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Worcester based singer/songwriter Clive John has built himself
a solid and ever growing following of dedicated fans with his
performances at country music clubs and festivals around the U.K.
Since the introduction of his emotive "In A Whisper" in
2000, which rocket to the top of the EMS charts, Clive has four
albums of his own compositions under his belt and has seen several
more cuts sitting pretty high on the EMS chart.
Clive has now released his fifth album…Impressions that
stands out from the pack in as much as it is the first album the
young songwriter has released that isn't all his own compositions.
Though a songwriter may produce a string of lovely and interesting
songs, audiences seem to enjoy hearing something popular and
familiar form an artist. With Impressions Clive has included several
covers of the popular songs that he includes in his live
performances. Ideally titled, Impressions offers a candid snapshot
of Clive's musical influences interlaced with a selection of new
songs from his own pen.
Many country fans like myself were influenced and drawn
to the country music genre by Johnny Cash during our youth
and Clive sets the ball rolling on 
Impressions with a singular cover of Cash's classic
"Folsom Prison Blues".
Along with being a top-rate songwriter and vocalist, Clive
is also an accomplished guitarist and shows off his prowess
on several cuts from the album. A keen interpreter of emotional
desolation, Clive effortlessly covers Faron Young's heart-rending
#1 hit "Hello Walls"
from 1961, one of the first compositions written by Willie
Nelson to be recorded by a major artist. With the mention
of Willie Nelson, Clive also includes a poignant cover of
Willie's "Funny How Time Slips
Away" with just the stark accompaniment of an
acoustic guitar. Also to be found on
Impressions is a fine version of Hank Thompson's
1951 super-hit "The Wild Side
Of Life".
Offering a nod to his own Irish heritage, Clive John has also
included his delicate interpretations of the traditional
"Carrickfergus" and "Danny Boy" alongside the
Furey's "Sweet Sixteen" and the much-loved and unfading
"Fields Of Athenry".
We must not overlook Clive's own mastery of songwriting with
the inclusion of five of his own previously unrecorded songs.
"Fairytales" takes a look at the how a child grows into a
man and the hopes and desires that he desperately hangs on to can
often turn to disenchantment. A virtual love-song comes with
"Where The Heart Is", though these dreams are utterly
shattered later as we see the pace pick up and it comes clear that a
marriage may not always seem what it looks from the outside, as our
singer strives to breaks free from the woman who may look like a
"Butterfly", but really has a more baleful side to her
appearance.
Though the covers held here have been recorded time and again
over the years in many forms, Clive John imparts a simple and honest
reworking to a list of classics from yesteryear. With his own
self-penned songs ranking high, therefore it is with great affection
and much nostalgia that Clive presents a mixed bag that will surely
have the listener comfortably sitting back and listening to the
clean-cut Impressions he has created!!! |
