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Post by unomusette on Oct 1, 2016 20:53:57 GMT
Ahem, sorry I'm a bit late with my latest suggestions, I'm just recently returned from the South of France and still a bit sun-frazzled. However, duty calls and I thought I'd bring on a bit of easy listening with tidy lyrics. Much beloved of the late, great Sir Terry Wogan, Clifford T Ward is the quintessential 1970's singer songwriter. He was an English teacher before finding brief fame with his music and I can confirm that lots of teachers in the UK did actually look just like him, I'm sure quite a few of mine did. Sadly he's no longer with us, having succumbed to multiple scelrosis quite a few years ago, but his songs are classics and as such timeless imho. He makes songwriting look deceptively easy I think; having had a or two at lyrics myself I'd say he had rather a knack for both those and the melody, see what you reckon: GayeI think this went to number one at the time, and it was so long ago nobody even sniggered at the title, it was just quite an ordinary girl's name The Best Is Yet To ComeSort of sad but also optimistic, another smooth and catchy melody with interesting lyrics WherewithalQuirky little song with a video based on a BBC series of Jane Eyre, short and sweet SculleryReally cute love song about the perfect housewife. Is that Marc Bolan's bass player I see in the video? Home Thoughts From AbroadHis absolute masterpiece, Sir Terry chose this at least once as his favourite song ever and I can't say I blame him. Fantastic lyrics and also a lovely song to sing along to. Some nice strings backing it up too. Hope you enjoy either being re-introduced to Clifford T Ward, or meeting him for the first time. I think if you like Jeff Lynne's knack for a good song you very well might appreciate him.
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Post by jrmugz on Oct 7, 2016 14:31:24 GMT
OK Uno, here is my review of Clifford T. Ward - "Gaye" - Immediately like it. Really like the melody, hooks, and lyrics. Up there with The Beatles, though Ringo probably would have done something different with the drums. "The Best is Yet to Come" - Ooh, I think Bryan Adams did some plagiarism on this one. Another great song with a great melody! "Wherewithal" - Love it. Nice peaceful easy feeling. "Scullery" - Beautiful, really love it. Good singer. "Home Thoughts From Abroad" - Nicely done, fits him in firmly with the Jim Croce and Gordon Lightfoot genre. Star rating: 4.5 out of 5 Prime Cuts: "Gaye", "Best is Yet to Come", "Scullery" Bottom Line: Solid artist, you know what you'll get, light peaceful songs mostly contemplative of love-relationships, sung like Al Stewart. Thanks for introducting me to this artist, Uno; I really have enjoyed them a lot, and they are still playing and still enjoying them, ha ha. Will mark you down for next open slot! Thanks again! Jim
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Post by unomusette on Oct 9, 2016 23:48:55 GMT
Glad you liked them, Jim, I think you'd probably enjoy exploring his other work too as I'm pretty sure he's written some faith-related songs
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Post by dillwyn on Oct 10, 2016 21:15:22 GMT
I had heard the name and infact heard a song of his last week on R2...but apart from that this is all new to me. So very english, i'm assuming late 60's / early 70's
Gaye" - that link not available in the uk (but i looked up another) beautiful song ...puts me in mind of david gates and bread
The Best is Yet to Come - i wished i'd written this. Very nice
"Wherewithal" - beautiful instrumentation.
"Scullery" - lovely, very english
"Home Thoughts From Abroad" - now i know where the zuton's got that excellent idea for a letter, top song
very good. His voice is nice without being overly memorable but I really enjoyed. I'm amazed he isn't more well known i'm guessing the absence of a huge hit is the reason. I'm equally amazed he didn't have one listening to this selection. Thank you for posting and starting me down another listening road.
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Post by unomusette on Oct 10, 2016 21:49:04 GMT
Hi dillwyn, as you're a songwriter yourself I'm chuffed you enjoyed these so much. You're right, they did come out in the early '70's but R2 and especially Terry Wogan kept them on the playlist. When a songwriter says they wish they'd written someone else's song that's probably the highest compliment they can pay - Clifford is probably beaming, up there on his cloud. I think this thread is reaching a natural end, possibly people are preferring to go to the other one where songs are turned over one by one and there's less pressure to form opinions on several at once. You can still give new stuff a try but choose not to comment at all if you wish. Maybe we should give this one a rest for a bit?
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Post by jrmugz on Oct 11, 2016 2:02:06 GMT
Like I say, we'll let it ride to the end of the year, then re-evaluate. No pressure on anyone, in the meantime.
Jim
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Post by queenofthehours on Oct 23, 2016 10:53:56 GMT
Clifford T Ward! Can't wait to listen! Not many people know him. An underrated songwriter.
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