Customer Reviews

Christie

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's got the hits you probabaly haven't heard in a long time, if ever. Yep, they were English, all right, but if 'San Bernadino' and 'Yellow River' and 'Down The Mississippi Line' and 'Country Boy (get the idea?) don't sound like El Cerrito's own CCR, then CCR doesn't sound like they really were born on the bayou after all.

To listen to Christie again is like to come back to those good years ago, it's magic and really a wonderful feeling.
The trio pass to all who listen to them the good sound from the 70's and playing only guitar, bass and drums. Chiristie's sound is clear and pure.
The Cd brings 8 bonus tracks to give you an unforgetable gift, some songs released in singles and never released on the Lp before.
How I love this record and I was hoping for this cd for a long time.

Christie was a group either behind or ahead of its time...depending on your perspective. They were out of step with the early 70s progressive rock movement...but pre-dated the rock revival and glam rock scene by several years.

This reissue of their first album (plus bonus tracks) is a long overdue gem. The songs are all catchy and riff laden mini-masterpieces. Apart from their hits ("Yellow River" and "San Bernadino") there's a wealth of great stuff to enjoy here..."Country Boy" being a standout. A very highly recommended reissue. Repertoire's remastering is exemplary.

Christie got catapulted to worldwide fame when the delightful pop confection "Yellow River" became a huge hit, making #1 in many countries, and #23 here in the US. It's followup, the inexplicably misspelled "San Bernadino" (it should be "Bernardino") also hit big, but only managed a lowly #92 in the US. About a year and a half later, "Iron Horse" became Christie's third and final hit, even though it failed to make it in the UK or US, it charted elsewhere. This CD compilation comprises the entire UK LP (including 2 tracks not issued on the US release) that was quickly recorded to capitalize on the success of "Yellow River". It sounds that way. The songs aren't too remarkable; there's a sameness about the tracks that gets a bit tedious. It's a shame they didn't include the B-side single version of "Down the Mississippi Line", which is superior to the LP cut. And the mono mix of "Yellow River" would have been a logical addition as well. Bonus tracks include a few other single A-sides that are pretty good, too.

Christie's style of music was simple, high-energy rock with country influences. Jeff Christie was their main songwriter and lead singer. They made it to number one in the UK charts with Yellow river in 1970 although it was quickly knocked off the top my Mungo Jerry's classic In the summertime. Following that success, their next single, San Bernadino, became a top ten UK hit. Any hopes that they might have a string of hits after that were quickly dispelled as they only had one other UK hit - Iron horse, which only briefly crept in at the bottom of the charts. I get the impression that Christie were more successful in Germany, where their music has been easier to find on CD's.

In the seventies, pop and rock music became ever more complex so the simple sounds of Christie soon went out of fashion. Nevertheless, their music is highly entertaining and worthy of a place in any collection of rock oldies.

One of misconceptions that ruined early 70s pop-scene for whatever present day decadent digital close-cropped kids was that Jeff Christie was rephrasing Chuck Berry or something. In effect, the Christie band epitomised the glory and power of big beat which in itself was quite removed from rock'n'roll idiom. True, this German-mastermind rerelease is as lavish on touch as it is void of original rugged CBS sound (to say nothing about disappearing vinyl ability to colour and protrude the stage even more). Nevertheless, band's manner comes straighforward, the studio gear neutral and tube-rough (harmonic-rich, unequalized and background-noise intact!). Hence the sound, empowering and overly convincing. In "San Bernadino", arguably Jeff's underestimated track and any studio engineer's token, those traits are particularly noteworthy. Pity, the band went heavy primitive since then (as Jeff chose to compensate riffs for sheer energy) but after all, the release reminds us of how great the initial Christie (with Blakely in place of Fenton or Cattini on drums, that is!) were live. There's unfrotunately NO Blakely's participation on "The Missisipi Line" (no single vertion!) here. Man, the guy used to be so unbriddled live, it's shame Jeff handicapped the lineup so by firing him. Another objection of mine regards absence of bonus track 22 on my copy. Is Repertoire into regional version release policy or was Amazon miscalculating tracks?

When I heard 'Yellow River' for the first time in decades, it sparked me to seek out the 'Voice of Tony Burrows' CD, so convinced I was that Christie was yet another of the Burrows led groups of the early 70's such as Edison Lighthouse. White Plaines, Brotherhood of Man, First Class, et al. Upon receiving the Burrows recording, I was disappointed to find Christie's Yellow River was not included in the compilation. How could the producers omit such a classic? Upon researching further, the answer became apparent. Tony Burrows and Christie had nothing to do with one another.

So I ordered 'Christie', ear unheard, so to speak, and what an unexpected pleasure it turned out to be! Other than 'Yellow River', I had never before heard any of the selections included therein but was delighted with the disc from the first listen. After a month, it remains in permanent rotation in the car and it gets regular listenings. The tightness of this three man band is something to behold and the recording comes with my highest recommendation, whatever THAT's worth. But if you enjoyed the catchy tunes of Tony Burrows, you'll really appreciate the sounds of Christie.

If 'until the dawn' is the greatest song ever written ...
'i gotta be free' is #2 --- this record remains one of the greatest finds for these 2 songs in addition to 'yellow river'

When I was 17 y.o. I bought this vinil, and after, 38 years, I could find and enjoy, the CD from my teenshood.

Alain Querette ( from Brazil)

Finding Christie is like finding my childhood,back in the early 70's. I knew Christie from my dad's Top of The Pops audio cassettes. It's really a long journey for me to find it. Name it, "Yellow River" and the ultimate one (for me), "Iron Horse". All are written by the man of the band, Jeff Christie (vocal & bass). I also found another hit that I missed the tittle for long time, "Every Now and Then" (written by guitarist Vic Elmes)

I'd like to give it 5 stars, since I love this compilation. But for the sound, it reduced to 4. Although for me it's OK since it's made in 70's audio technologies. I don't know what/how many track recording they used, but I found it sound like mono. I'm not audio expert so I maybe wrong, but my ears can tell if it has perfect sound or not.

Before reading the brochure inside, I thought they're American band,(like Grandfunk Railroad? haha). People can tell it from their music (basic rock with blues and country taste) and songs tittles (New York City? Mississipi? San Bernardino?). But no, they come from UK. Well, you got me, Christie....