ALLAN CLARKE - I WASN'T BORN YESTERDAY (1978, ATLANTIC)
Allan Clarke - vocals
Jay Graydon, Ben Benay - electric and rhythm guitars
Tony Berg- electric and acoustic guitars
Randy Bishop- acoustic guitar
Mike Staton- steel guitar
David Wolfert- electric guitar
Tom Hensley - acoustic and electric piano
Robbie Buchanan - synthesizers, organ
Dean Web - mandolin
Mike Porcaro - bass
David Kemper - drums

Background
1978 was a busy year for The Hollies which saw the release of their excellent 'A Crazy Steal' LP, numerous reissues of their early albums and 'best of' collections as well as the fifth solo album from lead vocalist and founding member Allan Clarke. Always with an eye on a solo career, Clarke left The Hollies in 1971 just as the group's major hit 'Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress' began to break. As the story goes, Clarke wanted to release the single as a solo project, but the label would have none of it, which probably had something to do with his departure. Returning to the fold in 1973, Clarke continued to release solo albums of which 'I Wasn't Born Yesterday' is widely considered one of his best.

The Songs
For the casual listener an Allan Clarke solo album might not seem that much different from a Hollies album, but most die-hards, including yours truly can hear the more experimental and rockier side of Clarke's personality. Produced by Spencer Proffer, Clarke found his voice with this album, especially so on the title track (co-written with Proffer and Randy Bishop) and the beautiful and countrified 'I'm Betting My Life On You'. 'No Prisoner Taken (Light Brigade)' kicks off side two and again rocks heavier than the majority of The Hollies catalog, but the jewel of the album is the minor hit single '(I Will Be Your) Shadow In The Street'. A gorgeous and catchy tune in the same 70's singer-songwriter style as Burton Cummings 'Stand Tall' and Barry Manilow's 'Looks Like We Made It'.

In Summary
'I Wasn't Born Yesterday' is a fine record from one of rock music's original talents who sadly retired from the music biz in 1999. His solo catalog as well as that of The Hollies naturally receives my highest recommendation, but if you were to buy just one Allan Clarke album this should be it.

Track Listing:
01 I Wasn't Born Yesterday
02 Hope
03 New Blood
04 I'm Betting My Life On You
05 The Man Who Manufactures Daydreams
06 No Prisioner Taken (Light Brigade)
07 (I Will Be Your) Shadow In The Street
08 Light Of My Smiles
09 Who's Goin' Out The Back Door?
10 Off The Record

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