use the same road crew as Cliff, and they brought Peter to our attention. Funnily enough, when Peter joined us we played the Royal Albert Hall and Cliff came to the show. It was the first time I'd ever met him (Cliff) even though we'd both been in the business for a good 40 years. Same record company for a lot of the time as well. You'd think we would have bumped into each other at the label's offices or at
Top of the Pops but we never did."
Mar 24: 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 uo the sound of my foldback. The ear pieces have allowed us to have a much better sound out front, and is easier for me."
Mar 24: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is at No.9 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £9.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Mar 23: Just in tonight from seeing The Hollies at the Cheltenham Town Hall. Good to see some Cliff fans in. Highlights of the show: "Stay", a truly excellent "We're through", "Stop, stop, stop", "Carrie Anne", "Gasoline Alley bred", Pete Howarth singing "Long cool woman in a black dress" and doing an acoustic version of "I can't stand the bottom from the top" (sounding a little like Cliff), a storming finale of "The air that I breathe" (standing ovation and shouts for MORE) and "He ain't heavy, he's my brother". The group, inducted into the Rock'n'roll Hall of Fame last week, always give the audience what
they want - the hits that we all know and love.
Mar 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.
In an amusing sketch from this week's show (21st March), Cliff the ventriloquist introduces his two little school friends - Arnold and Greta (Hank and Una dressed up as two wooden dummies in their Sunday School best). Arnold is not happy being perched on Cliff's knee. Greta disagrees. "I like it" she squeaks. "Oh yes, and we all know why! Its the only way you get to sit on his knee!" snaps Arnold. "Its a lovely knee" she sighs, moving her hand over it. ""I'm fed up with this part already." says Arnold, "it's like squatting on a brass bedpost. He'd have me doubled-up in a suitcase if I let him!" Later in the sketch Arnold accuses Cliff of being a naughty boy who won't eat his greens. "That doesn't matter" interrupts Greta. "But Greens make a man big, virile and strong" says Arnold. Greta turns to Cliff and looks alarmed: "Eat your greens you naughty boy!". More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 23: Cliff: "I don't think I'd change anything if I was starting over. I firmly believe that what you are and what you have today is tied in completely with how you've led your past. I like today and if I'd change anything in the past it would have thrown out this fabulous 'present'. Heathcliff came just at the right time and is the favourite thing of my whole career."
Mar 23: On Pick of the pops on Saturday, March 27th on Radio 2, 1.00pm-3.00pm, Dale Winton plays the hits from the chart this week in 1966. They include: The Walker Brothers, The Hollies, The Yardbirds, The Beach Boys, The Kinks, The Mindbenders, Bob Lind, Gene Piteny, Eddy Arnold, Sonny and Cher and Cliff Richard with "Blue turns to grey".
Mar 23: The brand new re-issue 2-CD Live at Knebworth is remastered and out now. This 1990 concert, staged in the grounds of Knebworth house in June 1990, described as "The best British rock concert of all time" includes Cliff Richard and the Shadows live with "Do you wanna dance" and "On the beach". Other acts include Pink Floyd, Status Quo, Paul McCartney, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Genesis & Phil Collins, Robert Plant and Tears For Fears.
2CD: EDGCD40. Eagle Records. Also available on DVD - 2 DVD: EREDV273. Eagle Vision.
Mar 23: Cliff and The Shadows Reunited album goes from 27 to No.24 in the New Zealand album chart (9 weeks on the chart).
Mar 23: Cliff enters the Hitwise Secondary Ticketing Chart at No.9. Here is the Top 20: 1.Lady Gaga. 2.Micheal Buble. 3.Robbie Williams. 4.V Festival. 5.JLS. 6.Flight of the Conchords. 7.Eden Sessions. 8.Andre Rieu. 9.CLIFF RICHARD. 10. Florence and the Machine. 11.Paul McCartney. 12.T in the Park. 13.Black Eyed Peas. 14.Rod Stewart. 15.Lattude Festival. 16.Rihanna. 17.Aerosmith. 18.John Barrowman. 20.Paolo Nutini.
Mar 23: Repeat screenings of Top Gear at 17.00 today Tuesday, March 23rd on Dave TV channel, 18.00 on Tuesday, March 23rd on Dave Ja Vu. 09.00 on Wednesday, March 24th on Dave and 10.00 on Wednesday, March 24th on Dave Ja Vu. 13.00 on Wednesday 24th March on Dave and 14.00 on Wednesday, March 24th on Dave Ja Vu. 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.
