The quintessential rock/dance album
Louise Lacaille | Amersham, UK | 05/08/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the quintessential rock/dance album and I wish you found such a consummate brilliant rock n roll sound more often in today's charts. What a stunning, gorgeous, incredible voice and what a fantastic instrumental mix, combining the best of the twang of the fifties rock n roll sound with the best of the eighties funky fantasy electronic sound. "Rock Connection" represents a very successful attempt to fuse Cliff's rock n roll roots with the eighties high-energy disco sound. Musicians John Clark, Mark Jenner, Alan Park, Dave Cook and Stuart Tosh give Cliff rocking backing tracks to die for. He offers a blend of rock n roll covers (none straight nicks, all fresh, re-arranged and re-invigorated) with some very imaginative, exciting and inspired original songs. His voice has the innate funkiness, flexibility, expression and sensuality that most would kill for. He perfects here a complete rounded rock sound; not rough, gravel-throated and uncontrolled - but crystalline, smooth, sleek, slick, and sexy. He curls himself around a lyric. Song quality and versatility this album has in spades also: "Heart User" is creamy, tangy and seductive, with a driving beat. Great lyric...a new take on the lovesong theme.
"Willie And The Hand Jive"...cutting edge electronics blended in with real instruments...with a hint of rap at the end as Cliff tells his own rock n roll story.
"Lovers And Friends"...fantastic rock mix...just drives along...brill.
"Never Be Anyone Else But You"...gorgeous richly harmonic ballad...so Everly brothers at their best...sumptuously beautiful.
"La Gonave"...Profoundly moving funky rocker with a deeply stirring lyric and great dance beat about the deprived Haiti island which Cliff visited on behalf of Tearfund of which he is vice President.
"Over You"...also very creamy, great vocal, and very funky sound.
"Shooting From The Heart"...mellow and delicious.
"Learning How To Rock n Roll"...fast, furious, fun, and fabulous
"Lucille"...very sophisticated, dark and soulful, bluesy...pure genius.
"Be Bop A Lula"...Cliff shows off that to-die-for sleek falsetto...scrumptious...feels like a sheet of satin...sexy, enticing performance with a part rock, part electro-fantasy, backing track. Sensational. Worth the entire price of the cd.
"Donna"...soft and jazzy...moody, groovy and magnificent.
"Dynamite"...very electronic, with sultry, husky-sweet vocal...quite steamy.
"She Means Nothing To Me"...marvellous duet with Phil Everly, fantastic guest musicians including Mark Knopler; wonderfully ethereal close harmonies...sounds even better perhaps than the Everlys singing together.
"Makin' History"...sultry rocker...great beat, groovy...blend of the Cliff ballad voice and the Cliff heavy rock voice. Sensational.But that's not all because they've added six incredible bonus tracks, most of which which were originally on the special edition double LP "Silver/Rock n Roll Silver". As I only have "Silver" on cd, I've really been savouring these."Move It": a faithful to the original but slightly mellower re-recording of Cliff's first hit, ultra sultry, with out-of-thisworld guitar and a sexy re-mix.
"Teddy Bear"...this one really surprised me as I've never liked the original, though I like Elvis' music...I love this soft acoustic mix; it's richly beautiful.
"Little Bitty Pretty One"...warm and floaty, gorgeous.
"Tutti Fruiti"...more Cliff falsetto to savour, ripping and rocking, this one will knock you out.
"I'll Mend Your Broken Heart"...another gem of a duet with Phil Everly, previously only available on a Phil album. Not only do you get the heavenly harmonies, it's such a wonderful song, that will bring tears to your eyes.With 20 stunning songs, this cd represents outstanding value for money. It has soul, creativity, genius and depth. It is just magical. I love it very deeply, plus the other eleven remasters in the series, and I would recommend you order them now."
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1