Christie is a classic example of a one-song band. Everyone knows her masterpiece hit Yellow River, and not everyone will name the artist.
The ensemble is very interesting in its power pop style. In the arsenal of Christie there are many worthy compositions, they are melodic and also beautifully played.
Growth from 3G+1 to Christie Group
Jeff Christie was born into a bohemian family. Almost all the elders in the house had a good command of various musical instruments. And, of course, they taught the boy to this business. First, my mother (a ballerina by profession) taught her son to learn the piano.
He later taught himself how to play the guitar to form a rock band. Following the example of many teenagers of that time, the boy dreamed of the glory of a cool rock and roll player, surrounded by enthusiastic fans.
The trial group was called 3G+1 (only Christy had a non-G last name). The guys sang skiffle songs. But Christy, with his near-conservatory education, wanted to work on the most difficult music. Therefore, he easily left his former friends and became part of the Outer Limits group, which imitated The Beatles.
It was in her that the composer's talent of the young guitarist manifested itself. The group even managed to perpetuate their work on several "forty-five". However, with this team, a capable young man did not succeed. Outer Limits broke up, and Jeff selflessly engaged in composing beautiful melodies - he gushed with ideas. It remained only to interest someone in their opuses.
And such people were found. The novice writer's demo was carefully listened to by representatives of The Tremeloes. Among the different compositions, they liked the song Yellow River, so much so that the guys recorded it in several versions. But it is surprising that they did not release it, considering that they already had enough of their own good material.
Jeff Christie thought about creating his own team. And not just his own, but named after his own name. Percussionist Mike Blackley and guitarist Vic Elmes were introduced to Jeff by Tremeloes manager Brian Longley. He also helped organize the recording for CBS Records. The name Christie suited everyone, especially since then the group was often called by the name of the main vocalist.
The first single was Yellow River, and with an instrumental backing recorded during the sessions of The Tremeloes. The song instantly topped the charts in over 20 countries and peaked at number 23 in the US.
The Yellow River Phenomenon
The main hit of the group can be conditionally attributed to the songs of "demobilization". It is sung from the perspective of a Confederate soldier returning from the Civil War. The fighter served and dreamed of how he would return home - to where the yellow river flows. There he will surely meet a beautiful girl and marry her.
The name of the river in the song is conditional, it could be called any other color, as long as it coincides with the rhythm of the composition. In the video for the song, the musicians of the group were filmed, located on the deck of a boat that was sailing along the River Thames.
The song was very popular in Europe, including in the USSR. She was released on the minion of the Melodiya company. The Soviet VIA "Singing Guitars" made a cover version of "Karlsson".
It so happened that Christie became one of the first Western rock bands to "break through" the so-called "Iron Curtain". In 1971 the musicians took part in the pop song festival in Sopot (Poland). And their performance was broadcast in the Soviet Union.
The audience liked the song precisely for its graceful simplicity and sincere charm. And the group received their small portion of love, which was well deserved.
The song fell in love with the people precisely for its elegant simplicity and sincere charm. And the group received their small portion of love, which was well deserved.
The Christie group also had a composition San Bernadino - about a city in California, which is not more beautiful in the world. But it did not have such a vivid emotional impact on the listener as "Yellow River".
Debut album by Christie
The single was followed by the band's first album. Stylistically, it was similar to the early Creedence - the same energetic country rock, maybe with less shrill vocals and a lot more calm musically.
Jeff Christie recalled that the record was recorded in a hurry so as not to miss the peak of Yellow River's popularity. Mike Blackley, although he was in charge of the drum kit in the group, there were practically no drums in the album.
His only merit is primitive percussion in the song Coming Home Tonight. On it, he tapped a bottle of Coca Cola with a knife. He also appeared on the song Down The Mississippi Line.
The album features session drummers Clem Cattini and Hugh Grundy. And Jeff wasn't always the lead singer either. In several compositions, Vic Elmes demonstrated nice voice data.
The warmest reception of the album was in the States, where it stayed on the chart for more than two months, which is great for a debut! This shouldn't have come as a surprise. Since the work was American in terms of music and texts.
Extension
In 1971, the Christie group began creating their second album, For All Mankind. Jeff in it made an attempt to complicate the musical component, to perform something like blues-rock and root country.
The group managed to return to the charts with the song Iron Horse. She came out only on the "forty-five". But many musicologists call it the best composition in the short-term work of the group.
During the recording of the second disc, bassist Howard Lubin joined the band. Thanks to his participation, Jeff was able to play on stage and on other instruments. The group received unexpected success in South America, where the composition of Vic Elmes Jo Jo's Band was recognized as the main hit.
Breakup of Christie
During the preparation of the third album, relations between the musicians finally deteriorated. In 1973, the Christie group broke up, but then reunited several times with different lineups.
Officially, Jeff announced the dissolution of the group in 1976.
In 1990, the ensemble was reassembled. And after that he performed with concerts until 2009.
