Cliff Richard's single "Sing A Song Of Freedom"

[iefje]

I listened to Cliff's "Sing A Song Of Freedom" recently and found the acoustic lead guitar sound really similar to Hank's acoustic lead guitar sound from around this period. What do you think?

[JimN]

I don't think it sounds like Hank at all.

Has Hank ever been ever known to play bottle-neck guitar, whether electric or acoustic?

Given the year of recording and release (1971), it's more likely to be John Farrar.

JN

[alewis41]

My guess is that it was Kevin Peek who played on that track.

[donna plasky]

Hi. It's a very interesting question you asked. I hope no one minds that I am posting a reply that doesn't really contain an answer...and I am certainly not writing to contradict what anyone else has said. I looked in my two Cliff discography books and for Sing a Song of Freedom, it lists separate credits for the "single" and for two or three live concert versions of it that are published on various albums (ie, Help It Along album). One book simply lists the Brian Bennett Orchestra for "all music" on the single. Not very helpful. And for the live versions from the concert albums, it says all the names that you all have already named.

Here is a video from 1974 that says it's from the London Palladium. Sing a Song of Freedeom is the third of three numbers that Cliff is singing. Specifically, if you move the "time bar" to about 8:40, you can sort of see the acoustic guitar player in the front row, center, of the orchestra. Alan Tarney is next to him on bass. I think this is Kevin Peek, but I defer to those of you who would know better than I would whether this is Kevin. But this really only says who was playing the acoustic in 1974, not necessarily who it was in 1971.

I am fascinated when I look back at old videos that I'd seen before...but when I look at them now, I start to recognise all the people in the background. Before I became a Shadows fan, I was only looking at Cliff. Now, it's almost that I'd like him to take a few steps to one side so that I can get a better look at the band.

Kind regards,
Donna

[Iain Purdon]

.... lovely bass work by Alan Tarney there - what a great player he was

[StuartD]

HI

It was John Farrar who played slide. He used his Les Paul with it flat on his knee and a 'real' bottleneck, which he had from his time in OZ.

Regards

Stuart

[cockroach]

It's not Kevin Peek playing the acoustic guitar in the video.

[Moderne]

Hank has occasionally played slide/bottleneck guitar. For example on some of the tracks on Tasty (the 1977 recordings - not the ones John Farrar played on), also Oh Boy! on the Live at Abbey Road LP. I remember an interview in the mid-70s where he said he had been trying to improve his slide playing. I always assumed it was him playing acoustic slide on All Day All Night Blues but I guess it could have been John Farrar.

Best wishes all,

Clive

[donna plasky]

Hank has occasionally played slide/bottleneck guitar. For example on some of the tracks on Tasty (the 1977 recordings - not the ones John Farrar played on), also Oh Boy! on the Live at Abbey Road LP. I remember an interview in the mid-70s where he said he had been trying to improve his slide playing. I always assumed it was him playing acoustic slide on All Day All Night Blues but I guess it could have been John Farrar.

Best wishes all,

Clive

Dear Clive: Thank you for pointing out the "Oh Boy" tune. I went back and looked at this video again and now I see it. Toward the beginning of the clip (after the closing notes of You Rescue Me), while the hostess is chatting, Hank changes guitars and reaches in his pocket and takes out the bottle neck slide. I never noticed that before. Thanks again.

Kind regards,
Donna

[Iain Purdon]

Nice to see that line-up again

The MWF influence very much present with Alan Jones providing not only excellent harmony vocals but also a lovely simple bass line played, unusually for him, finger style.