Cliff Richard Renaissance

This is the album first released in May 1976 that put Cliff Richard back in the charts produced by Bruce Welch it includes the hit singles Miss You Nights, Devil Woman and I Can't Ask For Anymore Than You in which Cliff uses falsetto for the first time

it is simply a great listen from start to finish

I'm Nearly Famous - What an Understatement

I am hooked on I'm Nearly Famous. Talk about diversity, this album has everything and the first track I Can't Ask for Anything More Than You is just a fabulous song. If the USA had caught on to Cliff and played his songs, I'm sure ICAFAMTY would have been Grammy material. As for the rest of the album:



- It's No Use Pretending - a sad end of a relationship,

- I'm Nearly Famous - the humorous title track with some great piano licks, I have to laugh at this track because I knew so many people like this in the 60s and it brings back wonderful memories of when we were all going to conquer the world, end war and live in peace, harmony and happiness forever,

- Lovers - a sad, sad story of lost love,

- Junior Cowboy - a much maligned rollickin' (imo) fun track which makes a nice break between Lovers and,

- Miss You Nights - the soft most beautiful ballad Cliff has ever sung,

- I Wish You'd Change Your Mind and Stay - such a wistful and heart wrenching song,

- Devil Woman - a dark rocking anthem against the occult,

- Such is the Mystery - a thoughtful introspective track this has a real religious turn done so beautifully,

- You've Got to Give Me All Your Lovin' - the rockin' most demandin', do woppin' track I have ever heard Cliff do,

- If You Walked Away From Me - a wonderful description of what love is/does,

- All Right, It's All Right - one of the few songs about a funeral I have ever heard, when I first played this had to listen twice to make sure I heard it right,

- Love is Enough - one of the prime examples of Cliff's perpetual optimism and what a better world it would be if true,

- Love on (Shine On) - this is one of the neat songs from that non-song writer, Cliff Richard,

- Honky Tonk Angel - I'm so glad that Cliff did not manage to get every copy of this track when some evil minded person told him HTA were nothing but prostitutes, (my one comment, there is a whole history or should I say herstory, behind this appellation, Honky Tonk Angels are NOT prostitutes anymore than go-go dancers were. They are lonely women who want and need company and affection just like men and aren't afraid to go and find it!)

- It's Only Me You've Left Behind - the left behind one who really doesn't sound too unhappy to be left behind,

- Wouldn't You Know It - that left behind loser found a new love - cool late 50s feel to this track,

- You're the One - a happy way to end a long and diverse album.

One of the most beautiful, evocative albums ever.

In case you're wondering who Cliff Richard is, he's probably the best singer Britain ever produced and he's one of the most underrated singers in the world. If you haven't heard him before, it's been your loss. And this is one of his best albums. Just listen to those superb, funky, top-notch high-pitched vocals of "I Can't Ask For Anymore Than You". (Yes, it really is Cliff Richard). Let yourself be gripped by the heart-wrenching "It's No Use Pretending" (lovely words and melody, and wonderful backing vocals); by the quintessential romantic ballad "Lovers"; by the tender, spine-tingling "Miss You Nights" and the hauntingly beautiful "I Wish You'd Change Your Mind". I like love ballads; but there's not one of today's line-up of boy bands and soloists who can match the profundity of expression and unique poignancy of Cliff's voice. Let yourself be drawn inward by the gentle, evocative yet immeasurably stirring "Such Is The Mystery". This song is a strange enigma which touches you deeper and more lastingly every time you hear it. ROCK to the electrifying, vibrant, exhilarating "I'm Nearly Famous" and succumb to the fast, furious, spellbinding "Devil Woman". In the tear-jerking rock ballad "Alright, it's Alright", you might be forgiven for supposing you were listening to a rock band, but the singing here is really quite exceptional. Cliff, attacked for lack of versatility, flawlessly combines rock, pure pop, disco, romantic ballad and gospel, spanning a huge vocal range. In its entirety, the album is skilful, versatile, exciting and original and has its own, inimitable sound. Complete with symbolic bonus tracks, (including the uplifting "Love On (Shine On)" and the brilliant, once banned "Honky Tonk Angel", this album provides a unique documentary to the turning point in Cliff's career which (deservedly) ensured him immortality in British pop music. If you do not buy this you will never know what you have lost.