Does anyone know when it was that Mike was on ABC radio NY in person at Freedomland promoting this song. I met him that day and got his autograph. Always loved this song.
Funny - I've never heard this on an oldies show or at the oldies station I worked at. Maybe it was too A/C or gentle for rock stations to push it. I've seen copies but was never curious - thanks for posting with the other Clifford stuff.
@DickAllen4HOF Actually I was ehoeing some of the ignorant mainstream critics of this great song. When a song evokes a haughnting, eerie, or chilling effect, it is sset apart from a teen idol or bubblegum song.
I remember back in high school when this song was popular that a friend of mine was very much head over heels with a girl by the name of, yes, you guessed it, Cathy. They broke up, and he never really got over her. He died an alcoholic in 2008.
@smilingman555 Sorry to hear that my friend! I have a family member in the hospital right now because of alcohol abuse, he's only 22 years old. I don't want to go into details at this point in time, but, It's a serious condition that he's in. Yes, women and drinking will kill ya!
@sibjoan sadness and depression are bad enough when they are left alone, but when alcohol is introduced, for some its fun and games. For others it consumes and controls their whole life. And, in the movement to the bottom many others are affected adversely along the way,
A moment of perfection! Sincere heartfelt lyrics on a beautiful tune with Mike's vocal adding that final poignancy. Sadly I too was in the same situation - oh well life goes on but we never forget!
I was 13 and went to FREEDOM LAND a long gone park in NY. Met Mike with Scott Muni of WABC77 and got both their autographs. Scott's on a hit cart for the week ending August 18, 1962. Mike's on a photo. They played the song live and I loved it.
WOW, sure wish I could have been that lucky! This has always been & will always be one of my FAVs, without doubt. Actually, both sides, I love them both. Thank you kindly for your comment!
In '62, I was 15 & 16 y/o, and this was MY song. I was--sadly--always--always, the guy every girl " could really talk to", always about that " other guy". When I heard this, I would always tear up--it was too close to home. -- Funny, things haven't changed all that much. Thank-U Mike, it was a beautiful song, and your voice was perfect. Wolfsky9
Yes, I know exactly what you are saying, I myself was a shoulder, hmm, small world, you were not alone my friend! Also I agree with"Thank-U Mike" it is a perfect voice!
This rare song is not as rare as its lack of airplay on oldies stations. This song made the top twenty in 1961. I believe Mike Clifford got some fairly important roles on Broadway? I hope so. He had an excellent vioce, was good looking, kept himself fit, and projects a friendly personna.
Like many gret songs of the era, this one both sounds great and tells a story. What male hasn't ever had a crush on a gril who only saw him as a friend?
Very well said my friend! This actually should have been a #1 two sider. This has always been one record that when i'd play it I wouldn't know which side to play first. Someone posted a 30 second teaser of Mike singing Close To Cathy! To find it just type in, Close To Cathy
I'd love to see Mike Clifford live. I won't take my wife with me. She might throw herself at him LOL. My next door neighbor is named Cathy and is crazier than I. She cried real tears when she heard this song and her husband, Joe, A real cool guy BTW, threw his arms around her. So why the bleep was Mike Clifford never a major star?
I would probably say, he had the perfect voice, just a nice clean sound. When this song was releast I had a major crush on a girl named Cathy, LOL! Turned out, she was my 3rd cousin!
I did some research. Mike played in the original Broadway production of Grease. He also has several TV and Movie credits. It appears that his career as a musician was ill-fated owing to getting type-cast as a teen idol. Many of the teen idols such as Rick Nelson, Frankie Avalon, James Darren, Fabian, and Bobby Rydel were extremely talented but don't get their due because of historical disregard for the genre. Also Mike is not from South Philly where we still have high regard for our own.
Hmm, interesting! Every so often I search YT looking for the full Close To Cathy video, someone has to have it I would think. Watching that is like watching Dion & Belmonts - I Wonder Why 10 sec. video, both are teasers.
Thanks 4 the research, if you find anymore info, please post it, thanks again!
Does anyone know when it was that Mike was on ABC radio NY in person at Freedomland promoting this song. I met him that day and got his autograph. Always loved this song.
dfcurran 6 months ago
Funny - I've never heard this on an oldies show or at the oldies station I worked at. Maybe it was too A/C or gentle for rock stations to push it. I've seen copies but was never curious - thanks for posting with the other Clifford stuff.
mdmphd 11 months ago
Haven't heard of him before Phil.
Nice.
MikeWilliamsonMusic 11 months ago
A much under-rated singer, never got the recognition he deserved. One of the few solo singers I can listen to regularly..
lettermen1 11 months ago
saw mike when he came through tulsa with the dick clark caravan. sounded jus as good in person as he did on records.
rte66byhd 1 year ago
Sappy. Cheasy. Mawkish. And I love every nano-second of it!
DickAllen4HOF 1 year ago 3
@DickAllen4HOF Actually I was ehoeing some of the ignorant mainstream critics of this great song. When a song evokes a haughnting, eerie, or chilling effect, it is sset apart from a teen idol or bubblegum song.
