The Dave Clark Five

A rather strange reissue, this compiles both sides of all three of the rare singles that the DC5 put out in the U.K. in 1961-1963 on the small Ember label before joining Columbia. Much less impressive than their British Invasion hits, they display the group as a run-of-the-mill band without an identity, casting about with weak pop, country, and instrumental material, although one of the songs ("I Knew It All the Time") was actually a small hit in America in early 1964. "Chaquita" was a cool instrumental ripoff of "Tequila" on the first DC5 album, but the early version here isn't nearly as good. On this CD, these tracks are combined with 17 songs by the unknown British band the Washington D.C.'s, who happened to share an album with the Dave Clark Five on an exploitative Ember reissue after "Glad All Over" became a hit. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide