Cliff Richard - 50th Anniversary 'And They Said It Woul

	£		63
	$		83

This kind of compilation is probably 20-25 years long overdue considering the amount of material Cliff Richard has recorded especially the rarer stuff. In the middle age of CD before downloads were even thinkable, Cliff's peers like Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers rare material have been available for many many years already. However EMI have finally succumbed to the requests of fans around the world of this fitting tribute to a 50th anniversary rare material CD Box Set. Well done EMI!

CD 1 Title 'The Early Years' has relative music from Cliff's early Rock n' roll years. There's a first time Stereo release of the single version b-side called 'Willie and the hand jive' and also two 'stereo versions' alternate takes on 'Fall in love with you' and 'Dynamite'. Interesting hearing them in stereo sound. Don't think these tracks have ever been release around the world in this format. Personally I found the CD Sound quality 10/10

CD2 Title 'Rare B-Sides' is one of the cream of the crops in this box-set.
All the tracks are in stereo except 'Say You're Mine' 'True True Lovin' 'Just Another Guy' and 'Occasional Rain' which is a shame really because 'Just Another Guy' has been released in stereo on overseas compilations. 'Time Flies' and 'Annabella Umbrella' were b-side tracks to 'Silvery Rain' from 1971. 'Pigeon' my all time favourite B-side appears in Stereo for the first time ever on this CD! 'Pigeon' was the b-side to 'Flying Machine', a fab 'feel good' upbeat 1971 track. Remastered CD sound quality on these 2008 tracks are excellent 10/10

CD 3 Title `Rare EP Tracks'. Again some first time stereo releases. And some notably Disney tracks that were intended for release back in 1965. Sound quality on this 2008 remasters is 10/10

CD 4 Title `Stage and Screen'.
Typical tracks from Cliff's movies and stage appearances, however the CD sound quality is from the mid 90s/early 2000s remasters which sound electronically synthesized and echoer. Shame really because compare to the 2008 remasters for the B-sides CD you can note the quality of the sound. I give this CD sound quality 5/10

CD 5 Title `The Hits, the number 1s around the world'. Where is `Flying Machine' `Early in the morning’? These Hit songs were number 1s around the world!
Tracks 1-15 are again mid 90s/early 2000s remasters and are in mono!!! Why! Tracks 4-15 including `The next time' `constantly' 'Summer holiday'... were recorded in stereo. These tracks sound like cleaned up mono 7" vinyl synthesized pseudo stereo quality. I rate the sound quality 3/10

CD 6 Title 'Faith and Inspiration' A great selection of songs, with some classic standouts. Sound quality I found to be 10/10

CD 7 Title `Live in Japan 72'. This 1972 recording is totally flawless. Personally for me this is the ultimate live recording Cliff has made. The songs just keep on coming. Features Olivia Newton-John throughout on one of the backing vocals. It was then released in the Far East only and selected tracks on a budget LP in the UK in the mid-70s. This 2008 remasters CD sound quality is just breathtakingly brilliant!
10/10

CD 8 Title `Lost and found from the archives'. This is interesting music that could have made it on album tracks or b-sides. Some song titles were used in his early 1970s TV shows which Cliff also made studio recordings which appear on this CD. Personally I found `Run for shelter' and `Song of yesterday' are great standouts from this CD 8. Again this 2008 remasters CD sound quality is 10/10

Interesting each CD track in this box set have been diligently selected particularly the b-sides that have not appeared on CD before. Those that have are not included.

Also comes with an exclusive gold plated commemerative coin and a 10" 78 of Cliff's first ever single from 1958 - 'Schoolboy Crush/Move It'

The 12" book that completes this box set is lavishly superb! Well illustrated year by year account with a photographic discography. And tons of wonderful FULL COLOUR pictures throughout. This is the box set for the true Cliff fan.