Reunited [Import]

Fun, just absolute fun! is the best way to describe this album. Cliff and The Shadows have gotten back together to celebrate 50 years of association. And they are in top form.

To start off, most Americans will have no idea who these guys are. A little background: Cliff Richard is the most successful single artist in British pop music history. Since 1958, when he first hit the charts, he's had 14 chart toppers (both solo and with the Shads) and over 125 top 40 hits, going right up to this year. The Shadows (started out as the Drifters, but changed their name so as not to be confused with the American group of the same name) were Cliff's backing band, but also had many hits on their own, topping the charts 5 times in addition to the ones they had with Cliff. These were the biggest British acts in Britain before the Beatles, although they still had considerable success after the Merseybeat invasion. These guys, together and separately, are huge names in Britain and very important for the history of rock and roll there.

Returning to the album: what do we find here? Well, Cliff and the Shads redo many of their early hits from the late 50s and early 60s and add 3 other covers with a modern feel. If you like music from that period, you'll love this. The songs are great--it's a mystery why these guys never made it in the US. You probably know 'Singing the Blues,' but this version is much heavier than Guy Mitchell's. It's fun, just downright fun! When you listen to this album, you'll be singing along and stompin' your feet. This is what rock n roll should be. Can guys in their late 60s still rock and roll? YES--These guys were the pioneers and they still have it!!

PS The special edition includes an extra CD with three more songs. It's worth the extra few dollars.

I've been a Cliff and the Shadows fan for all of their careers since 1958.This album is a rerecording of many of the previous hits plus a couple of others,and its outstanding.The vocals are excellent,the Shadows are in great form and almost every track is a winner.Eddy Cochrans c'mon everybody rocks just like it always did and the accoustic guitar work has been recorded perfectly,terrific bass guitar too.Brian Bennetts drumming is nothing short of brilliant throughout the whole album.Cliff always had the best voice in british rock.This CD has been playing in my car since it arrived.Great record boys.

All these tracks are very good although "On the Beach" has peculiar harmonies and seems to have a mis-start. Bruce Welch's rhythm guitar and Brian Bennett's drumming really shine--more than on the original recordings. It's too bad that all the new recordings are not on this album. To get them all, you currently have to buy an EP cd along with an actual vinyl single (with three tracks).
In the reunion concerts, the Shadows played some instrumental sets. These are not on this CD, which is unfortunate, and the concert DVD is only available in PAL and region 2. If you have the ability to play such a DVD, buy it: it's more entertaining and complete than this studio CD.