Reviewed by Tony Cummings

With three or four biographies about Cliff on my bookshelf ranging from the good Cliff Richard: The Biography by Steve Turner to the mediocre My Life, My Way by Cliff himself, I approached this work with limited enthusiasm. The basic facts about his life are well documented and, being a rather private man who in the hundreds (possibly thousands) of interviews he has given down the decades, he seemed very reluctant to reveal his inner thoughts and feelings. With this book though, skilled ghost writer Ian Gittins has done what few others have managed, got Cliff talking and reflecting in luminous transparency. So, whether you're an old fan wanting fresh insights and anecdotes into Cliff's rise from Britain's skiffle scene to become the UK's rock'n'rolling answer to Elvis, or a younger music lover wanting to know how Cliff felt when the police and the Beeb turned on the iconic superstar with savage injustice, this is the book for you. Reviewing it Record Collector wrote, "Richard never brags (though he has every right to) about his standing as a pioneer, instead painting broader, evocative pictures about the burgeoning musical revolution in which he played a crucial role. He's equally vivid in his recollections as he makes the transition to all round showbiz personality, the flack he faced over the conviction of his Christian faith, and the harrowing period just a few years ago when confronted with false allegations about his private life." A book I can thoroughly recommend.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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