Mar 23: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.2 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. (15 weeks on the chart).
Mar 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.
The recently discovered colour video footage of 'On The Beach' and the closing rock ‘n’ roll medley from this week's show (21st March) is truly exciting as it gives hope that at least one of the missing shows survives in private hands. Officially only Show No.5 (from 31st January 1970) exists in the BBC's archives. All the rest are missing! - and that includes all 13 shows from the 1971 series and all 13 shows in the 1972 series too! Cliff's introduction to the rock ‘n’ roll medley is also preserved: "These pop shows really got going with things like 'Six-Five Special' and 'Oh Boy!' So we thought that tonight we'd have a right old rave-up and do a few of the rock 'n roll songs that came from those two shows". The 5-minute action-packed sequence is simply superb - boasting great production values which provide a most welcome feast for both the eye and the ear. The stage transforms into a blaze of colour as a dozen girls in twirly dresses join Una Stubbs on stage for some exuberant dancing behind Cliff. Cliff joins in too, tossing Una over his shoulder like a rag doll in some deftly executed moves during 'The Breakaways' lead vocal on 'Rock Around The Clock'. This medley features a welcome and unusual choice of 1950's classics from Cliff: 'Rip It Up', 'See You Later Alligator', 'All Shook Up', 'Rock Around the Clock' and Hank on guitar impersonating Buddy Holly on 'Peggy Sue'. The final song in this medley is Bill Haley's 'Razzle Dazzle' - a favourite in Cliff's live act during 1962 - its great driving beat and thumping bass ensures everybody is dancing frenetically on stage for the big finish. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 22: Cliff: "Singing the way we do is so unnatural. What normal person would sing for two and a half hours in front of thousands of people. My throat is always a worry because in most audiences there will be a large number of people with coughs and colds and contrary to popular belief, I am absolutely human and many times catch the aforementioned coughs and colds. To help my throat, hot water, honey and lemon - but it only eases things, it doesn't actually
cure anything."
Mar 22: Olivia Newton-John and Nelly Furtado appear in Score:
A Hockey Musical movie due by Christmas.
Mar 22: Universal poster Easter Cliff Competition.
"We are delighted to be able to offer you free entry to the UniversalPoster.com Cliff Richard Easter Competition. FIRST PRIZE: A framed 20" x 16" Photo Print of Cliff, dedicated with your own personal message in an exact facsimile of Cliff's hand-writing and autograph. PLUS this Easter Eggstravaganza of a giant Chocolate Egg and assorted treats from leading chocolatier, Montezumas. Perfect for that Easter treat! PLUS - Runners up Prizes. There are additional personalised 16" x 12" Photo Prints to be won. You choose the picture and then you can have this dedicated to you, with your own personal message in an exact facsimile of Cliff's handwriting and autograph. To enter please go to: www.universalposter.com/cliff/easter-contest-2010"
Mar 22: "Those two CDs 'Rare tracks' and 'Live in Japan' are a bit of a bargain at £4.99 for anyone who didn't buy the Cliff box-set a while back, considering the box-set was around £100. They are both worth getting that's for sure" - Steve Johnson.
Mar 22: It was 50 years ago... March 22nd, 1960. Cliff stars in the BBC's Royal Albert Hall concert with Ted Heath, Edmoundo Ross and Chris Barber.
Mar 22: 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, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 10 and 17. (19 weeks on the chart).
Mar 22: Music DVD chart - Cliff & Shads No.17.
Cliff and the Shadows The Final Reunion goes from 10 to No.17 in this week's music DVD chart. Here is the Top 10: 1.(1)Michael Jackson. 2.(2)Andre Rieu. 3.(3)Michael Jackson. 4.(5)Take That.
5.(-)Andre Rieu. 6.(5)Blur. 7.(8)Les Miserables in concert. 8.(11)Anvil. 9.(-)New Kids on the Block. 10.(13)Various artists. Outside top ten: 17.(10)CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS.
Mar 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.
