Publishing an album in 1976 under the name of Richard Clapton must have been either unconscious or a hoax. A bit like daring to call yourself Gerald Hendrix, Howard McCartney or Lester Bowie (although the latter really existed: he was a trumpet player in the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, and even ended up furtively collaborating with his putative eponym in 1993…). Except that this Clapton did not turn out to be an aspiring guitar hero, but more prosaically a singer-songwriter from the Antipodes. And undoubtedly also (Aussie), one of Australia’s best kept secrets (at least outside its borders, since with his look between Tommy Bolin, Kurt Vile and Adam Granduciel, the gusse had a most honorable career there, which he still continues today). After “Prussia Blue” in 1973 and “Girls On The Avenue” two years later (the titular track of which rose to the top of the charts in his country), he then recorded this “Main Street Jive”. Presenting the handicap of succeeding a blockbuster, this album received a more mixed reception in its time, but nonetheless surprisingly stands the test of time. Splendid ballads such as “Soldier Of Fortune” (as brilliant as the one bearing the same title and signed Blackmore/Coverdale for the album “Stormbringer” released in 1974 by Deep Purple), “Kickin’ The Moon Around”, the Dylanesque “Casanova’s Got The Blues” (roué pastiche of “Ballad of A Thin Man”) and the Tex-Mex “Lonesome Heart” even bear comparison with what was offered then Van Morrison, Jackson Browne, Bob Seger and other James Taylor, while in addition to the assured tone displayed by their author, the sidemen who accompany him reveal themselves first-hand (if only the lead guitarist Kirk Lorange, the keyboardist Wayne Findlay, the bassist Greg Lyon as well as the masterful backing singers Lori Balmer and Rita Jean Bodine). When he moves up a gear (as on the exciting “Suit Yourself”, “Need A Visionary” and “Islands Of The Heart”), Richard even holds his own against the Eagles and Elton John of the time, and placed in his historical perspective, fits here as the missing link between Harry Chapin, Jim Croce, The Band and vile opportunists such as Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen (who took the chestnuts out of the fire under the nose and beard of onlookers like Garland Jeffreys and Willy DeVille). In any case, Bad Reputation is not making fun of the world: carefully remastered and enhanced with three bonus tracks (including the unstoppable “Capricorn Dancer” and “Babe Rainbow”), as well as a copious booklet including lyrics and credits, here is undoubtedly one of the coolest excavations of the start of the year. Tell me, how does it feel to discover half a century later one of your favorite albums from 1976?
Patrick DALLONGEVILLE
Paris-Move, Illico & BluesBoarder, Blues & Co
PARIS-MOVE, February 22nd 2026
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To order on the Bad Reputation website
Richard Clapton’s website
Complete discography
