Last updated 11:09, Friday, 19 September 2008

A LOST Cliff Richard track written by a Millom songwriter looks set to top the charts.

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Sir Cliff Richard

Called the exotic Mobile Alabama School Leaving Hullabaloo, the song has gone straight in at number three.

It is certain to climb in at the number one spot against American rock band Kings of Leon and chart-topper Katy Perry.

The song, a B-side to Thank You for a Lifetime, has helped give music legend Sir Cliff a top ten hit in his fifth consecutive decade in the business.

The rekindled success for the housewives’ favourite is largely thanks to the songwriting talents of Chris East – who has lived in Millom’s Market Street for more than 30 years.

Mr East, 64, who also wrote Cliff Richard’s 1970s hit My Kinda Life, has now got his fingers crossed fans will push the single to number one.

The owner of the town’s Firehouse Studios, in Market Square, said: “One of my ambitions is to have a number one – and with Cliff’s fans so eager to get him to the top in his fifth decade – it just might be possible.”

But he added: “I’m not going to get carried away though – I know all that glistens isn’t gold.”

Mr East, who now runs the Clocktower Gallery in Broughton, wrote the track in 1977 shortly before it was recorded by Sir Cliff, who has amassed record sales of 250 million during his career.

However, it was misfiled in the archives only to be unearthed earlier this year.

The song, which has since secured airplay on BBC Radio 2 and the National Lottery Live, is now featured on Sir Cliff’s latest eight CD box set.

It will also be performed as the closing track to the first half of the artist’s Time Machine tour which starts in November.

Mr East, who teaches music to prisoners in Haverigg along with his wife Jacqui, said he had been stunned to receive an email asking for information about the song.

He explained: “The first recording was put on the wrong shelf so has hardly been heard for 30 years. In fact, Cliff didn’t remember recording it the first time. Now fans are buying as many copies as they can.”

Former Legend guitarist Mr East has always written songs before sending them to a publisher in London.

His success has included hits for American pair The Judds and a number of Scandinavian bands.

But despite his now twice successful collaboration with Cliff Richard, Mr East claims he won’t be buying tickets to see the tour live. I’ve never even seen him do My Kinda Life which was a big hit for him in the 70s,” he said.

“I will send a copy of his new book down to London for him to sign but that’s it. I’m just the songwriter after all.”

Mr East, who currently has more than 250 advanced orders for the latest Legend album, said he hopes the royalties from the track will pay for a holiday for him and his wife.

He went on: “The word is ‘kerching’ – we want to go on a good holiday.”

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