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Post by johnt on Jan 31, 2022 9:12:38 GMT
Sideshow has always been one of my Allan Clarke favourites. Should have been a hit in the UK.
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Post by Stranger on Jan 31, 2022 10:00:57 GMT
Don't think I've ever seen the Ruby clip before. That's cool to see. Still not sure if Ruby was ever going to be a hit single.
Slipstream should have been a hit.
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Post by Mevrouw Bee on Jan 31, 2022 14:43:06 GMT
Don't think I've ever seen the Ruby clip before. That's cool to see. Still not sure if Ruby was ever going to be a hit single. Slipstream should have been a hit. I like Ruby! But then I prefer a rockin' Clarkey. |
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Post by Malc on Jan 31, 2022 19:16:09 GMT
Oops, sorry ! Was trying to change my initial post to say that I've temporarily removed the videos, and I'm going to repost them all as individual uploads - but I accidentally deleted it ! Apologies, but normal service will be resumed soonish...  EDIT - the AC videos are back up on my YouTube channel - just search under 'Dojotone' |
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Post by gee on Feb 5, 2022 23:15:51 GMT
Whilst AC did a lot of very varied tracks maybe going in too many musical directions at once (very versatile of course, but maybe somewhat unfocused) I think on his singles he should have gone for the rock or at least pop/rock style and stuck to that
'You're Losing Me' whilst a fine recording and nice song again as with 'Rotten Gambler' for the band later in 1974 simply was not that distinctive enough to work as a single
Who ? was a great album track on 'Headroom' but probably a bit overlong and rather drawn out to work as a single
maybe 'Ruby' later possibly 'Shift Lovin' Lady' obviously sooner rather than later both 'Drift Away' and 'Born To Run'...then 'Sideshow', 'Blinded By The Light' (before Manfred !) maybe 'Stand By Me' (the AC track not the later Hollies German single), then of course 'Shadow In The Street', 'Slipstream' IF properly promoted both by the record company AND by Allan Clarke himself....could have given him more solo success (??)
BUT AC had to put together a backing band and as Paul McCartney proved with Wings (and he had to follow The Beatles) get out there and tour, even as Macca did to student union halls etc strengthening himself as a solo performer and getting his solo band act together
Clarkey had EVERY right to include a number of his Hollies songs - Hey Willy, Long Cool Woman, Hold On, Perfect Lady Housewife,Goodbye Tomorrow, Would You Believe, the acoustic Marigold, both the rockier numbers and his acoustic solo styled numbers that were very much HIS Hollies songs could have formed his initial live set plus some Rock & Roll numbers he had recorded (Sweet Little Sixteen, Lucille, 'Candy Man', 'Down The Line','Take Your Time' etc) and tracks from his first album 'Arold' plus the rare acoustic 'B' side 'Coward By Name'
AC did have enough initial material to comprise a decent live set in 1972 and then could have phased in more solo tracks as he recorded further solo albums
we DO know that plenty of top pedigree British musicians flocked to help him cut his solo albums...and he could have got in a drummer, bass player, keyboardist besides Ray Glynn on lead guitar with himself on guitar, harmonica etc...
he should have stuck to doing essentially original material albums writing songs with Ray Glynn and also Gary Benson, with just the occasional cover
My guess is AC had not really planned the direction of his solo career, and while he did seem to get more on track with 'Headroom' then he rather lost direction as back in The Hollies Clarkey was always perfectly happy to 'play it safer' then with albums of just covers of songs he liked over 1974-76 with first producer Roger Cook and later Spencer Proffer (like Ron Richards years before) effectively taking control over him with Clarkey seeming to doubt his own talent and lacking the self confidence in his own songwriting abilities and musical direction to speak up for him that say Graham Nash most assuredly had....
Why AC chose to only do a few low key appearances and not it seems put together any touring band...seeming to think the albums alone would do it for him...seems strange
Compared to how Graham Nash had pre-sorted his post Hollies career prior to departing with CSN waiting in the wings and an Atlantic record deal assured (and even Terry Sylvester later had a duo with Jimmy Griffin set up when he 'walked' from the band in 1981) Allan's lack of proper preparedness for his solo career when he quit The Hollies...then his apparent inertia re touring or properly promoting his first solo album suggests his solo career was at best somewhat half hearted beyond the desire to just musically and creatively 'do his own thing'
He appeared to do likewise in 1978 tho' then he was far better focused as an Americanised rocker figure, but was unlucky and again failed to get a proper touring band together and start from scratch building his solo reputation stateside which he certainly had the talent to do...instead returning as Terry Sylvester put it;
'with his tail between his legs..'
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