Cliff Richard ~ Two's Company: The Duets

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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0094637707227 Label: EMI Manufacturer: EMI Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: EMI Release Date: 2006-11-06 Studio: EMI
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Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Something old something new Comment: It is clear from reading other reviews on Amazon and elsewhere that people have mixed feelings about this collection. Some would have an album of entirely new recordings (and maybe more original songs and fewer covers) while others would have preferred an album comprising entirely re-issues. Perhaps it was decided that this compromise would suit everybody. Certainly, I'd been expecting a compilation of Cliff's duet hits ever since the release of his 6-CD boxed set (Singles collection), which contained every British solo single that Cliff had recorded up to that point, but noticeably avoided all the duets. In my review of that collection, I pointed out that there were enough of those duets to occupy a seventh CD. I was therefore a little disappointed that this duets album, when it was finally released, omitted a lot of the minor hits. However, it contains all the hits that really matter except Cliff's duet with Van Morrison, Whenever God shines his light. Even that only just made the top 20 in the UK chart, so maybe the compiler felt it wasn't essential. A lot of argument surrounds Throw down a line, which became a UK top ten hit in 1969. I don't think this is a duet but it was omitted from the boxed set so I expected to find it here. When originally released, it was officially listed as being by Cliff and Hank, rather than being credited as a Cliff Richard solo track. We should therefore blame whoever made that decision back in the sixties, if we are to blame anybody for classifying it as a duet. Another hit credited to Cliff and Hank, The joy of living, didn't make this compilation, nor did it make the UK top twenty. It was the theme to a similarly-titled TV series but I don't remember either the song or the TV series. Of the other tracks here, She means nothing to me (with Phil Everly), All I ask of you (with Sarah Brightman) and Suddenly (with Olivia Newton-John) were all top ten hits in Britain. Slow rivers (with Elton John) is also included although it was a very modest hit in Britain. It originally appeared on Elton John's album, Leather jackets. Reunited (with Lulu) first appeared on Lulu's duets collection, Together. Miss you nights (with G4) originally appeared on G4's album, G4 and friends. The duet with Matt Monro must have been produced by technological wizardry, because Matt Monro had already been dead for twenty years by the time this recording was made. The remaining recordings were newly recorded for the album although there are no original songs among them. I'm not entirely convinced by the new recording of Move it (and it's the only track on the album that I say that about). Perhaps Cliff wanted to prove that he could still rock, but his own original version is a hard act to follow nearly half a century later. Like Throw down a line, this is not a genuine duet as Cliff is the only singer on the track. I was amused at one reviewer's puzzlement regarding Cliff's duet with Dionne Warwick. As Dionne was the original singer of Anyone who had a heart (and she was very disappointed that Cilla had the big British hit with the song) it is perfectly reasonable that Cliff should record this song with Dionne, although nobody would have been surprised if he'd chosen to record it with Cilla instead. Cliff's duets with Daniel O'Donnell (Yesterday once more), Barry Gibb (Fields of gold), Anne Murray (Up where we belong) and Helmut Lotti (Danny boy) all work well and complete a mainly excellent album. If EMI had released an album exclusively compiled from previously released material, they could have included Cliff's remaining duet hits. Apart from the two I've mentioned (Whenever God shines his light, The joy of living), they include Drifting (with Sheila Walsh), his Comic Relief version of Living doll (with the Young Ones), All I have to do is dream (with Phil Everly), Had to be (with Olivia Newton-John) and The wedding (with Helen Hobson). They could also have included other duets that didn't chart and maybe weren't released as singles, featuring singers such as Tammy Wynette, Jackie Lee and Cilla Black. Some of these tracks can be found elsewhere but others may be very hard to find. These days, Cliff has plenty of critics but his longevity shows that he still has plenty of fans who appreciate his music - and not just the old stuff. I suspect that most of Cliff's long-standing fans will love this album. Even despite my reservations about the new version of Move it, I am among Cliff's long-standing fans who love the album. Customer Rating: Summary: A kind 4 star review Comment: I've listened to this album twice now, I hope it will grow on me. I don't consider alternating with another singer a duet, it would have been nice to have some great harmonies. Unfortunately Cliffs voice is getting older. 'Anyone who had a heart' with Dionne Warwick is the worst version I've heard. 'She means nothing to me' with Phil Everly was not bad and they actually sang together. 'All I ask of you" with Sara Brightman not very good at all 'Let there be love' with Matt Monroe great to hear Matt in good voice {much better than Cliff} tho' no duet. "Throw down the line' an ok rehash if you call Hank's guitar playing a duet. 'Fields of Gold with Barry Gibb'... Dissapointing "Up where we belong' with Anne Murray, Pretty good and some harmonizing too, definitely one of the better tracks "Slow Rivers' with Elton John, Good! 'Suddenly' with Olivia Newton-John, pretty good 'Reunited' with Lulu I was looking forward to this track, alas it didn't reach my expectations, perhaps because of the production, it was somewhat 'tinny' I love Cliff, I think he has a lot of class, but sometimes he loses it in origionality. Customer Rating: Summary: Not strong duet work Comment: If a duet is taking turns with the lead, then this is an album of duets. It's disappointing to me that there isn't more strong harmony work. Perhaps it was necessary to let 'the guests' solo and so be showcased. I don't think the vocal blends are very good either (perhaps that's why there's not much actual duet work). And does Hank playing the guitar on a song really count as a duet with Hank? Dionne Warwick was a great singer and I enjoyed her work in the sixties. I also enjoyed Anne Murray's many excellent recordings, but the duets here simply don't work for me. The strongest track is the old "She Means Nothing to Me" which is great in large part because Cliff and Phil sing together for much of the song. I don't like the new version of "Move It." It's not a duet. Was the original labelled a duet? No, but it had alternating guitar and vocal work just like this one. So folks, I'm not too pleased I bought this. Here's hoping Cliff and the Shads put out something good for their 50th anniversary in 2008. Customer Rating: Summary: Great album! Comment: I love this album. It hasnt been out of my cd player since I got it. Cliff's voice sounds beautiful on all the songs and artists like Barry Gibb, Dione Warwick, G4 and many others are great duet partners. The new version of Move It with Brian May is brilliant - I love the original but love this just as much. Anyone who had a heart with Dionne Warwick is beautifully sung as is Miss You Nights with G4 - their voices compliment Cliff's beautifully and the harmonies are lovely. Another favourite of mine is Fields of Gold a stand out track on the album having a lovely arrangement and Cliff and Barry Gibbs voices are beautifully harmonious together. The version of Danny Boy with Helmut Lotti is a real treat as is Up Where We belong with Anne Murray. Yesterday Once More and She Means Nothing to Me are also fabulous. The only duet I would have changed would be Had to Be (with Olivia) in place of Suddenly. But that's just a personal wish as Had to Be is my favourite Cliff duet ever. Two's Company is a really beautiful album and I'd love to have another similarly done in the future. Customer Rating: Summary: Simply the Best Comment: Cliff, once again delivers the goods, along with help of some popular acts. I particularly enjoyed his Miss you Nights, as it is possibly one of my favourite songs of all time. Time and again Cliff never lets us down. More Reviews