JEFF CHRISTIE SOLO SESSIONS
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The
Best of the Rest
Mr Big Shot
Witness For The Prosecution
Two powerful R&B numbers that epitomise the sound of
Christie as they tried to compromise between the country
pop of the first album and the heavier style of the second.
Completed as demos with Jeff, Danny, Terry and Roger, the
songs could have made it onto the never-finished third
Christie album. Very reminiscent of the feel of a song
like One For The Road.
Nothing Has Changed
Jeff's written some great ballads in his time, but this
probably ranks among his finest. A beautiful, plaintive
piece that tugs at the heart strings, the song was offered
to a Brazilian singer named Rosemary,
who released it in the 70s. It would suit any diva or divo,
budding or established, even today.
The
Last Road Song
When a singer realises the time has definitely come for
his band to break up, it can be very emotional. And so it
was for Jeff, who composed this song when he knew it was
the end of Christie, after five glorious years of hits and
playing to adoring crowds of millions all over the world.
The sad, reflective piece has a lovely refrain with a subtle
message of optimism that the band will always still be together
in spirit.
Soldier
Boy
For All Mankind, despite its
emphasis on heavy rock, was an album with an underlying
message of peace, and this song would have fitted perfectly
in that mould. Ever the pacifist, Jeff builds another anti-war
anthem, this time about kids growing up and being trained
in the ways of war and knowing little else. A country poppish
song with a message that rings true even today.
Stand Up And Be Free
A protest song of sorts for freedom, and again sadly as
relevant today as it was when first written four decades
ago. Would be a great rocker if laced with electric guitar.
Nightmare
A song that really should have been finished and released
as a Christie production. Frenetic and fast-paced, and with
that great Jeff Christie sense of melody, it would sound
sensational with a distinctive Christie riff and some innovative
Paul Fenton stickwork.
Welcome Home
Melody, melody, melody .. Jeff has a great gift for ear-friendly
arrangements. Sounds terrific unplugged, but definitely
would also sound good electrified. Has a boppish feel not
unlike Coming Home Tonight.
Play Me No Sad Songs
Lovely ballad, with some searing, emotive vocal work from
Jeff.
City Lights
Just begging for a nice catchy instrumental solo break in
between the verses to complete it. And a trademark Christie
intro. A typical Christie toe-tapping, country pop tune.
On The Other Side
Of The Tracks
Another top song, probably from the country-pop mould that
the songs on the first LP came from.
Emotion
Exceptional. Sublime. A ballad with a beautiful melody and
chorus. Probably would sound best if given the full orchestration
works.
Road Of No Return
Excellent guitar strumming and would be well complemented
by electric guitar, drums and a nice instrumental break
in betweeen. Voted by Christie
fans as a good contender for Jeff's next single! One
of Jeff's many songs considered for the debut album, and
as catchy as any of them.
Sunday
The ballad that Jeff composed with Frank
Sinatra in mind. And you can see why if you give it
a listen, as Jeff produces a slow, jazz swing groove interspersed
with Sinatra-esque voice inflections.
Women
In Love
Lovely structured poppish piece from start to finish, with
easy singalong hook and verse. What else would you expect
from a Jeff Christie song? And a great title!
Dreamy
Timothy
Jeff dabbles into old time music revue stuff here
think the Beatles' When I'm 64
and comes up with a quaint little ditty about a boy
who daydreams all the time.
Nobody's
Angel
A song with sad lyrics but a real funky feel to it .. almost
like a George Michael prototype. A nice strumming melody
which would sound great enhanced by strings.
Hey
Woman
Lovely ballad with memorable hook and chorus. Another love
song from Jeff, conspicuously absent from the Christie albums.
I Wouldn't Do That
A tale of mistaken disloyalty backed by a gorgeous, medium-paced
refrain.
Idaho
Nice pop ballad lamenting about lost love and a girl named
Idaho.
Neon
Jungle
Another one of those songs that you hear in acoustic demo
form and can't help wondering how great it would sound with
electric guitar at the fore. Trademark catchy Christie hook
in this song about life in the fast lane.
