The Dave Clark Five - Play Good Old Rock 'n' Roll

All Music Guide

In 1969, the Dave Clark Five had a British Top Ten hit single with a cover of Cat Mother's "Good Old Rock'n'Roll Medley." That was such a good idea that he tried it again in 1970 with a similar single, "More Good Old Rock'n'Roll Medley," which did manage to get into the UK Top Forty. Near the end of 1971 by which time the original Dave Clark Five had disbanded, though Clark was still putting out records with other musicians the budget LP Play Good Old Rock and Roll was issued in the UK, though it didn't appear in the US. Basically the album combined all the tracks that had appeared on both of those singles with a little extra material, namely "Reelin' and Rockin'," which had been a hit for the DC5 back in 1965. It all adds up to a short and, within the context of the Dave Clark Five's career, quite dispensable record, devoted as it is entirely to rock'n'roll oldies covers. Besides the medleys that had been featured on the 45s, you get covers of Buddy Holly's "Raining in My Heart"; Li...ttle Richard's "Lucille"; Elvis Presley's "Loving You" and "One Night"; Chuck Berry's "Memphis Tennessee"; and Lloyd Price's "Lawdy Miss Clawdy." Mike Smith does sing everything with commendable commitment, but otherwise these are routine late'60s hard rock interpretations that don't have much similarity to the mid'60s Dave Clark Five sound, other than of course "Reelin' and Rockin'." - Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide Read more Less