| Try Too Hard | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 31 May 1966 [1] | |||
| Genre | Pop rock, beat | |||
| Length | 20:08 | |||
| Label | Epic LN 24198 | |||
| Producer | Dave Clark [2] | |||
| The Dave Clark Five US chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Try Too Hard | ||||
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Try Too Hard is the eighth American album by the English rock band the Dave Clark Five. It was released on 31 May 1966 on the Epic label. [1] It followed the Top 20 hit of the same name. The album reached No. 77 on the Billboard 200 album chart and No. 25 in Cashbox.
At a time when rival groups such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys were increasingly experimenting with sound in the recording studio, the Dave Clark Five also offered a sonically modern album. It tried to combine rock songs with edgy guitar ("I Really Love You", "It Don't Feel Good") with sophisticated melodies in different genre styles ("Looking In", "Ever Since You've Been Away", "Today"). [3]
The album cover art shows the band in a Jaguar E-Type owned by Dave Clark. [4] He also appeared with the same car in the Catch Us If You Can movie and the band posing in the car on the cover of the UK soundtrack album from that film.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [5] |
The album was released on 31 May 1966 in mono and stereo versions. [1] The electronically re-channeled stereo version makes the whole album sound more psychedelic. But Dave Clark was not happy with the label when he found out since it was originally recorded in true stereo. [6] Try Too Hard album was less successful than its predecessors, being the band's first album not to make the Top 50 Billboard LP Charts, but still hit No. 77.
The album has not been released in the UK. In Canada, it was retitled "At the Scene" and included a hit single of the same name.
Billboard magazine wrote in the official review, "With the group's recent singles hit featured as the title tune, the album will sell well in the teen market. There are only 10 cuts in the package, but they're all solid, teen-aimed rockers. I Know and I Never Will are outstanding." [7] Cashbox magazine wrote, "Self-penned (that is group penned) tunes, that become big hits, is the forte of the Dave Clark Five and this set typifies that phenomenon. With the lead track being the group’s most recent smash and the other eleven being in that same bag that has long pleased the quintet’s innumerable devotees, this set should be a top-notch sales item." [8]
In his AllMusic retrospective review of the release, Bruce Eder wrote, "DC5 would allow their music to evolve. From the crisp piano chords and lean, restrained guitar and sax sound, as well as the upbeat tone of Try Too Hard there was change in the air from the opening seconds of this LP." [3]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Try Too Hard" | Dave Clark, Mike Smith | 2:10 |
| 2. | "Today" | Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson | 2:10 |
| 3. | "I Never Will" | Dave Clark, Denis Payton | 1:54 |
| 4. | "Looking In" | Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson | 2:03 |
| 5. | "Ever Since You've Been Away" | Dave Clark, Denis Payton | 1:34 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Somebody Find A New Love" | Dave Clark, Mike Smith | 2:06 |
| 2. | "I Really Love You" | Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson | 1:53 |
| 3. | "It Don't Feel Good" | Dave Clark, Denis Payton | 1:41 |
| 4. | "Scared Of Falling In Love" | Dave Clark, Mike Smith | 1:56 |
| 5. | "I Know" | Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson | 2:38 |
The Dave Clark Five, also known as the DC5, were an English rock and roll band formed in 1958 in Tottenham, London. Drummer Dave Clark served as the group's leader, producer and co-songwriter. In January 1964, they had their first UK top-ten single, "Glad All Over", which knocked the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" off the top of the UK Singles Chart. It peaked at No. 6 in the United States in April 1964. Although this was their only UK No. 1, they topped the US chart in December 1965, with their cover of Bobby Day's "Over and Over". Their other UK top-ten hits include "Bits and Pieces", "Can't You See That She's Mine", "Catch Us If You Can", "Everybody Knows", "The Red Balloon", "Good Old Rock 'n' Roll", and a version of Chet Powers' "Get Together".
Beatles '65 is an album by the English rock band the Beatles that was issued in the United States and Canada in December 1964. Released as the North American alternative to Beatles for Sale, it was the band's fifth studio album culled by Capitol Records in the US from the Beatles' EMI releases. The LP was also issued in West Germany on the Odeon label.
Having a Rave Up with the Yardbirds, or simply Having a Rave Up, is the second American album by English rock group the Yardbirds. It was released in November 1965, eight months after Jeff Beck replaced Eric Clapton on guitar. It includes songs with both guitarists and reflects the group's blues rock roots and their early experimentations with psychedelic and hard rock. The title refers to the driving "rave up" arrangement the band used in several of their songs.
"Time of the Season" is a song by the British rock band the Zombies, featured on their 1968 album Odessey and Oracle. It was written by keyboard player Rod Argent and recorded at Abbey Road Studios in September 1967. Over a year after its original release, the track became a surprise hit in the United States, rising to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Cashbox chart. It has become one of the Zombies' most popular and recognizable songs, and an iconic hit of 1960s psychedelia.
Kinda Kinks is the second studio album by the English rock band the Kinks. It was released on 5 March 1965 in the United Kingdom by Pye Records. The original United States release, issued by Reprise Records on 11 August 1965, omits three tracks and substitutes the singles "Set Me Free" and "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy". Recorded and released within two weeks after returning from a tour in Asia, Ray Davies and the band were not satisfied with the production.
