Cliff Richard - Rare & Unseen

The gospel according to Saint Cliff

Not long after his full-blown – and much-publicised – conversion to Christianity in the mid-60s, Richard seriously considered turning his back on the entertainment industry to train as a teacher. We know this because Cliff tells us so in three separate interviews on this scattergun clips DVD.

A mop-up of TV appearances down the years, there’s a heavy weighting towards the singer’s religious thoughts, either in conversation with the late Russell Harty, or during a Q&A session at a public meeting. What little music features also leans towards the spiritual, Richard’s performances of What A Friend We Have In Jesus and When I Survey The Wondrous Cross testament to the commitment of his faith.

Elsewhere, there’s nothing even the casual fan might not already know, though Richard’s evasive response when Harty asks him about David Bowie and the sexual ambiguity of 70s stars is surprisingly forthright. “Man is man, woman is woman, and there’s a necessity for that,” he says before quickly changing the subject. A rare moment of genuine intrigue in an otherwise pedestrian series of interrogations.

2 stars 2 stars

Wienerworld | WNRD 2428

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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