Intresting article

[Iain Purdon]

For me, Cliff’s “rock’n’roll” era 1958 to 1962 was great and was made so with the original Shadows lineup – I have no interest in Cliff’s subsequent career and output. Similarly I love Elvis’ music with his original band, Scotty, Bill and DJ, from 1954 to around 1958 but afterwards not a lot…

Does anyone else agree with that the Shadows (and Ventures) had also “done it all” by 1963?
Now donning my hard hat ……….

It's a respectable view! I think if they had stopped then, they would still have been remembered as major contributors to the pop scene.

However, what they went on to do was entirely different and I for one am delighted they did it. The Burns/Rostill era, Curly Leads, MW&F, the brilliant 80s 5 piece with those self-composed Shadstrax.... Wow!

Iain

[drakula63]

For me, the Shadows most creative period was the 1970s. I still enjoy listening to these albums (including those by MWF) more than any others. So, as far as the Shads go, I certainly think that their post-63 output is very credible.

Strangely enough, to return to the subject of Cliff, I am not a huge fan of the Cliff and the Shads era, but prefer the stuff he did in the 1970s, including the records produced by Bruce. My favourite Cliff albums are Green Light and Rock n' Roll Juvenile. As for his latest venture, hope it's a success for him, although I am not entirely convinced that it's his forte. However, one thing I will say about Cliff... there is just no stopping him! He appears to have more enthusiasm and energy at 70, than most people have at half his age. He's like the Energizer Bunny! So, I say, good luck Cliff and go out and show these youngsters how it's done!!!

[biba]

HJ CHRIS.
I AGREE WITH YOU TOTALLY. MWF ALBUM ARE ONE OF THE BEST VOCAL ALBUMS OF THE SEVENTIES.AND ROCKIN WITH CURLY LEADS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURIT AS WELL.
AND CLIFF IS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.HE HAS NOTHING MORE TO PROVE.YOU HAVE TO RESPECT A MAN WHO HAS BEEN IN THE SHOWBIZ FOR MORE THAN 53 YEARS.LIKE HIM OR NOT.SO LOOK OUT FOR CLIFF LAS VEGAS.

[Tigerdaisy]

I like the early years with both Cliff and the Shadows. The quality of the material has mostly declined or been non existant. Cliff has/is very ambitious, unfortunately he appears to not have a clue about what material to record or not to record and he wonders why he still can't get a hit. Clif is a person with sufficient clout and influence to still get a hit recoed, even at his age, but it's material, material, material.

[damart]

Although I very much enjoyed the Cliff and Shadows reunion tour of 2009,for me it did not compare with The Shadows final tour of 2004. The early years of Cliff and The Shadows especially with Jet and Tony were the most dynamic. Bruce must take great credit for putting his musical career back to where it needed to be in the mid 70's with the 3 albums he produced. Alan Tarney with his more commercially orientated songs helped him greatly as well especially the Always guaranteed album.Songs such as Born to rock and roll and the updated My Kinda Life showed he could still rock. However he showed variation by being able to sing ballads superbly and in the 90's thanks to the music of John Farrar made a very good album with Songs from Heathcliff. Instead of doing re-recordings of their early hits in 2009 I would have preferred to have heard more rock and roll classics from that era which Cliff and The Shadows hadn't recorded before eg Shakin' All Over etc. DPM