Customer Reviews

I'm Nearly Famous

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The amazing thing about "I'm Nearly Famous" is that it took so long to be re-released. I had this album when it came out in 1976, and it easily became one of my favorite recordings! The collection is basically good old fashioned music! That's right...songs that have melody and allow Cliff to demonstrate he was NOT a surrogate Elvis. Cliff possessed a far richer and diverse voice than the King, but never really conquered the U.S. Nonetheless, enjoy this wonderful release. The album's show piece is John Dawson Read's beautiful "Such is the Mystery." What a gorgeous song, and beautiful performance/arrangement. I'm so glad Cliff's albums are being re-mastered and offered to us diehard fan!

I am very glad they reissued this CD by Cliff Richard. I'm Nearly Famous is well worth the money because it has bonus tracks. The music sounds as good today as it did in 1976. I have been looking for this CD for a very long time and I finally found it on amazon. I wanted this CD mainly for the song "Devil Woman". I love the superstition and the haunting melody of the song. I can picture myself there as he sings about how she is gonna get you from behind and having bad luck since he saw the cat at his door. I have always liked Cliff Richard and his songs. Every song on this CD is different from the other. Other stand outs are "I'm Nearly Famous" and "Miss You Nights". A great Cd for anyone who likes 70's music especially Cliff Richard music.

In case you're wondering who Cliff Richard is, he's probably the best singer Britain ever produced and he's one of the most underrated singers in the world. If you haven't heard him before, it's been your loss. And this is one of his best albums. Just listen to those superb, funky, top-notch high-pitched vocals of "I Can't Ask For Anymore Than You". (Yes, it really is Cliff Richard). Let yourself be gripped by the heart-wrenching "It's No Use Pretending" (lovely words and melody, and wonderful backing vocals); by the quintessential romantic ballad "Lovers"; by the tender, spine-tingling "Miss You Nights" and the hauntingly beautiful "I Wish You'd Change Your Mind". I like love ballads; but there's not one of today's line-up of boy bands and soloists who can match the profundity of expression and unique poignancy of Cliff's voice. Let yourself be drawn inward by the gentle, evocative yet immeasurably stirring "Such Is The Mystery". This song is a strange enigma which touches you deeper and more lastingly every time you hear it. ROCK to the electrifying, vibrant, exhilarating "I'm Nearly Famous" and succumb to the fast, furious, spellbinding "Devil Woman". In the tear-jerking rock ballad "Alright, it's Alright", you might be forgiven for supposing you were listening to a rock band, but the singing here is really quite exceptional. Cliff, attacked for lack of versatility, flawlessly combines rock, pure pop, disco, romantic ballad and gospel, spanning a huge vocal range. In its entirety, the album is skilful, versatile, exciting and original and has its own, inimitable sound. Complete with symbolic bonus tracks, (including the uplifting "Love On (Shine On)" and the brilliant, once banned "Honky Tonk Angel", this album provides a unique documentary to the turning point in Cliff's career which (deservedly) ensured him immortality in British pop music. If you do not buy this you will never know what you have lost.

I Must "hear" and "have" if you've never had the pleasure! All these 5 star reviews are correct. You need to honor yourself and Mr Richard by breathing in this wonderful collection of musical gems. Every song has the potential to become a favorite for anyone with ears. I've had this album in my collect since it came out in '76 and has remained a true outstanding work 34 years later. The Rock / Pop tunes are catchy and well done with superb musicianship. The ballets are the true magic, I believe. If your heart has ever been pulled upon, all these heartfelt lyrics should go deep and span many years. And I'm not into lyrics and words whatsoever when it comes to being passionate about music. But this is one thankful exception. Enjoy!!

My review is for the original first 12 songs on the CD. The additional bonus songs I was pleased to have if they were from the same era or recording session. And they do have the same production values as "I'm Nearly Famous". That being said, these songs could have been on the original release without any degradation to the quality and breathe of this material. Very glad they have been added and more beautiful pieces added to an already fantastic album. Great vocals and catchy sing along tunes.

I really liked "I'm No Hero", so I took a chance on "I'm Nearly Famous" and was NOT disappointed. Some may prefer Cliff as the younger rocker who sang up-front for The Shadows, but this is Cliff Richard at his mature best.

