U.K Hit, U.S. Miss: Chris Andrews

 

CHRIS ANDREWS-Yesterday Man/Too Bad You Don't Want Me US Atco 45-6385 1965

Chris Andrews, a virtual unknown in the U.S. was best known in the U.K. as a song writer behind several hits, especially for Sandie Shaw who made the Top Ten in Britain with his tunes "Girl Don't Come", "I'll Stop At Nothing", "Message Understood" and "Long Live Love". 

"Yesterday Man" was his solo debut (of sorts, he previously cut a 45 for Decca in '63 as "Chris Ravel and The Ravers" and received double billing with Adam Faith (another artist who recorded his material) with backing by our heroes The Roulettes. It was issued in the U.K. as Decca F 12236 in September of '65 where it went to # 3, released here two months later it did absolutely nothing.

"Yesterday Man", written by Andrews,  is a mid tempo number backed by some brass that has an almost cod ska feel to it and musically reminds me of a Sandie Shaw record (I swear I can hear her caterwauling on the backing vocals). It's infectious and quite an ear worm, for me anyway, and in a good way.

Speaking of Sandie...on the flip we have "Too Bad You Don't Want Me", which she recorded for her second long player "Me" in 1965. Like the A-side it's another Andrews composition and like Sandie's version it's almost beyond the singer's range creating quite a vocal strain that makes for an almost unlistenable feel. Mores the pity because the musical backing is catchy as hell!

Hear "Yesterday Man":

https://youtu.be/W6N3o4TDYsI

Hear "Too Bad You Don't Want Me":

https://youtu.be/q-eisJt8Ouo

Great Obscure U.K. 60's Sides:Yesterday Man Redeemed!

CHRIS ANDREWS-Hold On/Easy Australia Decca Y7372 1967

Chris Andrews is best known for his September '65 U.K. smash "Yesterday Man" (#3) and for penning a slew of hits for Adam Faith and Sandie Shaw.  In true classic 60's fashion of bland M.O.R. pop stars being capable of something "freaky" we have his September 1967 track "Hold On".  Our copy is Australian, it's U.K. issue was Decca F 22668. It was produced by Ken Woodman (responsible for some of our fave "easy" releases in the 60's) and unlike several of his other singles was NOT a hit.

"Hold On" starts out with some shimmering, distorted guitar worthy of The Fleur De Ly's or a Jimmy Page session that continues through the whole number giving it some real balls while Chris croons in his usual fashion.  There's some subtle organ running through the back that compliments the freaky guitar and the whole thing actually works.

"Easy" is a piece of inoffensive pop that falls somewhere between Donovan's "Bleak City Woman" and The Kinks "Little Miss Queen Of Darkness".  He would go on to cut a slew of soppy, sappy M.O.R. tunes however there was one more redeeming point 1969's "Maker Of Mistakes" (flip of his internationally successful "Pretty Belinda") a nice slice of regal, toy town pop psych worth checking out.

"Hold On" graced  Past And Present's "New Rubble Volume Six: Painting The Time".

Hear "Hold On":

https://youtu.be/rHZgLMJ-a4g