Songs



Christie
Songs
 
subhead
subhead
 
The Magic Highway

 

THE CHRISTIE CANON

Here is a rundown of every record release by Christie, and recordings of interest associated with the group. To read an analysis of each song, click on the title:

1967/68
When The Work Is Thru'
Just One More Chance/Help Me Please
Great Train Robbery/Sweet Freedom

1968
Travelling Circus/Henry Long

1969
Dance Round The Maypole/ Right Toe Blues
Yesterday Man/Every Day


1970
Yellow River/Down The Mississippi Line

1970
San Bernadino/Here I Am

1970
L'Amerique

1970
Yellow River/San Bernardino (live at Sopot)

1971
Man Of Many Faces/Country Sam

1971
Peace Lovin' Man/Picture Painter

1972
Everything's Gonna Be Alright/Freewheelin' Man /Inside Looking Out/Iron Horse

1972
Iron Horse/Every Now And Then/Everything's Gonna Be Alright

1972
Jo Jo's Band/California Sunshine/El Jugador

1972
Fools Gold /Born to Lose/California Sunshine

1973
The Dealer/Pleasure And Pain

1970-73
Christie Live At The BBC

1974
Alabama/I'm Alive

1974
Guantanamera/Navajo/Inside Looking Out/New York City

1975/76
Most Wanted Man In The USA/Rockin' Suzanna

1979
Turn On Your Lovelight/You and Me

1980
Both Ends Of The Rainbow/Turn On Your Lovelight

1980
Tightrope/Somebody Else

1980s
Yellow River/
San Bernadino/
Iron Horse
re-recordings

1989/90
Safe In Your Arms

1990/92
Yellow River/San Bernadino

1997
Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
Yuletide Lights

1997
Yellow River (with Formula Diablos)

2006
Tonight/Movin'On/Ba Ba Boo Bah

2010
Hattrick of Lions (Come On England)

2015
For All Mankind (
digital)

2021
You're Not There (with Lorenzo Gabanizza)

2022
Guess I Am The Only One (with Lorenzo Gabanizza)

2022
Country Boy (Stranded Hobos)

2023
I Don't Want To Live Without You (with Lorenzo Gabanizza)

2024
Rainy Day Man (with Lorenzo Gabanizza)

2024
One In A Million (digital)

Ordinary People (digital)

ALBUMS

1970
Christie

1971
For All Mankind

1972
The Third Album?

1972
Los Mas Grandes Exitos

1974
Christie (Mexico)

2004
Christie Again
- Greatest Hits and More

2008
Outer Limits/
Floored Masters
Past Imperfect

2012
No Turn Unstoned

2024
Here & Now

THE REPERTOIRE SET

2005
Christie
For All Mankind

MISCELLANEOUS

The songs reviewed

Digital downloads

EPs

The Iron Curtain versions

Re-issues, sheet music, etc

Record labels

*Note: catalogue numbers are not provided as they differ from country to country.

 

 

THE Christie sound is simple — unpretentious pop music with a driving beat, or in the case of their ballads, a lilting melody to carry the track through. The band were even dubbed the "English Creedence". The majority of the songs were the product of Jeff Christie's songwriting genius — the composer of the supremely magnificent Yellow River managed to come up with several other pieces which, while all commercial and catchy in their own way, did not suffer from being similar to each other.
     The liner notes on Christie's first LP claimed Jeff had at the time already written more than 150 songs — one can only wonder at just how many of Jeff's wonderful compositions still remain out of the public domain.
     Lead guitarist Vic Elmes' contributions should not be overlooked; he often played a trademark Christie introduction to many of the rocky pop songs — a piledriving jangly riff (and variations thereof) that would hook the listener straight away.
     Paul Fenton's drumming is a treat — even though most of the Christie recordings were straightforward pop fare, the percussionist's innovative stickwork is evidenced on many of the songs. Unfairly to Paul, many record sleeve covers often recycle old Christie photos showing his predecessor Mike Blakley as a member, even though the singles featured Paul. Paul reflects on this confusion in his interview.
     The group were keen to produce more than just commercial pop songs though, or as composer Jeff explains, they wanted to play "more progressive music". This was evidenced on the group's second album, when they experimented with a heavier sound, which they also translated onto their stage shows. But these were only minor diversions, as the band realised that fans would only buy songs that had immediate appeal.
     All subsequent releases after the second album retained the toe-tapping Christie formula. If you liked Yellow River, you will enjoy 99 per cent of every other Christie offering.

All the songs released by Christie on singles or albums have been collected on two stunning CDs released by Repertoire Records.