Lou Christie - Gypsy Bells: Columbia Recordings 1967 - Import CD

Credits:

Lou Christie

Description:

Lou Christie, with his instantly recognizable four-octave voice, had many hits. In 1966, Lou Christie had a string of hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," which reached No. 1 in the U.S. At the height of his popularity, his manager, Stan Polley, planned to transfer him from MGM to Columbia, where he recorded a number of singles. In 1967, Charlie Carrero, already a major producer and arranger, produced several singles with the aim of surpassing his previous hits, but they failed to become national hits, and the recordings left behind never saw the light of day. The recordings that remained in storage at Columbia are now finally being released.The eerie "Don't Stop Me," the lilting "Self Expression," a plea for progress and equality, the classic Christy-esque "Yellow Lights Say" and "Gypsy Bells," the unexpectedly raw "Paper And Paste," and especially the hook-laden "Holding On For Dear Love," and "Blue Champagne," co-written with Zilla Herbert, surpass "Escape. Holding On For Dear Love"; "Blue Champagne," co-written with Zilla Herbert, which even surpasses "Escape;" Jobim's "Meditation;" Bacharach & David's "How Many Days Of Sadness;" Carl Fischer/ Bill Carey's "You're A Good Man"; and the unexpectedly raw "Paper And Paste. Bill Carey's "You've Changed," you'll hear his voice as you've never heard it before. The breadth of the songs here is a testament to how he was influenced by a wide variety of music and skillfully incorporated those elements to create something both rich and quite unique.