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"Nine Times Out of Ten"
Single by Cliff Richard and the Shadows
B-side	"Thinking of Our Love"
Released	16 September 1960 (1960-09-16)
Recorded	15 March 1960
Studio	EMI Studios, London
Genre	Rock and roll
Length	2:07
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Waldense Hall Otis Blackwell
Producer(s)	Norrie Paramor
Cliff Richard and the Shadows singles chronology
"Please Don't Tease" (1960) "Nine Times Out of Ten" (1960) "I Love You" (1960)

"Nine Times Out of Ten" is a song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released as a single in September 1960. It peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and also received a silver disc for 250,000 sales.

Background and release

In a vote by a panel of teenagers to decide from a selection of Richard's unreleased tracks which ones should be released as singles, "Nine Times Out of Ten" came second to "Please Don't Tease. Both Richard and his producer Norrie Paramor thought "Nine Times Out of Ten" would be the number one choice, as they both preferred the song.

"Nine Times Out of Ten" was co-written by American rock and roll influence Otis Blackwell, known for co-writing songs such as "Great Balls of Fire", "All Shook Up" and "Fever". The B-side, "Thinking of Our Love", was written by the Shadows' Bruce Welch and Hank Marvin "at three o'clock in the morning in Oklahoma City". The single set a new record for the number of advance sales of the single in the UK, with around 180,000 sales, and went straight in at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.

Upon the release of "Nine Times Out of Ten", Richard was described as making "a surprise return to rock 'n' roll" and a "break from the beaty ballads that have kept Cliff in the charts". However, Richard said at the time that he was "giving fans what they have been asking for".

Reception

Reviewing for Disc, Don Nicholl wrote that "Nine Times Out of Ten" "doesn't quite measure up to some of his previous work", blaming the timing of its release. He described it as a "very fast rocker written in the Presley idiom and it seems to be somewhat dated to me". Nicholl also wrote that "Thinking of Our Love" is a "quieter number" with "considerable charm in the gentle melody".

Track listing

1. "Nine Times Out of Ten" – 2:07
2. "Thinking of Our Love" – 2:38

Personnel

• Cliff Richard – vocals
• Hank Marvin – lead guitar
• Bruce Welch – rhythm guitar
• Jet Harris – bass guitar
• Tony Meehan – drums

Charts

References

1. ^ "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details (Nine Times Out of Ten)". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
2. ^ "Cliff Richard: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
3. "Cliff Celebrates with Sixth Silver Disc" (PDF). Disc. 22 October 1960. p. 8. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
4. ^ "Disc magazine" (PDF). Disc. 17 September 1960. pp. 1, 10, 16. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
5. Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
6. "Cliff Richard & the Shadows – Nine Times Out of Ten" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
7. "Cliff Richard & the Shadows – Nine Times Out of Ten" (in French). Ultratop 50.
8. "Irish Top Ten". Evening Herald. 10 November 1960.
9. "Lever Hit Parade". flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
10. "Cliff Richard & the Shadows – Nine Times Out of Ten". VG-lista.

• 1960 singles
• 1960 songs
• Cliff Richard songs
• Songs written by Otis Blackwell
• Columbia Graphophone Company singles
• Song recordings produced by Norrie Paramor