Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: I'm No Hero
Company: EMI
Catalog: OLE 350
Year: 1980
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: Korean press; gatefold sleeve
Available: 1
Price: $8.00
Okay, okay admitting you like some of Cliff Richard's material may not do much to enhance your reputation as a cutting edge rocker. That said, the man cut some excellent late-70s/early-80s pop and this 1980 collaboration with Alan Tarney is probably one of his tighter efforts.
With Tarney producing, writing most of the 11 tracks and providing bass, "I'm No Hero" won't single handedly change your life. That said, the album serves as a nice showcase for Richard's attractive voice and Tarney's penchant for crafting classic top-40 material. Sporting sterling melodies and enthusiastic performances, material such as "Take Another Look", the reggae-flavored "Anything I Can Do" and "In the Night" was better than 90% of the top-40 competition. The album also provided Richard with two of his biggest American singles. "Dreaming" b/w "Dynamite" (EMI catalog number 8057) and "A Little In Love" b/w "Everyman" (EMI catalog number 8068) both went top-40. (The album was originally released with a gatefold sleeve.)
"I'm No Hero" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Take Another Look (Alan Tarney) - 4:11
2.) Anything I Can Do (Alan Tarney) - 4:01
3.) A Little In Love (Alan Tarney) - 3:42
4.) Here (So Doggone Blue) (Alan Tarney) - 3:50
5.) Give A Little Bit More (Hill - Hodge) - 3:35
6.) In the Night (Bowkett) - 3:48
(side 2)
1.) In the Night (Bowkett) - 3:48
2.) I'm No Hero (Spencer - Alan Tarney) - 3:25
3.) Dreamin' (Leo Sayer - Alan Tarney) - 3:40
4.) A Heart Will Break (Spencer - Alan Tarney) - 3:59
5.) Everyman (Alan Tarney) - 4:11