The Dave Clark Five knew how to make killer singles! Their chart history is a testimony: 17 US "Top 40" hits (eight top ten and one #1), 23 UK "Top 40" hits (seven top 10, one # 1), and in my home country "downunder" (Australia) 11 "Top 40" hits (four top ten). It is ironic that people claim they were more popular in the States when, chart wise, their home country popularity is overwhelming!
The American "Greatest Hits" package in 1966 saw The Dave Clark Five get back into the top ten of the LP charts (their first top 10 entry since 1964's "Coast to Coast"). It also enabled their second gold LP ("Glad All Over" being the first.) However, I always felt sorry for the American record buyers as in most other countries, including Australia, four more songs were included in this LP: "Reelin' And Rockin'", "Thinking of You Baby", "At the Scene" and "Come Home".
It was the Aussie "Greatest Hits" LP that got me hooked on the DC5, and it remains a favorite to this day. Here is the ultimate beat/dance/party album! Plenty of stomping/anthem hits ("Bits And Pieces", "Glad All Over") and some smoochie slow songs too ("Because", "Come Home"), just so you can catch your breath and have a welcome hug.
While "downunder" the DC5 were very popular, they did not have a national #1. By the time they hit here, the top fourty was dominated by the Beatles. Unlike in the UK or USA, single releases here are subject to annoying time-lags, resulting in mis-matched competition. For example, in September 1964, The Dave Clark Five had two hits in the charts ("Thinking Of You Baby" and "Can't You See That She's Mine") but these were up against no less than 16 charting Beatles singles!
Unlike America, the Aussie market was relatively small, and they only toured once here (with the Seekers supporting). While they did appear occasionally on Australian TV, we did not have the likes of "The Ed Sullivan Show" to sway a nation. Also, the Aussie LP's followed the UK release pattern, which was less than half of what was being released in the States. Of course, there was no internet back then, and even export LP's were very hard to find.
However, with the likes of LP releases like "25 Thumping Hits", (which went platinum), and CD releases like "Glad All Over Again" and "History Of..." selling for up to $200US on web auctions, there is no doubt that DC5 "Greatest Hits" packages are forever popular.
As the cover notes to this album testify, "Whether your personal chocie is a ballad or a hard rock tune, you will find more than you are looking for on this LP." I agree!