CLOUT - A Threat And A Promise (1980)

Sunshine, GBL(L)514
Producer: Grahame Beggs
Engineer: Ian Martin


One of South Africa's most successful bands in the global market, Clout had an international number one hit in 1978 with their cover of the Righteous Brothers' 'Substitute', along with other lesser hits like 'Save Me'. Though marketed as an all-girl group, this was seldom the case. It turned out that even their signature hit had been recorded using male session musicians from the band Circus. By their third and final album, 1980's A Threat And A Promise, the line-up was three women and three men, including keyboardist Ron 'Bones' Brettell, who went on to form crossover act Hotline, while lead singer Cindi Alter would front the similarly styled Zia. The album is full of catchy, hook-driven pop-rock numbers, and includes the bands last two singles, the Hall & Oates cover 'Portable Radio' and 'Wish I Were Loving You' (written by John Sembello).