The History Of The Dave Clark Five

Dave Clark Five

Hollywood, 1993

http://www.daveclarkfive.com

REVIEW BY: David Bowling

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 08/06/2007

The Dave Clark Five, formed in 1962 and gone by 1970, were at one time thought to be serious rivals to the Beatles. Those pretensions of greatness quickly passed.

The legacy of the Dave Clark Five is that of an original British Invasion band which produced a string of excellent and memorable singles and, unfortunately, about a dozen or so forgettable albums, one reason they are not as well-remembered as the other invasion groups.my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

After disbanding in 1970, the The Dave Clark Five never reunited for a concert or album. Dave Clark, who owned the rights to the groups music, released no material for 23 years. Finally in 1993, The History Of The Dave Clark Five was released. This two-disc 52-song set covers all the highlights of the Five’s career. And like many singles bands, when all their best material is gathered in one place, the group shines.

The Five had a unique sound for the time period. It was Mike Smith’s organ and Dennis Payton’s sax that drove the sound of the group against the backdrop of Clark’s drums. Lenny Davidson and Rick Huxley’s guitars filled out the sound, rather than dominating it. Mike Smith was also on the great lost vocalists of the 1960s.

Uptempo rockers such as “Glad All Over,” “Can’t You See That She’s Mine,” “Do You Love Me,” “I Like It Like That” and  “Catch Us If You Can” are classic Dave Clark Five material. The History Of The Dave Clark Five also contains such lesser known gems such as “Look Before You Leap,” “Hurting Inside,” “Try Too Hard,” “Nineteen Days” and “Having A Wild Weekend.”

All the material has been taken from the original masters and cleaned up so that the sound is crystal clear. The History of The Dave Clark Five is a musical treat for old and new fans of the group. The release is just about the right length and includes the correct material.

In the final analysis, the Dave Clark Five may have gotten it right. They left the musical stage leaving their fans wanting more. The History Of The Dave Clark Five shows the better side of the British Invasion and is a great listen from a band that has been often overshadowed by its more successful counterparts.

Rating: A

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