The Jukebox Rebel

Now finding themselves out of favour in the States, the UK would now be graced with the new Dave Clark Five LP, “5 By 5 = GO!: 14 Titles By Dave Clark Five” (EMI Columbia SCX 6309), released in November 1968. Of course, in true DC5 fashion things were even a bit messy at that as three of tracks had previously featured on American LP’s - “A Little Bit Now” (Everybody Knows, 1968), “When I’m Alone” (Having A Wild Weekend, 1965) and “I Still Need You” (Satisfied By You, 1966). Most of the recordings are reportedly new although a few of the other titles are previously uneleased from the vaults, with recording dates unspecified. It’s a new “A-list” album by the skin of it’s teeth…

Side 1 (subtitled the GO!! side) opens with the outright soulful stomp of the aforementioned “A Little Bit Now” (a fine cover of the old Majors hit) and immediately moves on to a stoner rock vibe with “Maze Of Love”. confused.com already. All things to all men can never be done - their biggest folly in my un-humble opinion. “Return My Love” reverts to what you’d expect from the DC5 - a well driven, harmony laden stomp, this time dramatically led with a classically infused yet pumping piano. Jerry Lee will be proud. Denis Payton’s understated sax accompaniment really makes it happen on this one. He’s long been a bit of an unsung hero in this band. Generally, the GO!! side is their rockiest yet, keyboard infused blues, proper digging on The Yardbirds and The Doors. Having said that, the side closes with “The Red Balloon”, a good fun pop-bop, Scaffold-inspired cover of the tune done by Raymond Froggatt earlier in 1968. Could’ve been a Eurovison stormer! Amazingly, it’s Dave Clark who takes lead vocal for the first time in the band’s recorded history! A monumental moment in the DC5 story. And hey, whaddya know, the boy’s got a fair bit of character - and he can hold a tune.

Side 2 (subtitled the SLOW!! side) opens with a big production, saccharine laced cover of The Drifters “Please Stay”. There are two potential approaches here. a) Reach for the bucket and spewforth. b) Sing along lustily. You’ll feel better with b. That’s what I do ;-) It’s the old Engelbert-as-ironic approach. “Devoted To You” goes down the Flying Burrito Brothers route. I’m not too convinced. That ever-present underlying MOR threat rears it’s ugly head on “34-06” as the entirety of side 2 fails to inspire, eventually plummeting to Bachelors-like hell for the closing “No-One Can Break A Heart Like You”. What a strange old band they were to be sure…

The Jukebox Rebel
24–Mar–2013

A1	[02:45] The Dave Clark Five - A Little Bit Now (Edward Marshall, Jerry Ragovoy) Soul
A2	[02:37] The Dave Clark Five - Maze Of Love (Dave Clark, Mike Smith) Rock
A3	[02:56] The Dave Clark Five - Return My Love (Dave Clark, Mike Smith) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
A4	[02:37] The Dave Clark Five - Best Day’s Work (Dave Clark, Mike Smith) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
A5	[02:08] The Dave Clark Five - Who Do You Think You’re Talking To (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
A6	[02:10] The Dave Clark Five - Got Love If You Want It (Brian Hugg, Mike Hugg) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
A7	[03:02] The Dave Clark Five - The Red Balloon (Raymond Froggatt) Pop
B1	[03:17] The Dave Clark Five - Please Stay (Burt Bacharach, Bob Hilliard) Pop Ballad
B2	[02:53] The Dave Clark Five - Devoted To You (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson) Country
B3	[02:06] The Dave Clark Five - 34-06 (Dave Clark, Mike Smith) Pop Ballad
B4	[02:47] The Dave Clark Five - Away From The Noises (Dave Clark, Denis Payton) Songwriter
B5	[02:30] The Dave Clark Five - When I’m Alone (Dave Clark, Mike Smith) Pop Ballad
B6	[02:21] The Dave Clark Five - I Still Need You (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson) Pop Ballad
B7	[02:36] The Dave Clark Five - No-One Can Break A Heart Like You (Les Reed, Jackie Rae) Pop Ballad

ratings by TJR