Christie was a British pop band formed at the end of the 1960s.
<… Read Full Bio ↴(1)
Christie was a British pop band formed at the end of the 1960s.
In addition to Jeff Christie (born Jeffrey Christie, 12 July 1946, Leeds, Yorkshire, England) - vocalist, bassist and songwriter; they initially included guitarist Vic Elmes and drummer Mike Blakely (born Michael Blakely, 12 January 1947, Bromley, Kent, England) who is the younger brother of The Tremeloes' Alan Blakely.
Jeff Christie had initially worked with several bands including The Outer Limits, who released "Just One More Chance"/"Help Me Please" (1967) and "Great Train Robbery"/"Sweet Freedom" (1968), and Acid Gallery, whose single "Dance Around The Maypole" (1969) was written by Roy Wood.
That year Jeff Christie offered his composition "Yellow River" to The Tremeloes. They recorded it to release as a single, but when they changed their minds they allowed Christie to use the backing track themselves. The result was a UK number one hit in May 1970, and subsequently #23 in the U.S..
The follow-up single, "San Bernadino" (October 1970) reached UK Number 7 and Number 1 in Germany, but only U.S. #100. Both tracks became flash songs on their eponymous debut album of that year, and it stayed on U.S. Billboard chart for ten weeks. But the trio failed to sustain a lasting career, and Blakley was replaced by Paul Fenton just before the release of the band's second album, For All Mankind (1971).
Lem Lubin (ex-Unit Four Plus Two) was added to the line-up for Iron Horse (1972), but the title track proved to be the band's final hit single. The departure of Fenton and Lubin hastened the demise of the original line-up, but Jeff Christie returned with new members Terry Fogg (drums), Roger Flavell (bass), and Danny Krieger (guitar). A 1974 single "Alabama"/"I'm Alive" failed to resurrect the band's fortunes, and new members Tony Ferguson (guitar) and Roger Willis (drums) were brought in to join Christie and Flavell.
Jeff Christie disbanded the group in 1976. He released two solo singles for the RK label in 1980, and since then has written advertising jingles and appear on classic hits shows singing his greatest hits.
"Jo Jo's Band", written by Elmes, was a chart-topper in Argentina and Brazil, while the last Christie hit, "Navajo", was Number 1 in Mexico.
Jeff Christie reformed the band in 1990 with members of UK band Tubeless Hearts, Kev Moore, Simon Kay and Adrian 'Fos' Foster. They tried to represent United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1991, but were unsuccessful. They continued to tour for a further twelve years all over Europe, Russia and Israel, recording intermittently.
(2)
Singer/Songwriter from the Northwich area.
Original songs and hundreds of covers you’ll know.
Influences:
Jackson Browne, Andy Shauf, Julien Baker, John Martyn, Bon Iver/Justin Vernon, Radiohead, Pinegrove, Fenne Lily, Mitski, Bob Seger, Frightened Rabbit, Elliot Smith, Pearl Jam/Eddie Vedder, Joan Armatrading, Phoebe Bridgers, City and Colour, Fleetwood Mac, Nick Drake, Paolo Nutini, Damien Rice, Regina Spektor, Sharon Van Etten, Joni Mitchell, Red Hot Chili Peppers/John Frusciante, Tracy Chapman, Jose Gonzales, Rhye
For All Mankind
Christie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was born in northern England in a time of strife and stress
The war was over and somebody said we'd won
But I was too young to know all the damage that was done
Now looking back, there are things that I recall
I was frightened of the dark when I was small
They said it's over now at last
Think of the future not the past
And we will try, To build a new and better life
Out of darkness we'll bring light for all mankind
Yes we will strive, Now until the end of time
For the sake of you and I
And all mankind
Sometimes I think of all the prizes we have won
But we are no richer now than before when we had none
I look around and I see ashes everywhere
Yet the madness still goes on, Doesn't anybody care
Though, on reflection, there are words that I still hear
Could it be that someone somewhere is sincere
No matter what the price may be
We must believe in sanity
And we will try, To build a new and better life
Out of darkness we'll bring light for all mankind
Yes we will strive, Now until the end of time
For the sake of you and I
And all mankind
Christie's song For All Mankind tells a story of the artist's childhood memories growing up in Northern England. The lyrics capture the aftermath of the war and the political unrest that continued to affect everyday life. Despite the challenges, the artist expresses a hopeful sentiment, a desire to strive for a better world for all mankind. The song speaks to the resilience of the human spirit, the capacity for us to hold on to hope even in the most difficult times.
The lyrics show how the past can continue to influence the present, as the artist reflects on the damage done by the war and the ongoing pain and suffering around us. However, the artist also reminds us that even in the darkest times, there is a glimmer of hope. It is up to us to believe in a better future and to work towards building a better world for all of us.
Overall, the song is a powerful message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. It highlights the artist's ability to use their experiences to craft a meaningful message that continues to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
My childhood wasn't what you might call a success
My upbringing wasn't exactly ideal
I was born in northern England in a time of strife and stress
I was brought into this world during a chaotic time in the north of England
The war was over and somebody said we'd won
A war had ended, and someone claimed we emerged victorious
But I was too young to know all the damage that was done
But I was too young to comprehend the amount of destruction that occurred
Now looking back, there are things that I recall
In retrospect, memories come to mind
I was frightened of the dark when I was small
I was scared of darkness as a child
They said it's over now at last
People exclaimed that the turmoil was finally over
Think of the future not the past
Focus on what lies ahead, not what's behind
Sometimes I think of all the prizes we have won
At times, I ponder all the accolades we've achieved
But we are no richer now than before when we had none
However, we haven't truly benefitted from these awards
I look around and I see ashes everywhere
As I examine my surroundings, all I see is debris
Yet the madness still goes on, Doesn't anybody care
Despite the aftermath, the insanity persists, and no one seems to be concerned
Though, on reflection, there are words that I still hear
Upon reflection, certain phrases still echo in my mind
Could it be that someone somewhere is sincere
Perhaps there's an individual out there who's genuine
No matter what the price may be
Regardless of the cost
We must believe in sanity
We must hold onto reason
And we will try, To build a new and better life
And we'll make an effort to create a superior existence
Out of darkness we'll bring light for all mankind
From a place of desolation, we'll generate hope for all people
Yes we will strive, Now until the end of time
Indeed, we'll strive to achieve this goal until eternity's end
For the sake of you and I
For the benefit of you and me
And all mankind
And for all the human race
Contributed by Maria F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.