It'll Be Me

Over the years - believe it or not they add up to around fifteen - Cliff Richard has become almost a national institution. But as well as establishing a highly successful singing career, his development has displayed an interesting sociological metamorphosis. For Cliff started life as a lip-curling, hip-twisting rocker on TV shows like "Oh Boy" and "Wham", disliked by parents, idolised by the kids who liked his dark, round-cheeked arrogance and the music created by Cliff and his backing group - then called the Drifters, remember? But over the years, the image changed. Cliff moved into the ballad field, an area which gave him some of his greatest hits. He also publicly announced that he held strong religious beliefs, a pronouncement thought at the time to be a publicity stunt but since proved to be extremely genuine. His teenage audience stayed with him in their middle and late twenties. and his appeal reached the older folks, too, as they saw a clean-living young man not afraid to stand up and be counted where his beliefs are concerned. From wild rocker Cliff has moved to the opposite end of the scaleover the years to become a widely accepted popular entertainer. But he's never let his music be other than first-class. This album features some of the best tracks which he has recorded including the hit single "It'll Be Me" and comprises a fine slice of vintage Cliff. Alan Walsh