Dave Clark and Friends
SOUTHERN MAN / BRING IT ON HOME TO ME* / Signs / WON'T YOU BE MY LADY / The Time Has Come / If You've Got a
Little Love to Give / Officer McKirk / PARADISE* / DRAGGIN' THE LINE / THINK OF ME / One-Eyed, Blue-Suited, Gun-Totin'
Man / Right Or Wrong / I Don't Know / PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART* (Songs in CAPS were "a-side" singles)
(* = 3 songs by the original Dave Clark Five.)
REVIEW BY GARY OWEN -
(Gary Owen is a musician and Beatle-fan from northern Pennsylvania. He's a fine guitar
player, and has a 60's-style album of original work called "Autumn" that is just brilliant. While openly
critical of most other DC5 albums, he fell for this one. At his request, you can't e-mail him, but you can contact
thru the DC5 message board.)
Here it is! My all-time favorite DC related LP! Thanks to HLP for picking up a copy for
me in Beatle Land, Liverpool. SOUTHERN MAN - Move over
Neil Young! Here comes DC & Friends!!!! This version completely wipes clean any notion that the original even
exists. Mike is in superior form. BRING IT ON HOME TO ME
- A DC5 leftover that definitely sounds much better here in stereo. Very nice arrangement, complete with female
background vocals. The guitar sounds out of tune. Not 45 material, but would work nicely as a flip side. SIGNS - Hey everyone: It's the Dave Clark Five Man Electrical Band!
Excellent rendition, but where is the middle section? Mike sounds just wonderful, as usual, and the guitars sound
great. Very nice! WON'T YOU BE MY LADY - A logical and
overlooked followup single to "Southern Man" here in the US. Great song in the same style as Badfinger.
Great harmonies, and excellent guitar sound. I just found a copy of the US promo 45, but can't seem to find the
flip side "Into Your Life" on vinyl. THE TIME HAS COME -
Am I hearing shades of the Hollies "He Ain't Heavy, He's my Brother" here? Very nice track with great
vocals and production. I love this "early 70's" sound! IF YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE
LOVE TO GIVE - Reminds me of a gospel-tinged choir. Makes me want to clap along during
the chorus. Good track. OFFICER MCKIRK - Fun song that
runs just a little too long. This one would work well at some of my gigs, as the chorus is a "drinker's tune"
if I ever heard one! I just don't feel like learning all those words (6 verses). GOOD song. PARADISE
- Perfect song!!!! Leftover from DC5 days, and it works really well here. The horns
are great: and even better here in stereo. Much better version than the original by "Amen Corner". This
"lost 45" definitely deserved a better fate as a single here in the US. The false fade adds a nice touch
too. I love this song! DRAGGIN' THE LINE - Virtually
identical to Tommy James' original, but it works much better here. Mike does a great job yet again. Nice production
too. THINK OF ME - Nothing but perfection here! One of
my all-time favorite songs, amongst all bands. Great melody. Great vocals. Great lyrics. Great production. Great
guitars. Great strings. Great chorus. Gee, do I think this song is great? (This ballad was a single in the UK).
ONE-EYED, BLUE-SUITED, GUN-TOTIN' MAN - Good chunky little
fun song. Gibson-sounding guitars are great. RIGHT OR WRONG -
Imitation is the highest form of flattery. Can you say "No Matter What" by Badfinger? Regardless, a great
song that fits snuggly under "Think of Me" on the UK 45. I DON'T KNOW - Guys, it's okay to imitate, but stay away from Hendrix! I really do not care for this track,
and would have left it off in favor of other DC&Friends tracks (like "Rub It In", "I'm Sorry
Baby" or "Sweet City Woman"). The Hendrix feel just doesn't work here. PUT
A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART - Great Great rendition of this Jackie DeShannon tune.
Another DC5 late-single leftover, I love the sound on this one. Also sounds great on that UK DC compilation. And
in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make. Ooops, I quoted the wrong group. Anyway, enjoy! -
(Written by Gary Owen)
For more information on the "Dave Clark And Friends" era, click HERE....
Album review by - (If you would like to write this album's review, e-mail me at theboltons@rpa.net)