Redemption
Boulevard
A beautiful keyboard introduction leads into one of of Jeff's
best lyrical compositions. A lovely ballad with poetic imagery
and clever use of words, a finished product would probably
have utilised a string or orchestral backing to complement
the haunting melody. The arrangement is reminiscent of a
song like Let It Be.
I Can't Wait Forever
Mid-tempo song with lilting verses which build up nicely
into the chorus. One of the many love songs Jeff has written
but never made the cut for eventual releases with Christie.
Leavin'
Town
Jeff revisits a favourite theme of his ... young outlaw
on the run after committing a crime. Nice strumming feel
to this song, which is embellished at the end with a little
falsetto refrain.
There'll Be No More
Rain
Though it's just Jeff on piano on the demo, this song still
sounds fine. Backed by guitars, drums and maybe even full
orchestration, this affirmative love song (the title says
it all) would have been a great product. There's a really
catchy hook in between.
House
Of Stone
Sad song about coping with living alone after the partner
has gone. "This house is a house of stone, now that
I'm all alone." Lovely melodic line to the chorus.
A Long Way From Home
Jeff takes to the piano and accompanies himself on this
slow, waltz-like ditty that harkens back to the ballad-style
days of the 40s and 50s. Jeff is truly a composer for all
musical genres.
Private
Eye
Probably inspired by reading about a private detective,
Jeff whips up a bright bouncy number that bops along nicely.
One from the country-pop-rock section of Jeff's musical
library.
All
In The Past
The very nature of demo songs conveys an organic sound which
can frequently embellish a piece better than loud production
accompaniments. Such may be the case with this tune, which
features Jeff strumming a guitar beautifully as he sings
about looking forward and forgetting the past, wrapped up
in a gorgeous melody.
When It's Over
The song's about a breakup but the melody's the strongest
point here. The demo features Jeff on guitar only, but throw
in some crashing drums and wailing guitar riffs and this
would be an amazing track.
Steal Away
"Why don't we steal away, steal away, just the two
of us?" Nice singalong refrain in a medium-tempoed
pop song.
Still My Heart Sings
A laid-back acoustic treatment imparts upon this poetic,
image-laden lyric the perfect treatment .. not unlike Paul
McCartney's Blackbird, the
melody is haunting and lingers in the mind after first listen.
Woman In Black
This was recorded in the Leeds BBC studios at the same time
as Jeff laid down the demo for Yellow
River. A total contrast to the upbeat country rock
of Christie's first hit, this gentle ballad shows off Jeff's
versatility at writing songs from assorted genres. Would
have made a strong album track had it been given a fuller
treatment.
Programmed
To Receive
Like many of the songs on this page, this offering is featured
on the 2012 double album
No Turn Unstoned. Only completed in acoustic form, it
shows potential to be transformed into a truly memorable
track, with its hooky title refrain that lingers in the
mind long after it's heard, and its social commentary on
the Pavlovian nature of society today.
Through The Looking
Glass
Psychedelic, progressive, alternative .. call it what you
will, but by and large every songwriter has tried his or
her hand at conjuring up sounds that were reminiscent of
the flower power culture of the late 60s. Jeff wrote a couple
of such songs for The Outer Limits, and had many more in
his repertoire, such as this Lewis Carrol-inspired piece,
resplendent with imagery-laden lyrics and cascading melodies
that showed he understood fully the intricacies of psychedelic
pop.
Turn The Pages Back
A contemplative ballad that reflects a desire to revisit
the past as Jeff soars with some very emotional vocal work.
What You Gonna Do
Many of Jeff's songs follow the melodic rock structure that
Paul McCartney specialised in, and this one could easily
have come from his songbook. There's a lovely acoustic guitar
accompanying a gentle, rolling tune that has the foot tapping
along.
Any Way at All
A great, bluesy number with plodding melody and thick guitar
riff, this song simply grabs you by the neck and refuses
to let go.
More solo sessions