Christie's
first album was hailed as a fine debut, but the change of
direction on the second album had critics in two minds.
CHRISTIE'S SOUND
IS A SUCCESS
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Album: CHRISTIE
(From UK paper Disc and Music
Echo, October 1970)
CHRISTIE are by far the most uncomplicated, simple and
pleasing British group to emerge this year.
They're not trying to be heavy
they're not in fact trying to be anything except
commercially successful, and here they do succeed brilliantly.
Christie is also the album's title,
featuring of course Yellow River
and the anticipated follow-up hit San
Bernadino. But Jeff Christie is a proficient
writer and there's plenty more good tunes here like
Country Boy and
Johnny One Time.
Every song is melodic and the best
use is made of limited instrumentation. Just have a listen
.. you should be happily surprised.
(The album was the only one rated
the maximum four stars (Outstanding) in the paper that week.)
PERFECT POP GROOVE
Album:
CHRISTIE
(From US paper Billboard Magazine,
November 1970)
TOP 40 radio can look forward to plenty of hit records
from Christie, whose Yellow River
disc hit high on both the British and US charts.
Led by Jeff Christie on vocals
and bass guitar, the trio cover the AM sounds like virtual
impressionists, rocking in the the 2-minute-plus pop bracket
on I Gotta Be Free, Ive
Got A Feeling and Mississippi
Line.
Pseudo-Creedence, but Christie
has a bead on that pop groove.
CHRISTIE NO
ONE-HIT WONDERS
Album: CHRISTIE
(From UK paper Record Mirror,
October 1970)
LOOK not for progressive pretensiousness from this group
of three.
Look instead for rhythmically simple
rock music, which drives often like the clappers
specially considering that there are only three of them.
But they can relax too, musically speaking .. as on Country
Boy, which is in a sort of home-grown country rock
idiom.
Tight but uncompromising drumming,
solid supporting bass figures from Jeff Christie, and Vic
Elmes showing unsuspected power on lead.
Maybe the best sampler is Put
Your Money Down, which powers along at a helluva
lick.
No one-hit wonders, Christie. Not
even two-hit wonders. They look to have staying power, mainly
because they are both adaptable and consistent.

JEFF IS THE BIG CHIEF
Album: CHRISTIE
(From German paper Bravo, October
1970)
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STRICTLY speaking, Christie are a one-man band, with
Jeff Christie the big chief. He composes nice melodies without
effort and writes great lyrics.
He's a singer with a great personality,
and he plays excellent piano, organ, bass and guitar.
He's an impressive all-round talent,
but ... he isn't perfect!
His first album is worth the money,
but it could have been better. I think it was made too quickly
and as such, the production has suffered a little. And I
think it would have sounded better if the band's sound had
been augmented by more studio musicians.
On the other hand, I think it is
sensible for Christie not to sound too progressive.
Christie's strength is their catchy
songs, which you can listen to every day and never get tired
of, for example Yellow River
and San Bernadino, the melodic
Country Boy, and the rocking
Johnny One Time.
In short, it's not exactly record
of the year, but it's definitely record of the week.
SHOULD BE A HUGE SUCCESS
Album: CHRISTIE

Jeff and Vic's reviews
VERSATILE CHRISTIE IN DANGER?
Album: FOR ALL MANKIND
(From UK
paper New Musical Express, July 1971)
THIS album, coupled with their live gigs, has shown
that Christie have a lasting potential which may not have
been all that evident in their brace of international gold-plated
singles Yellow River and San
Bernadino. Indeed, Christie are one of the few British
bands to have achieved an enviable worldwide acceptance
in the past few years.
But it could well be that this
success has slightly inhibited the thinking of the group's
namesake Jeff, for on this new album it appears that he
is striving to encompass both the commercial and heavy markets
a commendable but also dangerous line to follow.
It is still the immediacy of pop
which is the mainstay of the industry. There is absolutely
no disgrace to sell millions of singles and keeping an equal
number of people entertained.
Christie have made the first inroads,
and this album shows that collectively they have the ability
to exploit this asset to their utmost advantage. It would
be a pity if they allowed their judgement to be swayed by
the inverted snobbery of others who are perhaps less successful.
For All Mankind
is perhaps the first time Christie have recorded to their
own personal satisfaction, and is an album which should
gain them a degree of respect to add to their reputation
for discovering the secret of commercial success.
With a bit of thought, more experience
and careful production, their next album could well prove
to be a blinder, for between them, Jeff, Vic Elmes and Paul
Fenton produce some excellent instrumental work.
The plaintive title track and If
Only are commendable and make a good contrast to
the hardness of Martian King
and Magic Highway.
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CHRISTIE'S BIG SOUND
Album: FOR ALL MANKIND
(From UK paper Record Mirror,
June 1971)
ESTABLISHED almost overnight on singles, Christie are
rather better than some of the cynics would have us believe.
There's a tightness in the band
which creates substantial drama not to mention volume
for a mere three-piecer.
Lead guitarist Vic Elmes contributed
a couple of numbers herein, but the rest are from Jeff Christie
himself, who works on keyboard and bass. All three sing,
which helps.
Some of the lighter numbers come
out exceptionally well but the best samplers are
Man of Many Faces and the title
track For All Mankind, which
demonstrates light and shade.
Not a great album but better than
most.