Search - Clint Holmes :: Golden Classics

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roland88 | Duncanville, TX USA | 04/27/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Clint Holmes used to live and perform in the Washington, D.C. area. I saw him sing several times in a time period of approximately 1970-73. From the first time I saw him and every subsequent time, I thought he was the best pop male vocalist I had ever heard. He was and is an astonishing singer. Sometime during that period, I remember hearing that he had made a record and it would soon be getting airplay. I was very excited as to what might come. I figured maybe they'd get him bring some amazing Leonard Cohen or Bob Dylan cover to hit status (empowering an overlooked gem with a great voice), or maybe get Jimmy Webb or Burt Bacharach to pen something special for him. Anything seemed possible, because I'd seen him tackle many genres with ease. I was beginning to understand how Carly Simon felt with all that Anticipation!Then one day, I heard this cute song on the radio. On the chorus, it doubled the main vocalist's voice with a little kid's voice: "My name is Michael, I got a nickel, I got a nickel shiny and new...". It was "Playground In My Mind" - a cute, catchy, novelty song that did quite well. But wait! It was Clint Holmes!! Now I will admit, I liked the song O.K. I bought the single. But seriously (with tongue-in-cheek), when I first found out it was Clint Holmes, I thought it must have been a Communist plot! How could ANYONE plan on having this golden-throated Adonis of a performer release a... well, cheesy, novelty song... as his first record. How could this voice not take on an equally beautiful song, and clue the country in on the great things to come? Well, I don't know. The flip side, There's No Future In My Future, was better. Still a so-so song, but at least we could hear the man as an adult.When I first heard that Mr. Holmes had made a record, I was sure we were in for years of amazing records, where his voice would be the central treat, and where his voice would act as a vehicle for dozens of great songs. That didn't happen. Clint Holmes has gone far from unnoticed, though, and he still thrills audiences every time he opens his mouth. And I imagine many places he goes the irony of "Playground In My Mind" follows. It gets requested by someone who knows about it, and he does it because he's accommodating. Who knows, maybe he even digs the song. I don't know. For me, though, it was a wrench in the recording career of the best male vocal it has ever been my pleasure to hear... a bad choice that set up a stereotype beyond which limited minds could not go.The rest of the CD is made of tunes that do show off more of his voice. You definitely do not get the idea that this was an album made as one. In other words, it sounds like they took his old single and added material that probably happened at various times during his career... songs that probably were not released, but gave a way for the CD to be a CD. This is why my not-so-high CD rating. But I would never pass up the chance to buy this CD in any lifetime. It is a kind of chronicle of a wonderful voice, a wonderful entertainer. I urge you, if you ever get the chance, to hear this man live. You won't "get" what the deal is with "Playground In My mind" either. But you WILL hear a honey-dipped vocal that soothes your soul, and a performance with enough pop, soul, jazz and funk in it to help you get down and stay down! Some may remember Clint Holmes for two years on Entertainment Tonight. He was a "musical feature and event correspondent". People in NYC will remember his show on WWOR-TV called "New York at Night", where he was both the host and featured singer. He also interviewed guests who were celebrities in TV, film, music, and theater. He's been on many shows as a guest. There is apparently a newer album called "Edges", but I have not found it yet.Despite this not being a "great" album, it is a good way to get familiar with a voice that is always electrifying live. I don't know where his career will go next. He currently has a BET show, and he is always very busy. The truth is, so far, live performance is the place where the glory comes down on Clint Holmes. I do hope that his newer album manages to capture what is there. In any event, watch for the name. If it appears in your town, do yourself a solid and check it out. Oh... and if you happen to get to Vegas, Harrah's has named Clint Holmes "Entertainer of Choice for the Millennium," and he is now starring in "Takin' It Uptown" nightly in the main showroom. When you hear him live, you will long to have his essence on CD, and I just hope the powers that be are still preparing the way for more of Clint Holmes on record. Watch your record bins!"