1950s

• Artist: Cliff Richard
• Rating:
• Release Date: July 02, 2002
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rock

Review

This is the first volume in an elaborately ambitious five-CD series, with each disc dedicated to one of the decades that Cliff Richard has held in his thrall -- and each one throwing up so many surprises that no conscientious listener could ever wonder how he's managed to stick around for so long. In terms of sheer impact and novelty, 1950s is the killer, a survey of the less than three years during which Richard first blueprinted, and then rewrote, the rules of British rock & roll. Where would it have been without "Move It" to prove that there was more to life than Tommy Steele and skiffle? And how could things have progressed from there, without Richard's career to both signpost and shape the next five, pre-Beatles years? The material presented here naturally covers the big hits, but also delves deeper into the catalog to illustrate the sheer breadth and wealth of Richard's talent. Indeed, while history likes to view him as some sort of traitor to the cause, vacating hard-line rock & roll the moment the "family entertainment" lights started flashing, the truth is that rock was (and remains) simply one string on his bow. And no other British rocker has ever proven so versatile. ~ Dave Thompson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care	Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller	Cliff Richard	(2:09)
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On	Sunny David, Dave Williams	Cliff Richard	(3:02)
Never Mind	Ian Samwell	Cliff Richard	(2:01)
Schoolboy Crush	Aaron Schroeder, Ray Gilbert	Cliff Richard	(2:31)
High Class Baby	Ian Samwell	Cliff Richard	(2:09)
The Shrine on the Second Floor	Monty Norman, David Heneker, Wolf Mankowitz, Julian More	Cliff Richard	(2:27)
That'll Be the Day	Buddy Holly, Norman Petty, Jerry Allison	Cliff Richard	(2:14)
Apron Strings	Aaron Schroeder, George David Weiss	Cliff Richard	(2:49)
Donna	Ritchie Valens	Cliff Richard	(3:13)
Twenty Flight Rock	Eddie Cochran, Ned Fairchild	Cliff Richard	(1:45)
Blue Suede Shoes	Carl Perkins	Cliff Richard	(1:46)
Dynamite	Ian Samwell	Cliff Richard	(1:56)
Mean Streak	Ian Samwell, Joseph Seener	Cliff Richard	(2:00)
Travellin' Light	Brian Bennett, Sid Tepper	Cliff Richard	(2:38)
Don't Bug Me Baby	Johnny Bragg, Leon Luallen	Cliff Richard	(2:14)
Livin' Lovin' Doll	Simon May	Cliff Richard	(2:06)

Credits

Cliff Richard (Main Performer), Keith Bessey (Remastering)