Here are the full contents to the show: It's Cliff Richard Show Twelve. Saturday 21st March 1970. 6.15 -6.50pm. Guest Nanette. 1.The Joy of Living (opening intro) (Opening Introduction). 2.On The Beach (Cliff, Hank, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 3.Travellin’ Light (Cliff, Hank, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 4.Introductions/ Comedy Sketches (Cliff, Hank and Una). 5.The Flying Machine (Nanette & BBC Orchestra). 6.Ventriloquist Comedy Sketch (Cliff, Hank and Una). 7.Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Cliff, Hank and BBC Orchestra). 8.Una’s Overacting Sketch (Cliff, Hank and Una). 9.Rock ‘N’ Roll Medley (Cliff, Hank, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 10.Farewells and Visions (Cliff, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra).
More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com
email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 21: Did you know?... that Cliff loves the Harry Potter books. Cliff: "I have read the books, loaned to me by my young nephew Phillip. I read the first one just to please him but got hooked."
Mar 21: Cliff: "I still have records that will take another 50 years to go out of copyright. We (the artists) are important to a song as the writer is because we give it life."
Mar 21: The Cliff CD re-issues Rare EP tracks 1961-1991 and Live in Japan '72 (originally part of the "And they said it wouldn't last" 8-CD box-set) are available from HMV singly at £4.99 each or you can buy both along with the Cliff and Shadows single Singing the blues for £11.97 (with free UK delivery). www.hmv.com
Mar 21: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - March 29th.
Released on Monday, March 29th this contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage and photographs from private collections. (See 'Exclusive!" review of this DVD in March 15th posting). The DVD is at No.14 in the Amazon Music DVD chart today. RRP: £15.99. Pre-order Amazon price: £5.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Mar 21: Peter Howarth, one of Cliff's backing singers, touring as lead singer with The Hollies, continue their "The Midas Touch Tour". Up-coming March gigs: Sunday, March 21st-Central Theatre, Chatham, Tel. 01634-338338, Tuesday, March 23rd-Town Hall, Cheltenham, Glos, Tel. 0844-576-2210 and Wednesday, March 24th, Grand Theatre, Leeds, Tel. 0844-848-2702. The new Hollies album The Midas Touch, featuring all their solid gold classics, is out now.
Mar 21: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes stays firm at No.5 in the Australian Top 40 music
DVD chart this week. (17 weeks on the chart).
Mar 21: From The Sunday Leader: 'Dk Meets Sir Cliff'. Damayantha Kuruppu of DK Promotions who was responsible for bringing down Sir Cliff Richard met the famous singer recently in Singapore. Damayantha was invited by Sir Cliff to meet up with him in Singapore where he was spending a few days to acclimatise himself before proceeding to Australia for a series of concerts. According to Damayantha he had dinner with Cliff and also had an opportunity to discuss details of his reunion concert with The Shadows. Cliff now lives in Florida and spent four days in Singapore before proceeding to Australia for six shows. He was joined by the other members of The Shadows who traveled from London. Cliff and The Shadows have done 36 shows to date entertaining 600,000 fans mostly in the UK.The DVD of the concert Cliff & Shadows Reunion has been the No. 1 in the DVD music charts since its release to date. After the concerts in Australia they will proceed to New Zealand and then to South Africa. Cliff confirmed that this will be the last reunion and the concerts had been put together to celebrates 50 years of music by The Shadows. Cliff had performed with The Shadows for six years before going solo. Cliff said that he will be performing a series of concerts from October 11 to17, this year backed by a 75 piece orchestra led by John Miles at Royal Albert Hall. The concert is titled Bold As Brass and this will also be the title of his new CD which is due to be released in December. This will mark 52 years in the music industry and his 70th B’day. He is planning to do a new series of shows in 2011 in Europe and will visit Asia in July, 2011. He said that he had fond memories of Sri Lanka and would love to come back for another show, said Kuruppu.
Mar 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.
40 years ago today the 12th 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 19th March 1970, Cliff performs two early hits - 'On The Beach' and 'Travellin’ Light' and closes the show with a bumper rock ‘n’ roll medley. He also gives a rare performance of the latin-style ballad 'Quite Nights of Quiet Stars' which had featured originally on his 'Kinda Latin' LP in 1967. A poor quality video recording of part of this show has come to light (origin unknown) which gives hope that the full-length original may survive in private hands. The 10-minute footage captures the show's opening song ('On The Beach') and the exuberant rock ‘n’ roll finale comprising an original medley of 'Rip It Up/ See You Later Alligator/All Shook Up/ Rock Around the Clock/ Peggy Sue/ Razzle Dazzle'. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com
email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 20: Cliff's recipe for gravy.
