Clout (band)

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Clout was a South African rock group formed in Johannesburg in 1977, best known for their hit single, "Substitute". Originally all-female, the group later included some male musicians, who had played as session musicians on the recording.[1]

Career[edit]

Clout's first and biggest hit, "Substitute", was a new arrangement of a Righteous Brothers song, composed by Willie Wilson. In 1978, their version reached No. 1 in South Africa, New Zealand, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Denmark and Belgium. It also reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the UK charts for 15 weeks.[2] Due to sanctions against South African artists and performers by UK's Equity at the time, the BBC One television series Top of the Pops used the group's performance of the song on Dutch programme TopPop, from 8 April 1978, to present the hit song for its Top 10 countdown.

A major success in Europe, Clout scored more Top 10 singles, notably "Save Me", "You've Got All of Me" and "Under Fire".

Clout's cover of "Substitute" reached No. 67 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Clout split up in 1981, shortly after the release of their last major single, a re-arrangement of the Hall and Oates song "Portable Radio". The previous single "Oowatanite" was also a cover, the original being a hit by the Canadian group April Wine.

In 1992, their greatest hits package was released on CD, and it was re-mastered as The Best of Clout in 2010.

Musicians[edit]

  • Cindy Alter (born in Johannesburg , South Africa): lead vocals, guitar (1977–1981)
  • Ilene "Lee" Tomlinson: bass, vocals (1977–1980)
  • Ingrid "Ingi" Herbst: drums, vocals (1977–1981)
  • Glenda Hyam: keyboards, vocals (1977)
  • Jenni Garson: guitar, vocals (1977–1981)
  • Ron "Bones" Brettell: keyboards, vocals (1978–1981)
  • Sandy Robbie: guitar, vocals (1978–1981)
  • Gary van Zyl: bass (1980–1981)

'All Around New Music' and other websites state that 'Circus', an all-male group, actually played the instruments, and that they disbanded the same year (1981), this rumour was disclosed.[citation needed]

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

  • 1978: Substitute (aka Clout)
  • 1979: Six of the Best
  • 1980: A Threat and a Promise
  • 1981: 1977 to 1981 (compilation with one new song)
  • 1992: Substitute (Dutch compilation)
  • 1992: 20 Greatest Hits (compilation)
  • 1994: Clout (German compilation)
  • 2007: Since We've Been Gone (compilation with nine new recordings)
  • 2010: The Best of Clout (compilation)

Singles[edit]

Year Single Peak chart positions
AUT
[3]
BE (FLA)
[4]
DEN
[5]
IRE
[6]
GER
[7]
NL
[8]
NZ
[9]
SA
[10]
SWI
[11]
UK
[12]
US
[13]
ZIM
[14]
1977 "Substitute" 10 2 9 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 67 1
1978 "Since You've Been Gone"
"You've Got All of Me" 25 14 17 16 14
1979 "Let It Grow" 33
"Save Me" 14 5 5 4 6 7 4 1
"Under Fire" 18 6 15 26 19 7 18
"Oowatanite" 8 33
1980 "Portable Radio" 7 54
"The Best of Me" 73
1981 "Wish I Were Loving You"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Classic South African Pop And Rock Songs". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 111. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ "Das österreichische Hitparaden- und Musik-Portal". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  4. ^ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". ultratop.be. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Danish Chart Archive - Singles 1979 - ____ (B.T./IFPI DK)". UKMIX Forums. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  6. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Suche - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  9. ^ "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  10. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (C)". rock.co.za. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  11. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  12. ^ "CLOUT | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  13. ^ "Clout". Billboard. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  14. ^ "World singles charts and sales TOP 50 in 58 countries: CLOUT". World singles charts and sales TOP 50 in 58 countries. 8 November 2016. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2020.

External links[edit]