{"title":"Richard Clapton","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"main-street-jive-with-bonus-tracks","title":"Main Street Jive (with Bonus Tracks)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRichard Clapton\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of Australia’s foremost singer\/songwriters, paving the way for subsequent generations of songwriters to write about the experience of being Australian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen \u003cstrong\u003eRichard Clapton\u003c\/strong\u003e released his third album, \u003cem\u003eMain Street Jive\u003c\/em\u003e, at the time it seemed like a letdown, a pale imitation of his hit album \u003cem\u003eGirls on the Avenue\u003c\/em\u003e. Yet on reflection, it might be more consistent than we suspected.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMusically, 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 (\u003cem\u003e“Kickin’ the Moon Around”\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e“Islands of the Heart”\u003c\/em\u003e) and mid-tempo pop (\u003cem\u003e“Soldier of Fortune”\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e“Casanova’s Got the Blues”\u003c\/em\u003e) might have been the sticking point but they’re actually great songs so it elevates things appreciably.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe highlights are the uptempo single \u003cem\u003e“Suit Yourself”\u003c\/em\u003e and the absolutely gorgeous, melodic soul of \u003cem\u003e“Need a Visionary”\u003c\/em\u003e while the hidden gem is tough rocker \u003cem\u003e“Factory Life”\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003cstrong\u003eClapton\u003c\/strong\u003e was great at relating tales of the down-trodden or the down at heart, so \u003cem\u003e“Factory Life”\u003c\/em\u003e is his plea to a friend to search for a better life - “so 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 life”. It’s close to the heartland rock of someone like Bruce Springsteen but is still clearly and distinctly \u003cstrong\u003eRichard Clapton\u003c\/strong\u003eesque.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe soundtrack from \u003cem\u003eHighway One\u003c\/em\u003e (1976) included the single \u003cem\u003e\"Capricorn Dancer\"\u003c\/em\u003e, which reached #40 in early 1977 and remains a concert staple, plus \u003cem\u003eBabe Rainbow\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eDeep Water\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bad Reputation","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":51948576964939,"sku":"R5607-7197","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Richard_Clapton_-_Richard_Clapton_0a6ec79b-4af5-4660-acbc-b94f67c35a9c.jpg?v=1752236581"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/richard-clapton.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}