Take two large onions and chop finely. Fry in vegetable oil. Add oxo cubes - 2 chicken, 2 beef, 2 vegetable - to the onions. Add gravy powder - Cliff uses 'Maggi' from Germany but you can use bisto instead which acts as a thickening agent. Add a dash of sweet soya. Add a dash of dark soya. Add a dash of worcester sauce. Add a dash of teraki sauce. Agg a BIG dash of red wine. Simmer to thicken and blend flavours. That is Sir Cliff's special gravy recipe!
Mar 20: Cliff: "Sometimes I'm absolutely fed up with singing Living Doll, but I have sung it constantly since '59 because every time I sing it live that generates sales of the original record and that brings royalties to me and the writer."
Mar 20: "Hi William. Thanks for the always up to date site and thanks to Paul for all the Cliff TV history. It is all extremely fascinating"
- Dan Kennedy.
Mar 20: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is at No.10 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £9.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Mar 20: Cliff "Bold as Brass" album - Oct 11th.
You can pre-order Cliff's new album Bold as brass on Amazon. Standard edition RRP: £15.99. Price: £11.99. You can also pre-order the Special edition which contains two extra tracks: "Sugar to tea" and "Every time we say goodbye". RRP: £17.99. Price:£14.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Mar 20: Up-coming gigs for Cliff look/soundalike Ricky Aron:
Saturday, March 27th-The Plaza, Stockport, Greater Manchester, Tel.0161-4777779 and Saturday, April 10th-The Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex, Tel. 01903-206206.
Mar 19: Cliff: "The common factor of all the hits I've had is me, so I must have had a part to play in all of this and nobody tells me where to spend my money at all."
Mar 19: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.6 in the Netherlands music
DVD chart this week. (18 weeks on the chart).
Mar 19: The Cliff CD re-issues Rare EP tracks and Live in Japan '72 are now available from HMV singly at £4.99 each (with free UK delivery). www.hmv.com
Mar 19: On Pick of the pops tomorrow Saturday, March 20th on Radio 2, 1.00pm-3.00pm, Dale Winton plays the hits from the chart this week in 1983. They include: Bonnie Tyler, The Eurythmics, Michael Jackson, Forrest, Bananarama, Style Council, Toto, Modern Romance, Cliff Richard and Phil Everly with "She means nothing to me", Orange Juice, Patti Austin and James Ingram.
Mar 19: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 15 to No.7 in the Belgium music
DVD chart this week. (18 weeks on the chart).
Mar 19: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - March 29th.
Released on Monday, March 29th this contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage and photographs from private collections. (See 'Exclusive!" review of this DVD in March 15th posting). The DVD is at No.7 in the Amazon Music DVD chart today. RRP: £15.99. Pre-order Amazon price: £5.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Mar 19: Cliff "Bold as Brass" album - Oct 11th.
You can pre-order Cliff's new album Bold as brass from HMV. Standard edition RRP: £15.99. Price: £8.99. You can also pre-order the Special edition which contains two extra tracks: "Sugar to tea" and "Every time we say goodbye". RRP: £17.99. Price:£12.99. www.hmv.com
Mar 19: It was 50 years ago... March 19th, 1960. 50 years ago at 8pm on Saturday 19th March 1960 the first of ATV's Cliff Richard 'Saturday Spectaculars' was broadcast. The Cliff Richard Show was an hour long presentation and among his guests were actor David Kossoff, actress Janette Scott, and Swedish Jazz singer Monica Zetterlund. Paul Rumbol from the 'Oh Boy!' website will begin a full review of this show here exclusively on William's Chat when his current series concludes at the end of this month.
Mar 19: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 8 to No.7 in the Sweden music
DVD chart this week.
Mar 19: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.2 in the Denmark music
DVD chart this week. (18 weeks on the chart, 14 at No.1).
Mar 18: "Reply to Claudette Moody (USA) who asked whether the series was broadcast in Australia and New Zealand. I have asked Cliff fans from around the globe if they remember these shows being broadcast in their native countries - and the answer is always a resounding NO. I also asked Cliff's former manager David Bryce several years ago and he confirmed that the series (most surprisingly) did NOT sell abroad. Which is bad news of course. With the original BBC quad tapes wiped, duplicates made for foreign export are really the only avenue left for recovering this lost material. I will go more deeply into this topic during the final week in March, as I bring this series to a conclusion. P.S: A little bit of extra footage has come to light. See this coming Saturday's instalment for more details!" - Paul Rumbol.