DickAllen4HOF 1 year ago
Comment removed
lolgeed 1 year ago
Comment removed
lolgeed 1 year ago
I love this 1 hit wonder. Its a little chilling but very sweet.
ladyoutlaw13 1 year ago
I remember back in high school when this song was popular that a friend of mine was very much head over heels with a girl by the name of, yes, you guessed it, Cathy. They broke up, and he never really got over her. He died an alcoholic in 2008.
smilingman555 1 year ago 5
@smilingman555 Sorry to hear that my friend! I have a family member in the hospital right now because of alcohol abuse, he's only 22 years old. I don't want to go into details at this point in time, but, It's a serious condition that he's in. Yes, women and drinking will kill ya!
dowopper51 1 year ago
@smilingman555 too sad. Life can be...
sibjoan 1 year ago
@sibjoan sadness and depression are bad enough when they are left alone, but when alcohol is introduced, for some its fun and games. For others it consumes and controls their whole life. And, in the movement to the bottom many others are affected adversely along the way,
smilingman555 1 year ago
what a wonderful tune thank you
Davai007 1 year ago 3
Your very welcome!
dowopper51 1 year ago
The string arrangements on this tune are so smooth and mellow, you could almost float on them!
christheone8773 2 years ago 2
A moment of perfection! Sincere heartfelt lyrics on a beautiful tune with Mike's vocal adding that final poignancy. Sadly I too was in the same situation - oh well life goes on but we never forget!
woodlanderf 2 years ago 4
Funny, many of us were in that situation at one time, and yes, time does go on!
BTW, thank you!
dowopper51 2 years ago
Comment removed
krame99 2 years ago
Thank you for taking the time to write that lovely thought. Kathty : )
sixties2go 2 years ago
I listen to this beautiful song whenever I'm feeling sentimental and want to imagine someone is singing about me, Kathy.
sixties2go 2 years ago
Hi Kathy, I'm very sure when someone out there hears this song, they are thinking of you! I'm sure I will be for now on, enjoy!
dowopper51 2 years ago
I was 13 and went to FREEDOM LAND a long gone park in NY. Met Mike with Scott Muni of WABC77 and got both their autographs. Scott's on a hit cart for the week ending August 18, 1962. Mike's on a photo. They played the song live and I loved it.
dfcurran 2 years ago
WOW, sure wish I could have been that lucky! This has always been & will always be one of my FAVs, without doubt. Actually, both sides, I love them both. Thank you kindly for your comment!
dowopper51 2 years ago
In '62, I was 15 & 16 y/o, and this was MY song. I was--sadly--always--always, the guy every girl " could really talk to", always about that " other guy". When I heard this, I would always tear up--it was too close to home. -- Funny, things haven't changed all that much. Thank-U Mike, it was a beautiful song, and your voice was perfect. Wolfsky9
Wolfsky9 2 years ago 2
Yes, I know exactly what you are saying, I myself was a shoulder, hmm, small world, you were not alone my friend! Also I agree with"Thank-U Mike" it is a perfect voice!
dowopper51 2 years ago
a real lost -45- from 1962. i was 5 y.o.
peteboy1113 2 years ago
HA HA, I was older, I was 11! Ah the good old days!
dowopper51 2 years ago
This rare song is not as rare as its lack of airplay on oldies stations. This song made the top twenty in 1961. I believe Mike Clifford got some fairly important roles on Broadway? I hope so. He had an excellent vioce, was good looking, kept himself fit, and projects a friendly personna.
Like many gret songs of the era, this one both sounds great and tells a story. What male hasn't ever had a crush on a gril who only saw him as a friend?
DickAllen4HOF 3 years ago
Very well said my friend! This actually should have been a #1 two sider. This has always been one record that when i'd play it I wouldn't know which side to play first. Someone posted a 30 second teaser of Mike singing Close To Cathy! To find it just type in, Close To Cathy
dowopper51 3 years ago
I'd love to see Mike Clifford live. I won't take my wife with me. She might throw herself at him LOL. My next door neighbor is named Cathy and is crazier than I. She cried real tears when she heard this song and her husband, Joe, A real cool guy BTW, threw his arms around her. So why the bleep was Mike Clifford never a major star?
DickAllen4HOF 3 years ago
I would probably say, he had the perfect voice, just a nice clean sound. When this song was releast I had a major crush on a girl named Cathy, LOL! Turned out, she was my 3rd cousin!
"Mike Clifford never a major star"
Probably because of payola?
Check out, Michael Landon - Linda Is Lonesome
dowopper51 3 years ago
I clicked the POST button by accident!
Anyway, he sounds a bit like Mike in that song. In fact when I posted it I had mentioned that.
dowopper51 3 years ago
I did some research. Mike played in the original Broadway production of Grease. He also has several TV and Movie credits. It appears that his career as a musician was ill-fated owing to getting type-cast as a teen idol. Many of the teen idols such as Rick Nelson, Frankie Avalon, James Darren, Fabian, and Bobby Rydel were extremely talented but don't get their due because of historical disregard for the genre. Also Mike is not from South Philly where we still have high regard for our own.
DickAllen4HOF 3 years ago
Hmm, interesting! Every so often I search YT looking for the full Close To Cathy video, someone has to have it I would think. Watching that is like watching Dion & Belmonts - I Wonder Why 10 sec. video, both are teasers.
Thanks 4 the research, if you find anymore info, please post it, thanks again!
dowopper51 3 years ago
WOW - the string interlude is so strong, you can almost feel it!!!!!!!!!!!!
christheone8773 3 years ago
Yes! I do feel it, the song gives my bumps everytime I hear it! Thanks!
dowopper51 3 years ago
An old favorite. Thanks.
rdf1947 3 years ago 2
Oh yes, your very welcome!
dowopper51 3 years ago
Great song!
Thanks!
KathyK50 3 years ago 3
OHHHH, your welcome! It sure is pretty!
dowopper51 3 years ago
Bought this when it was first released! Great song on both sides!
lettermen1 3 years ago