Customer Reviews

Anthology

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Crispian, a former soldier, was expected to become a major star but didn't. He once told the world that he could write better songs than the Beatles and declared that they were past it. He also said he could sing as well as Elvis Presley and he could make him look like the statue of Liberty. He also claimed to be more exciting than Tom Jones. If he'd come even close to being right about all that, he would indeed have been a major star.

As it was, his first two singles (At this moment, No no no) both failed to chart. Having failed with two self-penned songs, he was persuaded to cover an American song - You were on my mind, a major American hit for We five. This became his biggest UK hit, peaking at number two. It remains the song he is best remembered for in his homeland. A year after its UK success it made the American top forty.

The next single, Pied piper, made the top five in Britain and America. It did even better in Canada, where it went all the way to number one. With a major international hit behind him, Crispian looked as if he was well set for stardom. It didn't happen. The follow-up. Changes (a cover of a Phil Ochs song) was a minor UK hit but that marked the end of his UK chart career. Crispian's boastful image had upset too many people in the music business and those people were able to wreak their revenge.

Crispian had several more singles, all but three of which are included in this set. Several B-sides and album tracks are also included. Crispian's life after stardom is sad but it seems that he has come to terms with his situation.

Crispian's style began as folk-pop but later tracks have a country influence. He even wrote and recorded a sequel song to Take me home country roads (Country roads I almost made it back). Crispian also covered John Denver's original song but that cover is omitted from this set.

All the essential tracks are here. I am not familiar with Crispian's other recordings but if (as one reviewer suggests) they are better than what's here, I'd certainly like to hear them. For somebody who only had two major hits, this is a brilliant compilation.

If you are interested in folk-pop music of the sixties, Crispian is well worth a listen.

Crispian St. Peters had two big hits in 1965-66 with "You Were on My Mind" and the "Pied Piper". He was expected to become big, but somehow he was not able maintain his success, and never again made the top twenty with his following singles. In 1967 he released the fine album "Follow Me" with all but the two hit-singles written by St Peters himself. A great song like "My Little Brown Eyes" would have been the logical follow-up to "The Pied Piper".

This CD is mostly a singles A`s and B`s compilation, containing most of his 1965-68 Decca singles. St Peters left Decca in 1968 to do a few singles and an album ( "Simply" ) for the Square label. A handful of these later recordings are also to be found here along with 3 songs recorded in 1990. Only few of these tracks come up to his best 1966-67 recordings.

The booklet contains a fine biography written by Chris Welch and a UK and German discography.

Though missing many of the best tracks from "Follow Me", still quite a good compilation.

Crispian St Peters was a prime case of ruination by mis-management - from a shy lad with talent to a manufactured braggard all but killed-off any chances he had of sustaining his early successes of 'You Were On My Mind' and 'Pied Piper' - both legendary numbers in their own right. There is, or was, much more to this would-be star than we remember from way back then, and tragic in a way he never realised his full potential. However, having searched far and wide for the originals of these two hit tracks, my collection is now all the richer with their inclusion - and with the others on the album I am really enjoying catching-up! The recordings are good quality and the selection of tracks interesting - well worth the spend!

Opens with 'You Were On My Mind' ("I've got troubles whoa woe I've got worries") and (with a slight nod to Elvis) it shows that Crispian has a gentle modest sounding voice more suited to folk protest & C&W rather than pop but it's a strong start. 'The Pied Piper' one of the most special songs from the 60s...but alas with those sinister words "that your life has kicked you" indicating not quite the jolly song that the flute seemingly suggests. Then an anticlimax via 'Free Spirit' which was a fairly poor choice as a single. 'But She's Untrue' (a pity Repertoire didn't compile this in true chronological order) the follow up to 'Changes' is a fine enough song though really not single material. Now comes 'Changes' which is for me anyway the best single that Crispian released. Written by Phil Ochs (brilliant lyrics) & sung in Crispian's soft melodious voice(s) (counter to himself) it still sounds brilliant today. Then comes 'Carolina' which was a 1968 A side & actually quite excellent & is followed by the strident 'At This Moment' & 'No No No' being Crispian's first two singles which are each pretty good (Crispian wrote both). 9th up the Fortunesesque 'Your Ever Changing Mind' is fine & after (the following 20) then things dip a little but with 'Do Daddy Do', 'It Ain't The Same', 'Sweet Lies', 'Please Take Me Back', 'Country Roads (I Almost Made It Back)', 'Sailing Deep Water' still working some magic. A couple of his better ones 'My Little Brown Eyes' & 'Almost Persuaded' are missing, but with at least 6 brilliant tunes then still a very impressive collection. Sung beautifully & modestly with a melancholic feel you can't help but like them. Crispian St. Peters will be greatly missed.

I think it such a pity that this talented singer and songwriter's only available CD contains hardly any of his best work. The real best of Chrispian St Peters is definately not on this CD. However, as this is the only available recording of Chrispian's work, do buy it. If you are a fan you will like it.

For somebody who back in the day and really only had one major hit "The Pied Piper" to say he was better than Elvis & The Beatles, I think the guy bit off a little more than he could chew, no wonder he's a one hit wonder. I give it one star just because I like his one hit.