BCB's 100 Songs: Tony Clarke - 'The Entertainer'

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fange
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BCB's 100 Songs: Tony Clarke - 'The Entertainer'

Postby fange » 09 Feb 2018, 14:59



A top 40 US pop hit in '65, it's not often mentioned these days but it's one of Chess' best '60s soul singles for my money.

There's something about songs that manage to nail that special mix of elation and sadness, delight and pain, that hit me right where I live. 'Tears of a Clown' had it, and so does 'The Entertainer' - that peek behind life's curtain, the hurt inside that can't be seen (all too fitting for Clarke himself).

The mid-tempo groove and arrangement (by the giant Phil Wright) has that gorgeous floating quality, light as a feather, which clashes with the often biting bitterness of the lyrics. The organ and guitar touches are deceptively simple yet wonderful, and oh man those handclaps are such a heavenly sound.

They'll never know, go on with the show,
'cause you're the entertainer, the entertainer.
Last edited by fange on 10 Feb 2018, 02:48, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: BCB's 100 Songs: Tony Clarke - 'The Entertainer'

Postby Muskrat » 10 Feb 2018, 01:38



Things that a fella can't forget...

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Re: BCB's 100 Songs: Tony Clarke - 'The Entertainer'

Postby fange » 10 Feb 2018, 02:46

Good stuff, though not quite at the same level. 'Landslide' is excellent.
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Re: BCB's 100 Songs: Tony Clarke - 'The Entertainer'

Postby The Modernist » 10 Feb 2018, 10:17

It's a great track that I'd slightly forgotten about. It's the effortless quality I love about stuff like this, it just flows so smoothly.
Nice one Ange.


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