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Cliff Richard's fifth and sixth albums, 21 Today and 32 Minutes & 17 Seconds tend to get overlooked in any poll of the singer's best albums, written off as two sets catching him in that peculiar void that yawned between his initial breakthrough in 1958 and the first sense of any real competition in 1963. Complacency is frequently in the eye of the beholder, but still there's a sense that 21 Today, in particular, is the sound of an artist on autopilot, a succession of pleasant midtempo ballads with Shadows-lite backing, soaring strings à go-go, and -- the curse of British MOR later in the decade -- the utterly wholesome oohs, aahs, and echoes of an army of clean-living backing youths. A couple of tracks buck the trend -- "Without You" and "Tough Enough" are gritty stompers, while "Y'arriva" at least packs an intriguingly mock-Spanish backing to match vocal stylings lifted straight from an old Speedy Gonzales cartoon. There is also a bizarre version of "Tea for Two," Richard turning in his best well-mannered show band vocal, while the Shadows noodle away in best smoky jazz club style. 32 Minutes & 17 Seconds is better, although the search for direction is undoubtedly still weighing on Richard's mind. That said, an excellent version of skiffle king Chas McDevitt's "How Long Is Forever" ranks among his strongest ballad performances in some time, while the hit "It'll Be Me" is more or less peerless. Most of all, though, these albums -- paired together on this 2001 EMI release -- stand as reminders of why the Merseybeat explosion was so important. Without it, all British pop might have sounded like this!
© Dave Thompson /TiVo
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Norrie Paramor, Producer - The Shadows, Vocals - MILDRED HILL, Composer - Patti Hill, Composer - The Shadows And Their Friends, MainArtist
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Chuck Berry, Writer - Malcolm Addey, Engineer - Cliff Richard, Vocals - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, MainArtist
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Roy Bennett, Writer - Norrie Paramor, Producer - Malcolm Addey, Engineer - Cliff Richard, Vocals - Sid Tepper, Writer - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, MainArtist
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Bruce Welch, Rhythm Guitar - Keith Bessey, Engineer - Cliff Richard, Vocals, MainArtist - Hank Marvin, Lead Guitar - Jet Harris, Bass Guitar - Salvatore D'Esposito, Writer - Tony Meehan, Drums - Kermit Goell, Writer - Norrie Paramor & His Orchestra, Orchestra
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Malcolm Addey, Engineer - Cliff Richard, Vocals - The Mike Sammes Singers, Vocals - Johnny Otis, Writer - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, MainArtist - Jerry Furst, Drums
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Malcolm Addey, Engineer - Cliff Richard, Vocals, MainArtist - Norrie Paramor & His Orchestra, Orchestra - Mike Redway, Vocals - Sammy Bella, Writer - Ross Gilmour, Vocals - Irene King, Vocals - Enid Heard, Vocals - Valerie Bain, Vocals - Marion Gay, Vocals - Mel Todd, Vocals
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Gene Vincent, Writer - Cliff Richard, Vocals - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, MainArtist - Clifton Simmons, Writer
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Cliff Richard, Vocals - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, MainArtist - Vernon McEntire, Writer
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Bruce Welch, Writer - Cliff Richard, Vocals - Hank Marvin, Writer - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, MainArtist
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Roy Bennett, Writer - Norrie Paramor, Conductor, Producer, Arranger - Keith Bessey, Engineer - Malcolm Addey, Engineer - Cliff Richard, Vocals, MainArtist - The Mike Sammes Singers, Background Vocals - Sid Tepper, Writer
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Vincent Youmans, Writer - Irving Caesar, Writer - Cliff Richard, Vocals - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, MainArtist
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Don Wolf, Writer - Norrie Paramor, Producer, Arranger - Ben Raleigh, Writer - Malcolm Addey, Engineer - Cliff Richard, Vocals, MainArtist - The Mike Sammes Singers, Background Vocals - Norrie Paramor & His Orchestra, Orchestra
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Bruce Welch, Writer - Malcolm Addey, Recorder - Cliff Richard, Vocals, Writer - Hank Marvin, Writer - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, MainArtist
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Conductor, Producer, Arranger - Malcolm Addey, Engineer - Cliff Richard, Vocals, MainArtist - The Mike Sammes Singers, Backing Vocals - EDDIE CURTIS, Writer - Norrie Paramor & His Orchestra, Orchestra
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Walter Donaldson, Writer - Cliff Richard, Vocals - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, MainArtist - George Whiting, Writer
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Bruce Welch, Writer - Keith Bessey, Engineer - Malcolm Addey, Recorder - Cliff Richard, Vocals - Hank Marvin, Writer - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, MainArtist - Kevin Jacobson, Writer
