Throw Down a Line
{{short description|1969 single by Cliff Richard and Hank Marvin}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Throw Down a Line
| cover = File:Cliff Richard Hank Marvin Throw Down a Line.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Cover of the single released in the Netherlands
| type = single
| artist = Cliff Richard and Hank Marvin
| album =
| B-side = Reflections
| released = {{start date|1969|9|5|df=yes}}
| recorded = 2 May 1969{{Cite web|title=Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details|url=http://www.cliffrichardsongs.com/popup.php?data=ThrowDownALine196994_popupplus|access-date=2021-08-10|website=www.cliffrichardsongs.com}}
| studio = EMI Studios, London
| venue =
| genre = Pop rock
| length = {{duration|m=2|s=49}}
| label = Columbia
| writer = Hank Marvin
| producer = Norrie Paramor
| misc = {{Extra chronology
|artist=Cliff Richard
|type=single
|prev_title=Early in the Morning
|prev_year=1969
|title=Throw Down a Line
|year=1969
|next_title=With the Eyes of a Child
|next_year=1969
}}{{Extra chronology
|artist=Hank Marvin
|type=single
|prev_title=Sacha
|prev_year=1969
|title=Throw Down a Line
|year=1969
|next_title=The Joy of Living
|next_year=1970
}}
}}
"Throw Down a Line" is a song by Cliff Richard and Hank Marvin, released as a single in September 1969. It peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart.
Background and release
"Throw Down a Line" was written by Hank Marvin, guitarist for the Shadows, who had temporarily split up. He recalled that he wrote it "with Jimi Hendrix in mind. I had a Vox drum box – all I could get out of it was 'gong-CLOCK-gong-CLOCK'. Anyway, I couldn't get it to Hendrix. Mickie Most took it to Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart. Then Cliff heard an acetate and said 'Why didn't you play it to me first?'".{{Cite web|last=Stanley|first=Bob|date=2009-09-17|title=Cliff Richard – why we've got him all wrong|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/sep/17/cliff-richard-bob-stanley|access-date=2021-08-10|website=the Guardian|language=en}} The Jeff Beck Group did record a version of "Throw Down the Line" in February 1969, but it wasn't included on the band's album Beck-Ola as Most didn't think it would be a hit. It remained unreleased until its inclusion as a bonus track on the 2004 reissue of Beck-Ola.{{cite AV media notes|title=Beck-Ola|year=2004|type=booklet|id=7243 5 78751 2 7|publisher=EMI}}
Richard and Marvin recorded their version in May 1969, with Richard singing the lead vocals, Marvin singing the vocal harmonies and playing guitar and it was backed by the Mike Vickers Orchestra. It was released as a single with the B-side "Reflections", which was performed only by Richard and was written by Richard and Keith Craddock.{{Cite web|title=Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details|url=http://www.cliffrichardsongs.com/popup.php?data=Reflections196996_popupplus|access-date=2021-08-10|website=www.cliffrichardsongs.com}}
Reception
Reviewing for Record Mirror, Peter Jones wrote "there's a strongly bluesy-soul, earnest -yearning sort of feel to it, and Cliff really tackles this "different" kind of song with immense style and verve. Excellent lyrics – kindly listen closely. And a lot of good guitar".{{cite magazine|date=6 September 1969|title=New Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/69/Record-Mirror-1969-09-06-S-OCR.pdf|magazine=Record Mirror|page=9|accessdate=10 August 2021}} For New Musical Express, Derek Johnson described the song as "very bluesy and moody" and wrote that "the lyric is intense, almost bitter – and Cliff handles it with greater emotion and sensitivity than I've ever heard him employ before".{{cite magazine|date=6 November 1969|title=Top Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/New-Musical-Express/1969/New-Musical-Express-1969-09-06-OCR.pdf|magazine=New Musical Express|page=6|accessdate=10 August 2021}}
Track listing
- "Throw Down a Line" – 2:49
- "Reflections" – 2:56
Charts
References
{{reflist}}
{{Cliff Richard}}
{{Cliff Richard singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Hank Marvin