| features in: (B-list) Album Chart of 1965 ● (B-list) Album Chart of the 1960s |
Following in the footsteps of the Beatles and Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Dave Clark Five released a feature film, in co-operation with Warner Brothers, called “Catch Us If You Can” which premiered in the UK in April 1965. (In August it would re-titled as “Having A Wild Weekend” in the United States.) The film follows stuntman Steve (Dave Clark) as he and his model girlfriend hit the road for some crazy adventures, making time throughout for a few musical numbers. Lenny Davidson is the only one of the DC5 who doesn’t utter a single word in the movie, usually because the others don’t let him get a word in edgeways. Before shooting commenced a producer of Catch Us If You Can contacted the BBFC in January 1965 for advice on a draft screenplay of the film that was to be directed by “newcomer” John Boorman. The first response to the screenplay picked up on various potential classification issues. References to drugs, suggestive dialogue and “shots of nudity or titillating semi-nudity” were flagged, as was a scene featuring “Guy driving a car with his eyes shut. This might give dangerous ideas to some of the young.” A note on dialogue needing to avoid reference to “queers” is also offered. The Sexual Offences Act 1967, which decriminalised certain homosexual acts, was still some two years away at this time. Dinah is a model whose face appears in an ad campaign for meat. While shooting a TV commercial, she and Steve, one of the stunt men, run off together. The advertising executives use their disappearance to generate more publicity for… meat. The film concerns itself with the frailty of personal relationships, the flimsiness of dreams, and the difficulty of maintaining spontaneity, authenticity and integrity in a stage-managed “society of the spectacle.”
The soundtrack LP (EMI Columbia 33SX 1756) was released in the UK in July 1965 and featured 7 brand new tracks, 3 of which were made especially to feature in the film - “Catch Us If You Can”, “On The Move” and “Sweet Memories”. The album has “b” status as, predictably, and messily, 5 tracks are compiled from previous U.S. LP’s - “Long Ago” and “I Cried Over You” (American Tour, 1964), “I Can’t Stand It” (Coast To Coast, 1965) and “Your Turn To Cry” and “Hurting Inside” (Weekend In London, 1965). After the powerful one-two opening of “Catch Us If You Can” and “On The Move” the album fails to maintain momentum. The American version proved to be rougher and tougher. But at least Britain got first glimpse of the action this time around. Cheers Dave, what a diamond geezer…
The Jukebox Rebel
22–Jul–2008
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [01:56]  The Dave Clark Five - Catch Us If You Can (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson) Pop |
| A2 | [02:22]  The Dave Clark Five - On The Move (Dave Clark, Denis Payton) Proto-Punk |
| A3 | [02:51]  The Dave Clark Five - If You Come Back (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson) Pop |
| A4 | [02:13]  The Dave Clark Five - Long Ago (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson) Pop Ballad |
| A5 | [02:13] The Dave Clark Five - Anytime You Want Love (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson) Pop |
| A6 | [01:34]  The Dave Clark Five - I Can’t Stand It (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson) Pop |
| B1 | [03:12]  The Dave Clark Five - Your Turn To Cry (Dave Clark, Mike Smith) Pop |
| B2 | [02:38] The Dave Clark Five - Hurting Inside (Dave Clark, Mike Smith) Pop |
| B3 | [02:24]  The Dave Clark Five - Don’t Be Taken In (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson) Pop |
| B4 | [03:36]  The Dave Clark Five - Don’t You Realise (Dave Clark, Mike Smith) Cerebral Pop |
| B5 | [02:27]  The Dave Clark Five - I Cried Over You (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson) Pop |
| B6 | [02:42]  The Dave Clark Five - Sweet Memories (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson) Pop Ballad |
