As lead singer of the group Christie, things may have turned out differently had the group he offered his song to in the first place not rejected it…
By Ian Woolley
The pivotal moment in the Jeff Christie Story was in 1970, the year he offered “Yellow River” to the Tremeloes.
Jeff on the pull (credit Jeff Christie)
“Being a big band at the time, if they recorded it the chances of it going top ten were pretty good” Jeff tells me. “It would have meant I would have broken through as a songwriter. They sat on it for months and months but cooled on it as they were changing direction by that time.”
“They had a big hit with “Call Me (Number One)” and although they recorded it and put it on one of their albums, that was it. By that time everybody had heard it and a PR guy called me and said that he thought my voice was fine on it and that I should record it. Alan Blakley told me years later it was the biggest mistake the ‘Trems’ ever made.”
The result, well…30 million worldwide and a No.1 in an incredible 26 countries. “Yellow River” even won an Ivor Novello Award. Christie’s song took over at the top of the charts from the England World Cup squad and three weeks later they were knocked off by Mungo Jerry.
“We could see Ray (Dorsett) and his band hurtling up the charts with “In The Summertime” which was like a breath of fresh air. A song that wouldn’t be politically correct today with the ‘woke’ brigade but what with the concerts that summer it felt right.”
Jeff Christie (right) with Rainer Frank & Ray Dorsett (credit Rainer Frank)
“Ray and I have been mates for a long time and if he hadn’t come out with that song we could have been there for a few more weeks I think. It’s like the Wild West all over again”.
“One minute you’re the fastest gun in the west and some punk comes along and blows you away. No hard feelings Ray”.
Recently it has been an eventful couple of years for Jeff Christie.
A couple of successful singles with Lorenzo Gabanizza, a collaboration with a US country music artist, a connection with a Ukrainian tribute band, promoting a cancer charity, and an appearance on TV. That’s apart from his new album on the horizon.
A few years in the making, Jeff is pleased with the way it’s turned out. A really unusual fact is that it involves one of his long-time fans.
“Lorenzo is an Italian singer and songwriter and I had been aware of him for some time as he had recorded some of my songs in the past. He’s had chart success in this country and America and he got in touch with me as his mother had died and he had written this song as a tribute to her. As she was a long-time fan of my music, he told me it would mean so much to him if I would collaborate on the record with him. I don’t normally get involved with other people’s songs as I’m too busy with my own but as he was a long-time fan I told him to send it over and that I would give it serious consideration. It was a good song and was such a beautiful tribute to his mother that I thought I will do this. I went into the studio and sang some vocals on top of his.”
“In some ways, it’s my best body of work with very mature writing and getting it the best way I can get it.”
Read more of this exclusive interview in our May issue of the Beat. Part one of Jeff’s story was published in the February 2022 issue which is available to order via our website.
For more info about Jeff Christie, visit his website www.jeffchristie.com