Tony Christie

[Eman]

Just wanted to know if there are any other Tony Christie fans? I only discovered him back in 2005 when I was on holiday in Spain. "Amarillo" was a big hit and I couldn't get away from it. I guess cuz of the Comic Relief thing. I then bought the "Definitive Collection" cd and couldn't get enough. My question for you all is what original lps would you recommend for me to seek out which aren't compilations. I played my cd today and forgotten how much this man's voice takes me back to that holiday. Also on the same trip I discovered "IL DIVO" and "G4" . I know "G4" broke up already.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Eman, although we are not so familiar with IL Deva or G4, we know that Tony Christie has a good following of fans here on the forum and has featured on the Spotlight.
We have 3 Lps purchased in the 70s, the first in 1973, titled With "Loving Feeling" with .."Amarillo," "Avenues and Alleyways," and a special favourite "So Deep Is The Night," but Twelve great tracks. Two others purchased in 1974,titled .."From America With Love" getting away from Amarillo and the usual, recorded in Los Angeles and just Two tracks recorded in London, and "It's Good To Be Me" also 12 good tracks.
He appeared on our screens recently to talk about his tour.

[Marian]

Here's a link to a Tony Christie website Eman. There seems to be quite a lot of info about him there, but Ihave a feeling it must be new, as there don't appear to be any members yet!
http://www.tonychristie.com/tc/

[john]

Apparently he is touring the U.K this spring and even coming to Blackpool.

[paul jh]

I had forgotten about G4. Some forum members like Il Divo, bit I can't stand them. Blake also came out around this time. They seem a bit less manufactured, but I wouldn't buy their records.

[Eman]

For those who don't know that IL DIVO was a Simon Cowell creation putting together pop and opera. G4 was I think the second runner up in The X Factor and was groomed and managed by Louis Walsh who also manages Boyzone and Westlife. I know the winner of X Factor that go around was some bloke named Steve Bernstien or something like that as I have his CD somewhere. I'm afraid I don't know who Blake is though.

Thanks for the info on the Tony Christie lps, I'm gonna go round the shops here to see if they might have something in the import isles or dollar bins. You never know what you might find in there.

[mariana44]

Il Divo and G4 have both had a good deal of success, even though G4 broke up, although I believe Jonathan was trying a solo career, but I do not think it is working just yet.

Blake did not come from a reality show-we do not hear much of them these days.

Steve Bernstein is one of the POP IDOL finalists who sank very quicly, along with Michelle Mcmanus, and Leon from X Factor-even Shayne Ward seems to be lost now--it is not always a guarantee to success.
Actuallyu Steve may have come from x factor-not sure on that one.

I think the best of these shows was the first one, that Will Young won, along with Gareth Gates as runner up--it had some really good singers, but again most of them are not heard of today.

I have not heard much of Will lately, but Gareth has been in several musicals -including "Joseph "

[paul jh]

Alan Titchmarsh often played recordings from Blake on Melodies for You.

I think the name is Steve Brookstein. He won the first X-Factor.

I agree that the first Pop Idol provided the most long lasting careers. Hasn't Darius had a good career too? I think Will Young was acting recently, but he'll come out with more music one day; he has such a distinctive voice.

Shayne Ward released an album last year with some singles, but they quickly fell down the charts. Leona Lewis seems to be taking a long break, which doesn't disappoint me at all. I liked Leon's voice, but it doesn't stand out. Alexandra Burke has had radio hits, but not great sales. She'll find it tough going with her second album unless she finds great songs.

I agree that winning or making the top tier doesn't guarantee any success. At a Borders last night that is closing, CDs were 70% off. Almost half of them were from past American Idol contestants. That's why I have to laugh at everyone (e.g., Tom Hanks and other TV personalities) so upset about Pia leaving American Idol so early and people predicting she'll be successful. I want to see how many of them will care enough to buy her album or attend a concert. She'll have more success being a wedding singer and teaching.

[mariana44]

Yes, of course it wass Steve Brookstein.

Darius has done really well for himself, and proving to be very adaptable--he did so well in ther Opers singer show.

Strangely enough, I recently bought a dvd--forget the name of it now--but they were searching for a band, and this was Darius first showing--he did not actually win---it was the group Hearsay, with Kym Marsh, Suzzanne Shaw, and Myleene Klass. the group broke up sometime ago--and the 2 boys have faded into obscurity, but all 3 of the girls are doing well. Likewise Darius, as I do not think he was even in the runner up band--I have not finished the dvd yet.

I am really enjoying it, as for some reason, I did not see it when it was on Tv.

That is the trouble now with all these x-vactor, pop-idol type contests--not only does the wimmer get a record deal, but all the also rans--I have never bought a cd from any of the pop idol, x factor winners---except I bought a Carrie Underwood cd a few years back.

[karl]

I have seen Tony Christie twice within the last 6 years and he was absolutely brilliant.

I remember that he and Jackie Trent both recorded So Deep Is The Night for an album around the same time, Tony sang it and he sounded just like he did 30 years ago still hitting and holding the notes.

Last month I saw him again and he did the whole show, Tony is a small slim man but can he sing - his voice is stronger than ever and he deserved the ovation we gave him at the end, of course he kept Amarillo until almost the end and the roof came off!!!!

[Eman]

Karl, that is so cool. I read somewhere that he has a new album out but they didn't mention the title. I'm still seeking out vinyl copies of his older lps. I just like the way vinyl sounds. I've been a fan since 2005!! I know he wasn't big here in the U.S. but oh well America's loss!!

[karl]

Eman Tony's latest cd is called Now's The Time, it was released this year and it's a very contemporary sounding album, he sang several of the songs during his recent concert, his previous cd released in 2008 is called Made In Sheffield. I also have all his vinyl albums and will list them below:-

I'm Not In Love (1976)
From America - With Love (1974)
It's Good To Be Me (1974)
Tony Christie Live (1975)
With Loving Feeling (1973)
Tony Christie (1971)

There was also a Best Of album too which must be in my attic.

[Eman]

Cool, thanks Karl!

[karl]

I like Il Divo & Blake and have their cd's, I also have the two Steve Brookstein recorded and Leon Jackson's - all very good.

Eman there are other cd's Tony Christie cd's I have purchaed on my travels over the years as he is very popular in Europe, I almost bought a cd by him in Amsterdam last week as it included Amarillo in Spanish - I never knew he recorded in other languages!

[Eman]

Karl,
Yeah I didn't know that either. It was Amarillo and the Red Nose Thing with Peter Kay that got me hooked. As I heard it when I was on holiday in Spain in 2005 and couldn't escape it. It was being played everywhere!!