Beyond the Blue Horizon: More of the Best

Lou Christie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 27, 1994)
• Original Release Date: September 27, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B0000014UT
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #363,012 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Two Faces Have I [#]

2. Outside the Gates of Heaven [#]

3. Merry-Go-Round

4. Have I Sinned

5. Big Time

6. Rhapsody in the Rain

7. Painter

8. I Remember Gina

9. She Sold Me Magic

10. Indian Lady

11. You Were the One

12. Beyond the Blue Horizon

13. Good Mornin'/Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

14. Hey You Cajun

15. Riding in My Van

16. Bitch of Fantasy [#]

17. Medley: Since I Don't Have You/It's Only Make Believe

18. Dancing on Shaky Ground [#]

19. Here Comes Summer [#]

20. The Clouds of Rock Roll On [#]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Diverse Disc of Master Showman's Underappreciated Work, July 31, 2003

By 

James E. Bagley "Jim Bagley" (Sanatoga, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond the Blue Horizon: More of the Best (Audio CD)

Although his last hit of any kind was thirty years ago, Lou Christie and his supple falsetto (nobody moves from falsetto to regular voice and back again smoother than Lou) continues to be an in-demand live performer. This twenty-track set is a strong sequel to the Lou collection ENLIGHTNIN'MENT that contained his biggest hits "Lightning Strikes," "Rhapsody In The Rain," "Two Faces Have I," "The Gypsy Cried," and "I'm Gonna Make You Mine."

The best known recording found here is the "clean" version of "Rhapsody In The Rain" which replaced the naughty original version that was banned by radio (inferred boinking in the car was a no-no during the '60s). We also get alternate versions of "Two Faces Have I" and "Outside The Gates Of Heaven" (the hit versions - along with the naughty original take on "Rhapsody In The Rain" - are available on ENLIGHTNIN'MENT) as well as his autobiographical "Painter," a minor pop hit on the MGM label from 1966.

A pair of gems from 1970 represent his Buddah label tenure: the infectious "She Sold Me Magic" from 1970 (a # 1 hit in Japan that undeservedly stiffed stateside) and the romantic ballad "Indian Lady." With the 1973 album LOU CHRISTIE on the Three Brothers label, Lou went temporarily in a country direction (a typical move at the time for '60s pop artists looking to revitalize their career). The album's highlights are included here: the gentle "Beyond The Blue Horizon" (which became a big adult-contemporary hit) and "Good Mornin'/Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah," plus the rockin' "Hey You Cajun."

The retro 1986 Lesley Gore duet "Since I Don't Have You/It's Only Make Believe" finds Lou in particularly fine voice. This sunny single unfortunately did not lead to an album with frequent touring mate Gore (or even a follow-up single). The three solo tracks that follow here are previously unreleased efforts from the '80s and '90s that probably should have stayed that way. They are the weakest tracks on this set.

While not as hit-filled, MORE OF THE BEST is in many ways a more enjoyable album than ENLIGHTNIN'MENT, with subject matter and musical approaches that are far more diverse. I recommend adding both Lou Christie sets to your CD collection, if you haven't done so already.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Rendition of A Classic Song, September 29, 2002

By 

Lois Finn Magovern (Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond the Blue Horizon: More of the Best (Audio CD)

In "Beyond the Blue Horizon", Lou Christie gives his personal touch to the great classic. Only when I heard the song played as the sign-off theme on an overnight New York-based radio show, did I hear the song played publicly. Now, many can listen nightly and hear Mr. Christie's rendition.
Also, on the album, the combination of "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah"/
"Good Mornin'" is a terrific piece I often play for my middle school students as they enter the classroom...a real eye-opener!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beyond Fantastic, December 15, 1999

By 

Carolyn "Author of Every Little Step She Take... (Sherrill's Ford, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond the Blue Horizon: More of the Best (Audio CD)

Happened upon this CD while browsing in a music store and am I glad I bought it! I wasn't familiar with all the songs, but in addition to Two Faces Have I and Rhapsody in the Rain, I absolutely LOVE She Sold Me Magic, Beyond the Blue Horizon, Riding in My Van, The Clouds of Rock Roll On, and, of course, the duet with Lesley Gore. I'm thrilled to hear that Lou is still doing concerts, I'll be watching for him to come my way.