There have been some very peculiar Cliff Richard compilations released over the decades, but My Songs deserves some kind of award, if only for imagination. Never regarded as a tunesmith in his own right and rarely even acknowledging his songwriting himself, Richard has nevertheless written (or co-written) a number of his own recordings, including a handful that rank among his all-time greatest. "Bachelor Boy," "On the Beach," and "Don't Talk to Him" in the early days, "31st of February Street," "Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile," and "Hold Us Together" in later years -- are all firm audience favorites, probably without anybody even glancing at the writing credits. My Songs remedies that oversight by rounding up no less than 19 Richard originals, the aforementioned among them. Not every inclusion is a stunning achievement -- "Love on (Shine On)," "Gonave," and "Lindsay Jane" always did rank among the weaker cuts on their respective albums. But "Fireside Song," "Over You," and, best of all, "I'll Love You Forever Today" are understated gems that revel in the limelight that this album serves up; besides, in the world of Cliff Richard compilation albums, it's great to hear something other than the biggest hits.
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