Midnight Depression by Ron Clifford: A 1971 French Pop Gem That’s Weirdly Stuck in Your Head
Alright, let’s talk about Midnight Depression by Ron Clifford. Released way back in 1971 under the Disc’Az label, this album is like that vintage sweater you find at a thrift store—quirky, slightly out of place, but oddly charming once you give it a chance. And trust me, it’s got some moments that’ll make you go “Wait, what year is this again?”
First off, props to Claude Denjean for wearing multiple hats here—he arranged AND orchestrated the whole thing. You can tell he was trying his best to turn Ron Clifford’s tunes into something lush and dreamy. The art direction? Also on point thanks to Jean-Paul Minvielle. It’s all very ‘70s Euro-pop chic, which means it looks like someone spilled glitter on a mood board and called it genius.
Now onto the tracks. I’m not gonna lie—there are only two songs listed here (Simple Things Of Life and Midnight Depression), so we’re working with limited material. But hey, sometimes less is more…or just less. Let’s dive in anyway.
Track 1: Simple Things Of Life
This one sneaks up on you. At first listen, it feels like your standard soft-pop ballad—easy chords, mellow vocals, the kind of song that plays while people sip wine they can’t afford. But then there’s this little keyboard riff halfway through that hits different. Like, why does it sound cooler than it has any right to? Maybe it’s because Claude Denjean decided to sprinkle some magic fairy orchestral dust over it. Whatever it is, it sticks. You’ll catch yourself humming it later while waiting for your toast to pop up. Annoyingly catchy? Absolutely. But isn’t that the hallmark of good pop music?
Track 2: Midnight Depression
The title track is where things get interesting—or depressing, depending on how deep you wanna go. It starts slow, moody even, as if Ron Clifford woke up feeling particularly angsty that day. The lyrics are simple enough, but man, do they lean hard into the whole “midnight melancholy” vibe. By the time the strings kick in (thanks again, Claude!), you’re either vibing or rolling your eyes. Personally, I vibed. There’s something raw about how unapologetically dramatic it is. It’s like watching an old black-and-white movie where everyone smokes cigarettes indoors and stares wistfully out windows. Corny? Sure. But also kinda beautiful in its own weird way.
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So yeah, Midnight Depression isn’t perfect. It’s short, maybe a tad overly sentimental, and definitely niche. But isn’t that part of its charm? This isn’t some blockbuster record meant to conquer the charts—it’s a snapshot of a specific time and place. France in the early ‘70s had its own groove, and Ron Clifford managed to capture a sliver of it.
Final thought? Listening to this album feels like finding an old postcard from someone you don’t remember meeting. It’s faded around the edges, a bit mysterious, and leaves you wondering who exactly took the time to write it. Oh, and fun fact: Ron probably didn’t see TikTok coming when he wrote these songs. Bet they’d blow up there though—who wouldn’t want to cry-dance to Midnight Depression in their living room at 2 AM?
Rating: 7/10 – Solid effort, Ron. Keep those midnight vibes coming.