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Jack Clement, Writer - Norrie Paramor, Producer - The Shadows, Vocals, PLG Unknown Participant - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Bruce Welch, Writer - The Shadows, Vocals, PLG Unknown Participant - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Bruce Welch, Rhythm Guitar - Cliff Richard, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist - Hank Marvin, Lead Guitar - Brian Bennett, Drums - Jet Harris, Bass Guitar - Norrie Paramor & His Orchestra, Orchestra - Brian Locking, Bass Guitar - Chas McDevitt, Writer - Shirley Douglas, Writer
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Roy Bennett, Writer - Norrie Paramor, Producer - The Shadows, Vocals, PLG Unknown Participant - Malcolm Addey, Engineer, Recorder - Sid Tepper, Writer - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Roy Bennett, Writer - Norrie Paramor, Conductor, Producer - Malcolm Addey, Engineer - Cliff Richard, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist - Sid Tepper, Writer - Norrie Paramor & His Orchestra, Orchestra
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - The Shadows, Vocals, PLG Unknown Participant - Malcolm Addey, Engineer, Recorder - Vincent Rose, Writer - Larry Stock, Writer - Al Lewis, Writer - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Vocals, MainArtist
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1962, 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Conductor, Producer, Arranger - Malcolm Addey, Engineer - Cliff Richard, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist - The Mike Sammes Singers, Backing Vocals - Norman Smith, Engineer - Norrie Paramor & His Orchestra, Orchestra - Bill Crompton, Writer
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - The Shadows, Vocals, PLG Unknown Participant - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist - Clifford Friend, Writer - David Franklin, Writer
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Roy Bennett, Writer - Norrie Paramor, Producer - The Shadows, Vocals, PLG Unknown Participant - Sid Tepper, Writer - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Conductor, Producer, Arranger - Jerry Leiber, Writer - PHIL SPECTOR, Writer - Keith Bessey, Engineer, Masterer - Malcolm Addey, Engineer, Recorder - Cliff Richard, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist - The Mike Sammes Singers, Background Vocals - The Norrie Paramor Orchestra, Orchestra
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - The Shadows, Vocals, PLG Unknown Participant - Malcolm Addey, Engineer, Recorder - Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist - Walter Spriggs, Writer
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Bruce Welch, Rhythm Guitar - Richard Rodgers, Writer - Lorenz Hart, Writer - Cliff Richard, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist - Hank Marvin, Lead Guitar - Brian Bennett, Drums - Jet Harris, Bass Guitar - Brian Locking, Bass Guitar - Norrie Paramor And His Orchestra, Orchestra
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Ira Kosloff, Writer - Cliff Richard, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist - Norrie Paramor & His Orchestra, Orchestra - Norrie Paramor And His Orchestra, Orchestra - Tom Pray, Writer
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Norrie Paramor, Producer - Bruce Welch, Rhythm Guitar - Burt Bacharach, Writer - Hal David, Writer - Cliff Richard, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist - Hank Marvin, Lead Guitar - Brian Bennett, Drums - Jet Harris, Bass - Norrie Paramor & His Orchestra, Orchestra - Brian Locking, Bass
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1998 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Album review
Cliff Richard's fifth and sixth albums, 21 Today and 32 Minutes & 17 Seconds tend to get overlooked in any poll of the singer's best albums, written off as two sets catching him in that peculiar void that yawned between his initial breakthrough in 1958 and the first sense of any real competition in 1963. Complacency is frequently in the eye of the beholder, but still there's a sense that 21 Today, in particular, is the sound of an artist on autopilot, a succession of pleasant midtempo ballads with Shadows-lite backing, soaring strings à go-go, and -- the curse of British MOR later in the decade -- the utterly wholesome oohs, aahs, and echoes of an army of clean-living backing youths. A couple of tracks buck the trend -- "Without You" and "Tough Enough" are gritty stompers, while "Y'arriva" at least packs an intriguingly mock-Spanish backing to match vocal stylings lifted straight from an old Speedy Gonzales cartoon. There is also a bizarre version of "Tea for Two," Richard turning in his best well-mannered show band vocal, while the Shadows noodle away in best smoky jazz club style. 32 Minutes & 17 Seconds is better, although the search for direction is undoubtedly still weighing on Richard's mind. That said, an excellent version of skiffle king Chas McDevitt's "How Long Is Forever" ranks among his strongest ballad performances in some time, while the hit "It'll Be Me" is more or less peerless. Most of all, though, these albums -- paired together on this 2001 EMI release -- stand as reminders of why the Merseybeat explosion was so important. Without it, all British pop might have sounded like this!
© Dave Thompson /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 30 track(s)
- Total length: 01:12:49
- Main artists: Cliff Richard & The Shadows
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Parlophone UK
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
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