Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
British singer who, at age 20, was one of the most popular young artists in the country.
On the island
Eight records
Beat Out That Rhythm on a Drum
Georges Bizet (adapted by Oscar Hammerstein)
to me this is the nearest thing I've heard from that side of musical business that has come anyway near being commercially pop, you know, and this appeals to me immensely and it's very, very exciting and the arrangement and everything is marvelous.
this I think was my first film star crash, you know, and I walked about for weeks in the terrible days and it's most, you know, touching lyrics and it it it it just appealed to me immensely.
since he had a great influence on I own quite a lot, I'd like to take a heartbreak hotel.
Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
I was just completely bowled over by sincerity in her voice and the clarity and to me she is the greatest female vocalist and is definitely my favourite so I'd like to take her with me.
she's dynamic and I was so knocked out. … of all the artists I've ever seen, she has knocked me out most of all, and I'd like to take a memory of her with me.
I happened to have made a recording of That's My Desire, but I made it in the old style and the way it was written. But this one is unorthodox. It's a pop version of it. … the pop version I prefer to the old version. … this is one reason why I'd like to take it with me. And it's also a beautiful song.
Rock Around the ClockFavourite
rock and roll has meant more than just a sort of hobby to me, it's meant my career and it made the opening to let me do something I really wanted to do. … If I'm going to go away for the rest of my life, I'd definitely like to take a memory of something that's meant more to me than anything else has.
the artistry of it. … it is a fantastic arrangement of this song. … this boy is very rough, but he is blues, complete and Afi blues, and everything he sings means something, and it tugs at me. … I enjoy this immensely, and because it's so clever, so well arranged, I'd like to take it with me.
In conversation
Presenter asks
1:26How would you react to the complete opposite to all that? How would you stand up to isolation and loneliness?
Well, to be honest, I think the first few months I might enjoy very, very much. But I think like any normal person being on your own can be very, very maddening. I think I go a bit man.
Presenter asks
5:54Was there any one artist who influenced you more than others?
Yes, I'll be quite honest. Elvis Presley influenced me as he influenced quite a few people, you know. And I used to try and look very much like him. I had sideburns and guitars and things.
Presenter asks
7:44Cliff Richards isn't your real name, is it? Why did you change it?
When I had this group it was called the Drifters, you see, and we were working in a coffee bar in the West End, and one weekend we were offered a job in Derby … the gentleman who booked us wanted to have a name, you know, something in the drifters and he said Harry Webb in the drifters and I said, Oh no, it's far too square So we all sat around pondering over cider and … the last few names that cropped up was Russ Clifford … they changed it round to Cliff Russet. And I said, well I like Cliff, but I definitely don't like Russet. So someone came up with the ingenious idea of calling me Cliff Richards with the S on the end, but we decided that knocking the S off would make it to Christian names and make it more easy to remember, you know.
The keepsakes
The luxury
Um, I think I take my guitar because even now whenever I want to relax or do anything myself, I play guitar.
Presenter asks
8:37Is there any particular event in your career that was the big turning point, the big break?
Oh, undoubtedly. … it just happened, Living Dahl. … it made such a difference, you know, it was a kind of a change in style and a slight breakaway. And I can't tell you what what a difference it made for me. I started getting letters from older people and From a blind school. And and it made just a world of difference.
Presenter asks
9:11But while you sing, you perform these rather frenzied movements. Do you rehearse these with each song, or is it a sort of spontaneous expression of how you feel?
No, it's all spontaneous because I don't think you can do this kind of thing by practicing it. It is literally just letting yourself go with the music or whatever comes, just happens. Um we have changed a wee bit and that is now we rehearse a movement that makes it slightly more professional. It's easier to watch to my group do movements and I join them sometimes and it's more we even you can call it a small sort of dance routine on stage.
Presenter asks
16:10What's for the future, Cliff?
Well, um the trend in music is changing very very rapidly and it's turning to ballads now but it's still the beat ballads, you know. And I'm hoping that we can we can come over with this. We have made about three or four ballads more than I usually do actually. … Beyond music, I'd like to make a hit in films if I possibly can. I've made two films. … But I haven't had a chance to really act, you know. In fact, the last time I was told to be myself with a different name. Doesn't help any. … I have one lined up for the end of January. It's A Thriller by Marjorie Addingham. … it's a far more concrete part. … But the producer promised me that when the when I read the script I c I could do something with it. But it's far more acting part than the others anyway.
“I've just turned twenty actually, just a few weeks back and I've just left my teens and I don't like it and I don't feel any older though, you know.”
“Elvis Presley influenced me as he influenced quite a few people, you know. And I used to try and look very much like him. I had sideburns and guitars and things.”
“I'd like to take Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley. The reason being is that it's meant more to me than anything else has in my in my life. Rock and roll that is not necessarily the right record. And whenever I play Bill Haley music it always brings to mind thousands of people and I think of jostling crowds and people jiving about and I think if you're alone, I think I'd like to think of lots and lots of people and that's why I take this one.”
“I think I take my guitar because even now whenever I want to relax or do anything myself, I play guitar.”