Forget the image for a moment and just listen to the songs - there's no denying that there's a talented voice here. All over the place stylistically, "I'm Nearly Famous" is nonetheless a terrific showcase for Cliff's vocal abilities and some of his very best songs are found here, including "Devil Woman", "Miss You Nights" and a rare gem, the self-penned "Love On (Shine On)" appearing here as a bonus track. This remastered version has fantastic sound, all the more astonishing when you realize that this is a 30-year-old recording! Highly recommended.

I am hooked on I'm Nearly Famous. Talk about diversity, this album has everything and the first track I Can't Ask for Anything More Than You is just a fabulous song. If the USA had caught on to Cliff and played his songs, I'm sure ICAFAMTY would have been Grammy material. As for the rest of the album:

- It's No Use Pretending - a sad end of a relationship,
- I'm Nearly Famous - the humorous title track with some great piano licks, I have to laugh at this track because I knew so many people like this in the 60s and it brings back wonderful memories of when we were all going to conquer the world, end war and live in peace, harmony and happiness forever,
- Lovers - a sad, sad story of lost love,
- Junior Cowboy - a much maligned rollickin' (imo) fun track which makes a nice break between Lovers and,
- Miss You Nights - the soft most beautiful ballad Cliff has ever sung,
- I Wish You'd Change Your Mind and Stay - such a wistful and heart wrenching song,
- Devil Woman - a dark rocking anthem against the occult,
- Such is the Mystery - a thoughtful introspective track this has a real religious turn done so beautifully,
- You've Got to Give Me All Your Lovin' - the rockin' most demandin', do woppin' track I have ever heard Cliff do,
- If You Walked Away From Me - a wonderful description of what love is/does,
- All Right, It's All Right - one of the few songs about a funeral I have ever heard, when I first played this had to listen twice to make sure I heard it right,
- Love is Enough - one of the prime examples of Cliff's perpetual optimism and what a better world it would be if true,
- Love on (Shine On) - this is one of the neat songs from that non-song writer, Cliff Richard,
- Honky Tonk Angel - I'm so glad that Cliff did not manage to get every copy of this track when some evil minded person told him HTA were nothing but prostitutes, (my one comment, there is a whole history or should I say herstory, behind this appellation, Honky Tonk Angels are NOT prostitutes anymore than go-go dancers were. They are lonely women who want and need company and affection just like men and aren't afraid to go and find it!)
- It's Only Me You've Left Behind - the left behind one who really doesn't sound too unhappy to be left behind,
- Wouldn't You Know It - that left behind loser found a new love - cool late 50s feel to this track,
- You're the One - a happy way to end a long and diverse album.

This is the album first released in May 1976 that put Cliff Richard back in the charts produced by Bruce Welch it includes the hit singles Miss You Nights, Devil Woman and I Can't Ask For Anymore Than You in which Cliff uses falsetto for the first time
it is simply a great listen from start to finish

In the late 70s, I bought this record in vinyl, because I just had to have Cliff Richard's marvellous, sad, evocative recording of "Miss You Nights." It was a nice surprise to find so many other songs to enjoy..."Devil Woman," "If You Walked Away," "Lovers" and the beautiful simplicity of "Such is the Mystery." When my vinyl collection went the way of the dinosaurs, I kept looking for this album in CD form---and finally, FINALLY, it's back, I've got it, and it hasn't left my CD player since the nice UPS man rang the doorbell... This remastered CD has terrific sound, and several bonus tracks---"B" sides from old 45s, never before included on an album, plus a great little rarity called "Honky Tonk Angel" which was pulled from radio playlists and never performed in public. This is a CD I can recommend highly---not every song is going to be to everyone's taste, but overall it's great to listen to.

This is the LP that relaunched Cliff's career world-wide. After a stint of battling his label (and to an extent the fans) who refused to see that he no longer wished to be a "teen idol", Cliff arranged for Bruce Welch, his ex-Shadows bandmate, to produce this gem of an album. There is not a bad track on it and it contains classics such as "Devil Woman" and "Miss You Nights." It is a return to what Cliff does best - Rock & Roll mixed with timeless ballads! "I'm Nearly Famous" was out of print far too long and it sounds even better remastered. Grab yourself a copy before it is gone again.