Album Review: Cliff Richard – 75 At 75
3 min read
British pop icon Sir Cliff Richard has had a milestone career, with nearly 60 years in the business as well as being the third highest selling artist in UK chart history among other achievements. Countless singles reached gold and platinum status, not to mention a vast array of awards have been won. This year will be the singer’s 75th birthday, and to celebrate he’s releasing a massive greatest hits compilation featuring 75 of his singles spanning his career, including new song Golden; we will have a look at 75 At 75 in all its glory, and it goes in order of decades!
1950s & 1960s
The 50’s was where it all began, it was when his backing band were initially called The Drifters before becoming The Shadows, it was when his career began to blossom. Kicking off with the guitar savvy Move It, he could easily have given Elvis Presley a run for his money in this swing/rock era; he wouldn’t get a number one hit until the subtle yet gripping Living Doll, earning him his first gold single certification in the UK. Travellin’ Light became his second and final number one of the 1950s. The 60s spawned more number one hits and top 10 hits for the singer, included on 75 At 75 are gems like Please Don’t Tease, I Love You, It’ll Be Me and more. You could say the 60s was where Richard hit his highest peak, this was the last decade in which he would achieve more than two number one singles.
1970s, 1980s & 1990s
Everybody knows the track Devil Woman, it doesn’t matter if it was released nearly 40 years ago, much of Richard’s catalogue is timeless. Tracks from the 70s included on this compilation are hits like Goodbye Sam Hello Samantha, Power To All Our Friends and We Don’t Talk Anymore. At times you could compare Cliff’s vocal capabilities to that of Sir Paul McCartney, particularly in tracks like Carrie, a dramatic track to kick off the 80s, what was possibly music’s most iconic era; you begin to hear the familiar sounds of synths and upbeat drum tracks, Richard was finally adapting. You can’t forget hits like ballad Daddy’s Home, the catchy She Means Nothing To Me, his number one Christmas track Mistletoe and Wine and the touching The Best Of Me.
30 years into his career and Cliff Richard was still going as strong as ever. Saviour’s Day would mark his first number one of the 90s, you listen to it and his sound didn’t really venture too far from what he achieved in the 80s; not that anybody was complaining of course! The 90s also spawned hits for Richard like We Should Be Together, the dreamy I Still Believe In You, the powerful Peace In Our Time and smash multi-platinum hit Millenium Prayer, to be his last number one to date.
2000s & Now
Who could forget his medley of Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World? He, as a timeless artist himself, took two timeless songs and meshed them together to create something new. Obviously a fan of recording Christmas songs, Santa’s List also made the cut for this decade. Sticking to his musical style, he also released tracks like Somethin’ Is Going On, a revamped version of Move It, and Thanks For A Lifetime. The new recorded track Golden was first heard on his 50th anniversary tour, but fans can finally add it to their playlists from 75 At 75, the track proves he’s still got it. There are at least 50 other songs featured on the compilation, but we can’t write about them all!
Cliff Richard is a timeless musical icon who is still dedicated to his career today, 75 At 75 is a reflection of his hard work. This is definitely an album for fans of Richards, those who have been along for the ride from day one have heard his catalogue many times; but to them he never grows old. 75 At 75 will be enjoyed by fans old and new, here’s to Cliff’s 75th birthday!
