Main Street Jive (with Bonus Tracks)
Richard Clapton is one of Australiaās foremost singer/songwriters, paving the way for subsequent generations of songwriters to write about the experience of being Australian.
When Richard Clapton released his third album, Main Street Jive, at the time it seemed like a letdown, a pale imitation of his hit album Girls on the Avenue. Yet on reflection, it might be more consistent than we suspected.
Musically, the sound is moving away from his earlier country rock or folk rock modes towards a generally more mainstream rock sound. The concentration on soulful ballads (āKickinā the Moon Aroundā, āIslands of the Heartā) and mid-tempo pop (āSoldier of Fortuneā, āCasanovaās Got the Bluesā) might have been the sticking point but theyāre actually great songs so it elevates things appreciably.
The highlights are the uptempo single āSuit Yourselfā and the absolutely gorgeous, melodic soul of āNeed a Visionaryā while the hidden gem is tough rocker āFactory Lifeā. Clapton was great at relating tales of the down-trodden or the down at heart, so āFactory Lifeā is his plea to a friend to search for a better life - āso tired of the factory life / trying to escape it on Saturday night / pick yourself up and open your eyes / get yourself out of the factory lifeā. Itās close to the heartland rock of someone like Bruce Springsteen but is still clearly and distinctly Richard Claptonesque.
The soundtrack from Highway One (1976) included the single "Capricorn Dancer", which reached #40 in early 1977 and remains a concert staple, plus Babe Rainbow and Deep Water.
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Richard Clapton is one of Australiaās foremost singer/songwriters, paving the way for subsequent generations of songwriters to write about the experience of being Australian.
When Richard Clapton released his third album, Main Street Jive, at the time it seemed like a letdown, a pale imitation of his hit album Girls on the Avenue. Yet on reflection, it might be more consistent than we suspected.
Musically, the sound is moving away from his earlier country rock or folk rock modes towards a generally more mainstream rock sound. The concentration on soulful ballads (āKickinā the Moon Aroundā, āIslands of the Heartā) and mid-tempo pop (āSoldier of Fortuneā, āCasanovaās Got the Bluesā) might have been the sticking point but theyāre actually great songs so it elevates things appreciably.
The highlights are the uptempo single āSuit Yourselfā and the absolutely gorgeous, melodic soul of āNeed a Visionaryā while the hidden gem is tough rocker āFactory Lifeā. Clapton was great at relating tales of the down-trodden or the down at heart, so āFactory Lifeā is his plea to a friend to search for a better life - āso tired of the factory life / trying to escape it on Saturday night / pick yourself up and open your eyes / get yourself out of the factory lifeā. Itās close to the heartland rock of someone like Bruce Springsteen but is still clearly and distinctly Richard Claptonesque.
The soundtrack from Highway One (1976) included the single "Capricorn Dancer", which reached #40 in early 1977 and remains a concert staple, plus Babe Rainbow and Deep Water.
