70s Artist Watch: Cliff Richard

Born in 1940 as Harry Webb, he had established major chart success in the 1960s, also a top rated live Saturday night entertainment "Its Cliff" and "The Cliff Richard show" 1970s

The TV programme, along with his strong religious beliefs, he entered the 70s still idolized, and still looking very young, when you consider his first UK chart hit was "Move it"in 1958.

Cliff has never married, and he has always plagued by is he gay? questions, but even in 2010, he just said its no ones business but mine, if I am or not. He did have a relationship in the 1970s with ex Wimbledon star and BBC presenter Sue Barker, and has always been seen in the arms of beautiful women.


In 1968 he represented Great Britain for the Eurovison song contest with "Congratulations", he came 2nd,( although Spain seems ready to admit he actually won it, politics I am afraid), and then again in 1973 he entered the competition again with "Power to all our friends", when he came third this time, but it was a great record and charted well in the UK. It was the first thing I recorded off the TV with my cassette recorder, mic pointed at the TV telling everyone to be quiet.

Lyrics
Power to all our friends
To the music that never ends
To the people we want to be
Baby, power to you and me
There's one old man
Spent his life growing flowers
Caring for the bees
Power to the bees
There's one old lady
Spent her days making wine
The wine tasted fine
Power to the vine

Cliff Richard Chords
More Cliff  lyrics: 

Long before "Grease", he starred in a film called "Take me high". starring along Olivia Newton John. The single of the same name also charted that year the film was not a spectacular success. The film starred Deborah Watling and Hugh Griffin, and George Cole of "Minder"fame.

 See a clip of the film  of Take me High.

Moving into 1976, Cliff changed direction from the god fearing boy next door, and actually released a record with the word DEVIL in tit, "Devil Woman", saw cliff dressed up more in leathers , than suit and ties, and we heard him much more in the "pop rock" category. Those loyal to the old Cliff were not to sure, but it brought him even more fans and the song was even a big hit in the US




Devil Woman Chords

Lyrics
I`ve had nothing but bad luck
Since the day I saw the cat at my door
So I came here to you sweet lady
Answering your mystical call
Crystal ball on the table
Showing the future the past
Same cat with them evil eyes
And I know it was a spell she`d cast
She`s just a devil woman with evil on her mind
Beware the devil woman she`s gonna get you
She`s just a devil woman with evil on her mind
Beware the devil woman
She`s gonna get you from behind
Give me the ring on your finger
Let me see the lines of your hand
I can see me a tall dark stranger
Giving you what you hadn`t planned
I drank the potion she offered me
I found myself on the floor
Then I locked in those big green eyes
And I wondered what I came there for

The album for "Devil woman", was the tongue in cheek name of "I'm nearly famous now", already nearly 20 years into his pop fame.

He ended the decade with "We don't talk any more", it is not widely known,but Bryan Ferry was singing on that record too.

The 70s saw him win many awards including:-
Brit Awards
1977 – Best British male solo artist during the past 25 years

The Sun Reader Polls
1970 – Male Pop Personality
1971 – Top Male Pop Personality
1972 – Top Male Pop Personality

NME Reader Polls

1970 – UK Vocal Personality
1970 – World's Best Recording Artist of the 60s
1971 – UK Male Singer
1971 – British Vocal Personality
1972 – UK Male Singer
1972 – British Vocal Personality

Ivor Novello
1970 – Outstanding Services to Music

1970s
1970 – National Viewers' and Listeners' Association – Outstanding Contribution to Religious Broadcasting and Light Entertainment
1971 – Record Mirror – UK Male Singer
1974 – Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Committee – Silver Clef – Outstanding Services to the Music Industry
1977 – The Songwriter's Guild Of Great Britain – Golden Badge Award
1979 – Music Week – Special Award for 21 years as successful recording artistes – Cliff Richard and The Shadows
1979 – EMI Records – Gold Clock and Gold Key award – EMI celebrates 21-year partnership with Cliff


Cliff , now Sir Cliff, is thought to be worth about £50milion, and mainly lives in Portugal and Barbados, however he is always giving to charity, and large amounts on a continuous basis too. He still performs and records, and plays tennis, despite being a pensioner, he looks like a man in his late 40s, he admits to a little help from Botox.

Single hits in the 1970s

1970
The joy of living
Goodbye Sam,hello Samantha
I ain't got time any more
1971
Sunny honey girl

Silvery rain
Flying machine
Sing a song of freedom
1972
Jesus
Living in harmony
A brand new song
1973
Power to all our friends
Help it along
Days of love
Take me high
1974
You keep me hanging on
1975
Its only me you left behind
Honky tonk angel
1976
Miss you nights         Miss you Nights Chords
Devil woman
I cant ask for any more than you
Hey Mr dream Maker
1977
My kinda life

When two worlds drift apart
Try a smile
1978
yes he lives
Cant take the hurt any more
1979
Green light
We don't talk any more

Hot shot

Cliff Richard Official Website

Seventies Music Charts: Top Ten Hits From April 1973

Here are the pop charts for weekend the 7th April 1973 UK

1.Get Down by Gilbert O' Sullivan
Born in Ireland in 1946 as Raymond Edward O'Sullivan, this was No1 in  the UK and the US, and was one of many hits from this sianger songwriter. I recall that the song appeared on "Top Of The Pops" before the days video was used to cover an artist not being able to appear,on this occasion the dancers from the programmes called Pans People, danced to the song with a load of dogs on stage. One of the dogs got bored and walked off, and that stayed in the transmission.