Mar 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.
Despite being featured as the opening track to his 1st BBC series and receiving regular airplay (including a performance on BBCTV's 'Top Of The Pops' on the 12th March 1970), Cliff’s single ‘The Joy of Living’ (released on 7th February) managed to climb to only No.25 in the UK charts during March. The single featured Hank Marvin on lead guitar accompanied by the Mike Vickers Orchestra under the direction of Norrie Paramor. More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 18: Did you know?... that when asked what career advise he would offer somebody aged 16 looking for their dream job, Cliff said: "Go for it with commitment, but perhaps give yourself a time limit in which to make it, and then move on to something else."
Mar 18: "Thank you for the review of the 'Rare and unseen' DVD. It certainly sounds different. Will get it at the cheaper price"
- Mandy Boyd.
Mar 18: It was 50 years ago... March 18th, 1960. Cliff's single Fall in love with you backed with "Willie and the hand jive" is released. Reviewer Keith Fordyce says, "It's a pretty ditty that will appeal
to a wide audience."
Mar 18: Cliff's Wired for sound played by Chris Evans on his breakfast show today on BBC Radio 2.
Mar 18: Tickets for Cliff's Bold as Brass concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in October are being sent out to fans now.
Mar 18: A CD re-issue from The Shadows is out now. Shades of Rock (originally a 1970 vinyl release) is digitally remastered and includes a bonus track. Tracks: Proud Mary, My Babe, Lucille, Johnny B. Goode, Paperback Writer, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Bony Moronie, Get Back, Something, River Deep Mountain High, Memphis, What'd I Say, and (Bonus track) Scotch on the Socks. Available for £9.99 including UK postage from the excellent Cliff and Shadows record specialists Leo's Den (Links page).
Mar 18: "The Cliff TV series - I have really enjoyed reading about these shows, as they were not shown in the US. I understand most of the tapes have been erased by the BBC. I do wonder, however, if the show was shown in Australia and New Zealand and whether those tapes survived? I continue to enjoy your site, William. Stay well" - Claudette Moody (USA).
Mar 18: Cliff "Bold as Brass" DVD.
The Cliff Richard Organisation has confirmed that there will be a DVD of Cliff's Bold as Brass concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, which take place in October.
Mar 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.
This 11th show from 14th March 1970 was the only one in the series to be broadcast live. A specially shot video of Cliff's contemporary single release 'The Joy Of Living' was played 20 minutes into the broadcast so the stage could be cleared for the live results of the 'Song For Europe 1970' competition read out by Bill Cotton, the BBC head of light entertainment. Mary Hopkin closed the show with a performance of the winning song (as voted by the public) 'Knock Knock Who's There?' More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 17: Cliff: "Now, I sometimes get the feeling that my fans would be happy if I just stood and talked to them, really. I'm being extreme in presenting that case, but they like me. They like me."
Mar 17: "Thanks for a great Cliff website. So easy to read and always up to date. I find all the news that I need on your site. Keep up the good work William" - Pete Crowley.
Mar 17: "Like Dave, I couldn't imagine Cliff with a large swing type band. But hey, this music is popular with lots of people. Cliff may even get some more plays on stations like Radio 2. I agree, a strong single is required and some tv appearances would give it a boost"
- Carl Addis.
Mar 17: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The Cliff and The Shadows DVD is at No.10 in the Amazon Top 100 music DVD chart today selling for £9.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Mar 17: From Digital Spy: 'Sir Cliff Richard confirms new jazz album' By Paul Millar. Sir Cliff Richard has announced details of his new jazz cover album. The veteran singer, whose career spans over five decades, is to follow in the footsteps of Robbie Williams's 2001 record Swing When You're Winning with the forthcoming release. "Bold As Brass is an album I've planned and dreamt about for years. It's been a long time coming," the star told The Mirror. The album, which is being recorded in Nashville with Grammy-winning producer Michael Omartian, will be released on October 11 to celebrate Richard's 70th birthday.
Mar 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.