And Then... Along Comes the Association is the debut studio album by the Association, released on Valiant Records in July 1966. It became one of the top-selling albums in America, peaking at number five, and remains the Association's most successful album release, except for their Greatest Hits compilation. The album's success was primarily credited to the inclusion of their two U.S. hits "Along Comes Mary" and "Cherish", which peaked at number seven and number one respectively on the Billboard Hot 100; "Cherish" was number one on Billboard's Top 40 list for three weeks starting on September 24, 1966.
Living in the Past is a double LP compilation album by Jethro Tull, released in 1972. It collects album tracks, outtakes and several standalone singles spanning the band's career up to that point. Also included are the 1971 "Life Is a Long Song" EP and two live recordings taken from a performance at New York City's Carnegie Hall in November 1970.
Kinks-Size is a studio album by the English rock band the Kinks, released as their second album in the United States. It was issued by Reprise Records in March 1965 in both mono and simulated stereo formats. It peaked at number 13 on the Billboard album chart in the third week of June 1965, the same week the Kinks began their first US tour. It is the Kinks' fourth-highest charting album on the Billboard album chart and the second-highest of their 1960s albums. The album ranked number 78 on Billboard's year-end album chart for 1965.
A Session with The Dave Clark Five is the UK debut album by the English pop rock band the Dave Clark Five and was released in the United Kingdom in April 1964 on EMI's Columbia Records. The album consists of the single "Can't You See That She's Mine" along with covers of "Rumble" by Link Wray & His Ray Men, "On Broadway" by the Drifters, and the Walt Disney song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah". It peaked at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart.
Meet The Searchers is the 1963 debut and most successful album by British rock band The Searchers. The album featured their first single released in June 1963, a version of the Drifters' "Sweets for My Sweet", which was a UK No.1 for the band, as well as their version of the Clovers "Love Potion No.9", which was released as a single in the U.S. the following year. "Love Potion No.9" peaked on the US charts at No. 3 on 19 December 1964. The album was also released in Canada, Germany and South Africa, often with track listing changes.
"I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore" is a song written by Pam Sawyer and Laurie Burton in 1965. Originally envisioned to be recorded by a British Invasion artist, the song was extremely well liked by American rock group the Young Rascals, and they subsequently recorded the song and released it as their debut single in November 1965 through Atlantic Records. Though only a marginal hit, reaching number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100, it largely established the band on the American music scene. It has since been included on several albums by the band, including their eponymous debut album, and several compilation albums, including Time Peace: The Rascals' Greatest Hits, on which it was the opening track.
The Dave Clark Five Return! is the second US studio album by the English rock band the Dave Clark Five. It features the single "Can't You See That She's Mine" and covers of "Rumble" by Link Wray & His Wray Men, "On Broadway" by The Drifters and the Disney song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah".
"Get Yourself Together" is a song by British rock band Small Faces, first released in 1967. It was cut during their tenure on both Decca and Immediate Records in 1966 and 1967 and was written by the Marriott/Lane partnership, who wrote a majority of the Small Faces material. It is regarded as one of their best compositions. It remains one of their most popular efforts despite it not being released as single in the United Kingdom nor the United States and has since been covered by other influential artists.
We Are Paintermen is the debut studio album by British rock band the Creation, initially released through Hit-Ton records in West Germany and Sonet Records in Denmark in June 1967. The album acts as a compilation album, containing virtually all their recorded material, from "Making Time" in 1966 to "If I Stay Too Long", which was released as a single in West Germany the same month. It also marks the gap between lead vocalists, whereas the earlier material feature Kenny Pickett on vocals, while the later feature Bob Garner, their previous bassist, on vocals.
Satisfied with You is the ninth album released in the US by the British band the Dave Clark Five. It was released on 15 August 1966 and contained three hit songs, "Look Before You Leap", "Please Tell Me Why" and "Satisfied with You". The LP hit the Billboard Top 200 and the Cashbox Top 100.
Having a Wild Weekend is the sixth American album by the British band the Dave Clark Five. It was presented as the soundtrack to the film of the same name, released in the UK as Catch Us If You Can. The album reached the Top 20 on the Billboard and contains the worldwide hit single "Catch Us If You Can".
You Got What It Takes is the eleventh US album by the British band the Dave Clark Five, released on 26 June 1967 by Epic Records. The album contained four successful songs, a cover of Marv Johnson's soul hit "You Got What It Takes", the hit single "I've Got to Have a Reason" written by the band's guitarist Lenny Davidson and the bubblegum "Tabatha Twitchit" written for the band by Les Reed and Barry Mason. The album also features the band's earlier UK top 30 hit "Thinking of You Baby". The LP reached the Billboard and Cashbox charts.
Everybody Knows is the twelfth US album by the British band the Dave Clark Five. Released in January 1968 on Epic Records, it contained four hit singles, a rock cover version of the old Bing Crosby hit "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby", the band's guitarist Lenny Davidson's song "Red and Blue", cover of the Majors soul song "A Little Bit Now", and the UK chartbuster "Everybody Knows". It is the band's last American album and the first not to enter the Billboard Top 200 chart.
I Like It Like That is the seventh American album by the British band the Dave Clark Five. It was released on 15 November 1965 and was the follow-up to the successful top-ten single of the same name. The LP reached the Billboard and Cashbox charts.
5 by 5 is the tenth American album by the British band The Dave Clark Five. It was released on 20 February 1967 and contained the Top 50 hit "Nineteen Days". The LP reached the Billboard Top 200 and the Cashbox Top 100. The album was only released in the US; the similarly named British album did not contain any of the same songs.
