Why No Available Dave Clark Five CDs?

[firstbassman]

Anyone know why there are no current DC5 “greatest hits” compilation CDs available in the States?

Is it another one of those “legal” issues or just lack of sales?

You’d especially think that there would be a publicity relevant tie-in with the R&RHoF induction.

Thanks!

[doctorwho]

At one time, there was some sort of basic Greatest Hits CD, as well as an Anthology-style multiple CD issue. I didn't buy either one, the former because it was one of those cheapo releases (no remastering etc.), the latter because it didn't even contain all of the B-sides of the 45s (Good Time Woman wasn't on it, and its one of the best B-sides ever, IMO) even though it was, IIRC, produced by Dave Clark himself.

The band definitely deserves to be represented in the CD world.

[iamthebassman]

I have 2-disk Greatest Hits set that's quite nice, got it several years ago tho'.

[leftybass]

Anyone know why there are no current DC5 “greatest hits” compilation CDs available in the States?

Is it another one of those “legal” issues or just lack of sales?

You’d especially think that there would be a publicity relevant tie-in with the R&RHoF induction.

Thanks!

Actually, that is what I heard as well---legalities abound...One guy in the band owns it all and won't do anything...at least this is my recollection....

[rickosound]

For once, we know a little bit about the subject. Probably not a hot topic for this forum, although Lenny Davidson, their guitarist, occasionally held a Rickenbacker, but here goes...

The business dealings of this band, which is what you are asking about, were atypical from the beginning. Dave Clark was an astute businessman pretending to be a drummer. He was the band's manager and essentially their producer.
At the outset, Clark (having studied the subject, and fully appreciating the value of a hit single to a record company) negotiated a better recording contract than almost all of the British Invasion bands, including the Beatles (although they sold many more records). Somewhere in the process he acquired the exclusive rights to their recordings. We don't know who owns the publishing rights. We would assume other band members retained their songwriting royalties.
In 1970, Clark disbanded the group, supposedly against the wishes of the other four members. In effect, he liquidated the business.
There are articles that suggest he then declined several opportunities to regroup the band during the 1970's and 1980's. In roughly 1993, possibly in conjunction with their 30th anniversary, he did agree to release a new "Greatest Hits" package, which is probably what is mentioned above. This was done on a two disc set, but the songs were all in mono, even though the original recordings had been done for the most part in stereo. The CDs included a booklet with some interesting photos, but overall was probably a disappointing presentation.
Two months ago, to honor the RRHOF induction, Clark posted 27 songs on iTunes. This may be a reissuing of the 1993 (or whenever) discs. We purchased "Try Too Hard", and 7 other songs, and they were al in mono, so that makes us suspicious. We can't tell if they were remastered. They come with a booklet. We don't know if it's different from the earlier booklet we mentioned.
As most people know, they also made a movie in 1965, called, "Catch Us If You Can" in England, but given the lame title of "Having A Wild Weekend" in the US. Keeping with Clark's strange business decisions (and he was in charge of this project), it was a rather sad movie, about business controlling the arts (which, ironically, is what Clark did), and did not portray the group as a rock and roll band. The critics liked it. Fans didn't, but it was reissued last year on DVD if you can find it. It does feature their music, but just as a backdrop to the movie.
There is still a debate as to whether they played their instruments in the studio. Their music is what it is. There does seem to be a consensus that Mike Smith, their lead vocalist, was possibly the best singer of hard, raunchy rock that came out of England during this period. Better perhaps than Lennon, who was also pretty good at it.
Like the Monkees, for entirely different reasons, this is an interesting band to study from the business side. In both cases, the music turned out to be okay.

[royclough]

Here is some news about pending releases


link

[firstbassman]

Thanks guys and thanks Roy for the update!

I just knew there had to be a tie-in with the Hall of Fame.

Can't wait til the Fall!

[doctorwho]

Ditto!

[lennon211]

Thanks for the info on their CD's. I've got that Hollywood Records release along with some of the 45's that they released in '93 as well of some of the singles as double a-sides. I held off on getting some of the discs with the doubled albums on them that were done for the international market, and now it looks like it was a good decision. Hopefully they will materialize in the fall. I'd like to see some other reissues of the Dave Clark owned material including the old Ready, Steady, Go tv program that he owns the rights to. He released some of that on two volumes on laserdisc in the 80's, but it would be nice to see in on DVD.

[royclough]

A friend of mine Gary Jackson,interviewed the man himself last week, the interview now uploaded to you tube

The links are -

Part 1
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eehPgQ2Wa9I

Part 2
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oLJ93w2CB-g

[doctorwho]

Thanks for those links, Roy!

[royclough]

Watch the man himself here from interview on Tuesday 21/10/08. (10/21/08)