One of the comedy highlights of this 1st series, the 'Hankovision Song Contest' (Hank's own alternate version of the Eurovision Song Contest), came to a climax in tonight's show (14th March) as juries from the European Community phoned in to give their verdicts on Hank's songs. Cliff takes a telephone call from Russia: "Hello London. After careful consideration this is what we are thinking he should be getting for his songs. Song No.1: Six months in the salt-mines. Song No.2: 12 months hard-labour in Siberia. Song No.3: Six appearances on the Simon Dee Show." Cliff takes more international calls- giving Hank and Una the chance to show-off their comedic skills with exaggerated French, Spanish and Swedish accents. Before Cliff announces the winner -'The Hooter Song'- a starstuck Hank looks into camera and addresses his adoring fans: "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" Hank replied "that's all the stamps I could afford." More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 16: Cliff: (on artists who swear on stage at fans) "Why would anyone do that? Why? I've never embarrassed anybody - never embarrassed my fans. They can bring their grandmother, their daughter, their grandson to see a concert, knowing that they'll get pure pop-rock music with no side to it."
Mar 16: On Pick of the pops on Saturday, March 20th on Radio 2, 1.00pm-3.00pm, Dale Winton plays the hits from the chart this week in 1983. They include: Bonnie Tyler, The Eurythmics, Michael Jackson, Forrest, Bananarama, Style Council, Toto, Modern Romance, Cliff Richard and Phil Everly with "She means nothing to me", Orange Juice, Patti Austin and James Ingram.
Mar 16: "Cliff Richard - Rare and unseen" DVD - March 29th.
Released on Monday, March 29th this contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage and photographs from private collections. (See 'Exclusive!" review of this DVD in yesterday's posting). The DVD has shot up to No.8 in the Amazon Music DVD chart today. RRP: £15.99. Pre-order Amazon price: £5.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Mar 16: "I have been trying to imagine Cliff with a swing band, but then I remembered that he did concerts with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the 80s and from that came "True love ways". Do hope there will be a single to help promote the album" - Dave Coles.
Mar 16: "I shall be ordering the special edition of Cliff's "Bold as brass". Lovely to have 14 songs. Liking the sound of this album the more I hear about it" - Sharon Johnston.
Mar 16: Cliff and The Shadows Reunited album falls from 7 to No.27 in the New Zealand album chart (8 weeks on the chart).
Mar 16: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD stays firm at No.2 in the New Zealand music DVD chart this week. (14 weeks on the chart).
Mar 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.
Cliff opens this 11th show in the series (14th March) with a contemporary chart hit -the Roger Greenaway/ Roger Cook composition 'My Baby Loves Lovin' which was a current hit for the group 'White Plains' released in January 1970. Cliff never recorded this number in any other studio. Also included in this show is the original soundtrack to Cliff's latest single 'The Joy Of Living' (accompanied by some new location film footage) and Cliff's now-famous cover of the 1967 Beatles hit 'When I’m Sixty-Four'. This last track would feature again in both Cliff's BBC August Bank Holiday Specials in 1970 and 1971, and the 'Cliff In Berlin' TV show recorded in June 1970 - all three programmes thankfully survive on 16mm film to this day.
More to come! (Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com
email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 15: Cliff: (talking about money and fame) "I know how to appreciate and am very grateful for it. It made me possible for me to live a life I only could dream about. Fame did change me, but didn't corrupt me ever."
Mar 15: Cliff's Move it played on "The Steve Wright Show" on BBC Radio 2 today.
Mar 15: In the Amazon Top 100 'Easy listening' best-sellers chart today the Cliff albums: 42. Ready Teddy selling for £4.93. 56.Reunited selling for £4.39. 94.Private collection selling for £4.99. www.amazon.co.uk
Mar 15: Did you know?... that Cliff doesn't speak Portuguese. Cliff: "No, I have hundreds of words but I can't really speak it."
Mar 15: EXCLUSIVE! "Cliff Richard-Rare & unseen" DVD Review.
Released on Monday, March 29th this contains rare footage newsreels, rare film footage and rare video footage. This brand new DVD release contains: Cliff on "The Russell Harty Show" talking about his faith (70s), "Why should the Devil have all the good music?", a recent clip showing Cliff and The Shadows talking about the "Reunion" tour, "What a friend we have in Jesus" (from the late 60s), Cliff talking about "The Hit List" tour (90s), talking about his acting (Harty Show) and "Take me high" film (70s), talking about his 50 years in music on a big red double-decker bus (00s), chat about his songwriting, Cliff sings "When I survey the wondross cross", talks about "Honky tonk angel" (70s), chats with Paula Yates on "The Tube" (80s), "Lucille", talks about Elvis ("South Bank Show"), "Blue suede shoes" (50s), "Walking in the light" and "How great thou art". With a running time of 60 minutes, this is an unusual, yet interesting and informative DVD that gathers Cliff clips from across the decades. Shows Cliff in both reflective and serious mood while the performances delight, seeing Cliff with his previous band members. Released by Wienerworld.
