Let Me Tell You Baby – Its Called Rock’n’Roll! Cliff Richard & The Drifters (ROLL 2026). Another UK ‘first’ from Rollercoaster ... the first ever ten-inch/25cm vinyl LP by Cliff Richard and The Drifters (the group was later re-named The Shadows to avoid confusion with the US Drifters). The LP contains recordings which have not been heard since they were first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme’s Saturday Club show in 1958. In these recordings we hear Cliff and his at their rockin’ best, long before he became an all-round entertainer. The music was wild, sexy, and demonstrated that at last British rock’n’rollers could compete with the American originals. Cliff had it all, slicked-back hair, sideburns, pink jacket … and a great voice. Saturday Club’s producer, Jimmy Grant, was impressed and booked Cliff as soon as he heard his first single, “Move It” The Drifters, who were considered not quite professional enough for Cliff’s first radio appearance in 1958, soon proved the their critics wrong …. by the second session they were able to give British teenagers what they craved – real live rock’n’roll. Repeat appearances resulted, and the audience requests multiplied until Cliff soon gained the weekly ‘most-requested record’ spot that had regularly been held by his idol, Elvis. The early recordings were often hurriedly made to a strict studio budget and even broadcast live from Manchester and Birmingham while Cliff and his group were on tour, but they remain superb examples of spontaneity and youthful enthusiasm . Fortunately, Saturday Club employed the talents of engineer and producer Bernie Andrews, which guaranteed superb quality recordings and also ensured that most of these broadcasts were preserved rather than being discarded, as was then BBC policy. Tracks on the album are as follows: Side One: DYNAMITE!; MOVE IT; HIGH CLASS BABY; DON’T BUG ME BABY; APRON STRINGS; Side Two: NEVER MIND; MEAN STREAK; RIP IT UP; READY TEDDY; GUITAR BOOGIE (The Drifters) .....A CD version is also available from 31st October 2012. Meanwhile Rollercoaster’s renowned superb high-fidelity sound and artwork make this album a must both for fans of Cliff Richard and rock’n’roll collectors in general. It’s Dynamite! |
