Week of January 11, 1998
Personnel:
Mike Blakely - Drums
Jeff Christie - Vocals, Bass
Vic Elmes - Guitar
Paul Fenton - Drums
Albums:
Yellow River (UK CBS 4911) 1970
For All Mankind (Holland CBS S 64397) 1971
CDs:
Yellow River (Columbia/SONY COL 483591 2) 1995
For All Mankind (Columbia/SONY COL 487358 2) 1995
45s:
Yellow River/Down The Mississippi Line (CBS 4911) 1970
San Bernadino/Here I Am (CBS 5069) 1970
Man Of Many Faces/Country Sam (CBS 7081) 1971
Everything's Gonna Be Alright/Freewheelin' Man/Magic Highway (PS)
(CBS 9130) 1971
Iron Horse/Every Now And Then (CBS 7747) 1972
The Dealer/Pleasure And Pain (CBS 1438) 1973
Alabama/I'm Alive (Epic EPC 2044) 1974
Reissues:
Yellow River/Iron Horse (CBS 1145) 1973
Yellow River/(Flip by different artist) (Epic 152315) 1975
Yellow River/Iron Horse (CBS 5960) 1978
Yellow River/San Bernadino (Old Gold OG 9301) 1983
A pop trio best remembered for their No.1 hit, "Yellow River", a song originally written for The Tremeloes (who featured Mike Blakely's brother Alan). When The Tremeloes procrastinated, Jeff Christie, who'd written the song, decided to record it himself and the rest is history. Christie had evolved out of The Epics and Jeff Christie himself had earlier been in several bands including The Outer Limits. Mike Blakely had been in The Blossoms. "San Bernadino", another highly commercial song, gave them another Top Ten hit, but after one further minor hit "Iron Horse", they faded from contention. The second and last album, "For All Mankind" was issued only on the Continent.
Taken from The Tapestry of Delights
- The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic
and Progressive Eras 1963-1976, Vernon Joynson
ISBN 1 899855 04 1