Catalogue No.WNRD2485.
Mar 15: Music industry news. Iconic music group EMI is back in the sights of Warner Music, which has joined forces with private equity giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts to consider plans for a bid. The two parties are said to have met in recent weeks to discuss a raid on EMI, which is expected to be put up for sale by its private equity owner, Terra Firma. Warner has long coveted EMI's recorded music division, which houses artists such as Gorillaz, Robbie Williams, Coldplay
and Cliff Richard.
Mar 15: Sharleen Spiteri's album "The Movie Songbook", which includes her version of Olivia Newton-John's "Xanadu", goes from 13 to No.19 in the official UK album chart.
Mar 15: The new 3-CD set Dreamboats and Petticoats 3, which includes Cliff and the Shadows Do you wanna dance, re-enters at No.19 in the UK album compilation chart (Peak: No.1).
Mar 15: 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, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 10. (18 weeks on the chart).
Mar 15: Music DVD chart - Cliff & Shads No.10.
Cliff and the Shadows The Final Reunion goes from 12 to No.10 in this week's music DVD chart. Here is the Top 10: 1.(1)Michael Jackson. 2.(2)Andre Rieu. 3.(3)Michael Jackson. 4.(5)Take That.
5.(6)Blur. 6.(15)John Barrowman. 7.(7)Elaine Paige. 8.(10)Les Miserables in concert. 9.(4)The Specials. 10.(12)CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS.
Mar 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.
Here are the full contents to the show: It's Cliff Richard Show Eleven. Saturday 14th March 1970 6.15 -6.50pm. Guest Mary Hopkin. 1.The Joy of Living (Opening Introduction). 2.My Baby Loves Lovin' (Cliff, Hank, The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 3.Introductions/Results of Hankovision (Cliff, Hank and Una). 4.Hank’s Hooter Song (Cliff, Hank and Una). 5.All My Trials Lord (Mary Hopkin and BBC Orchestra). 6.Embarrassing Train Passengers-Sketch (Cliff, Hank and Una). 7.The Joy of Living (Cliff, Hank,The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra). 8.Bye Bye Love (Cliff and Hank on acoustic guitar). 9.Counting Votes Comedy Sketch (Cliff, Hank and Una). 10.When I’m Sixty –Four (Cliff, Hank,The Breakaways, BBC Orchestra).
11.Results of Song for Europe 1970 (Bill Cotton announces winner). 12.Knock Knock Who’s There (Mary Hopkin and BBC Orchestra). 13.The Joy Of Living (Opening Introduction Playout). More to come!
(Paul Rumbol. www.ohboytvshow.com email: rumbers@live.co.uk)
Mar 14: Did you know?... that Cliff held themed fancy-dress parties in the gardens of his house in Weybridge. They included: 'Uniforms and Gowns' (1989), 'Over the top' (1991), 'Woodlands' (1992), 'Country and Western' (1993) and 'International' (1995).
Mar 14: Cliff: (talking about Robbie Williams) "Sometimes all you want to do is go out and shop and you don't want people coming up to you all the time. But what I always do is make sure I know exactly which shop I'm going to. I walk quickly, and by the time you've been spotted you have what you went to buy. I can relate to a lot of what Robbie goes through but he has to come to terms with it otherwise it will drive him mad. I hope he gets it right because he's really good."
Mar 14: More on "The Final Reunion" DVD - out now.
The DVD goes from 2 to No.5 in the Australian Top 40 music
DVD chart this week. (16 weeks on the chart).
Mar 14: Cliff & The Shadows South African tour.
Cliff and The Shadows complete their South African Reunion tour today with a concert at the Coca-Cola Dome, Johannesburg,
South Africa.
Mar 14: It was 50 years ago... March 14th, 1960. Cliff receives the coveted Carl-Allen Award for the artist who made the most popular record during 1959, for his best-selling Living doll.
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William bringing you the latest up-to-date Cliff news!
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