Search - Lou Christie :: Beyond the Blue Horizon: More of the Best

Beyond Fantastic

Carolyn | Sherrill's Ford, NC USA | 12/15/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Happened upon this CD while browsing in a music store and am I glad I bought it! I wasn't familiar with all the songs, but in addition to Two Faces Have I and Rhapsody in the Rain, I absolutely LOVE She Sold Me Magic, Beyond the Blue Horizon, Riding in My Van, The Clouds of Rock Roll On, and, of course, the duet with Lesley Gore. I'm thrilled to hear that Lou is still doing concerts, I'll be watching for him to come my way."

Diverse Disc of Master Showman's Underappreciated Work

James E. Bagley | Sanatoga, PA USA | 07/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although his last hit of any kind was thirty years ago, Lou Christie and his supple falsetto (nobody moves from falsetto to regular voice and back again smoother than Lou) continues to be an in-demand live performer. This twenty-track set is a strong sequel to the Lou collection ENLIGHTNIN'MENT that contained his biggest hits "Lightning Strikes," "Rhapsody In The Rain," "Two Faces Have I," "The Gypsy Cried," and "I'm Gonna Make You Mine." The best known recording found here is the "clean" version of "Rhapsody In The Rain" which replaced the naughty original version that was banned by radio (inferred boinking in the car was a no-no during the '60s). We also get alternate versions of "Two Faces Have I" and "Outside The Gates Of Heaven" (the hit versions - along with the naughty original take on "Rhapsody In The Rain" - are available on ENLIGHTNIN'MENT) as well as his autobiographical "Painter," a minor pop hit on the MGM label from 1966.A pair of gems from 1970 represent his Buddah label tenure: the infectious "She Sold Me Magic" from 1970 (a # 1 hit in Japan that undeservedly stiffed stateside) and the romantic ballad "Indian Lady." With the 1973 album LOU CHRISTIE on the Three Brothers label, Lou went temporarily in a country direction (a typical move at the time for '60s pop artists looking to revitalize their career). The album's highlights are included here: the gentle "Beyond The Blue Horizon" (which became a big adult-contemporary hit) and "Good Mornin'/Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah," plus the rockin' "Hey You Cajun."The retro 1986 Lesley Gore duet "Since I Don't Have You/It's Only Make Believe" finds Lou in particularly fine voice. This sunny single unfortunately did not lead to an album with frequent touring mate Gore (or even a follow-up single). The three solo tracks that follow here are previously unreleased efforts from the '80s and '90s that probably should have stayed that way. They are the weakest tracks on this set. While not as hit-filled, MORE OF THE BEST is in many ways a more enjoyable album than ENLIGHTNIN'MENT, with subject matter and musical approaches that are far more diverse. I recommend adding both Lou Christie sets to your CD collection, if you haven't done so already."

Magnificent mix of styles/songs from a long career

Phil Rogers | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 07/22/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Note that Lou and his songwriting partner together concocted most of these songs over a period of 25+ years. She was gypsy and former concert pianist Twyla Herbert ? they met and began collaborating when he was 14 and she was 28. Wow!



?Two Faces Have I? ? One of the more groundbreaking singles of the mid-60s with its Jamaican ska beat ? its greatness escaped me at age 14 (1963) ? now it pretty much gives me chills. What a sound! What rhythm! What an arrangement! What great session musicians! And what a perfectly astounding mix! [5 stars]



?Outside the Gates of Heaven? A very up-tempo, doo-wop style song, the best part which might be the antics of the female back-up singers in the right channel of the stereo field. [3? stars]



?Merry-Go-Round? One of those candy-coated songs so prevalent in the earlier part of the sixties, here cooked practically to perfection. I wish it were in stereo, though. [3 stars]



?Have I Sinned?? needs some mid-range vocals to complement the high-pitched screaming, and maybe a somewhat slower tempo. The one amazing trick to the song is Lou doing short 2-part trumpet fanfares/licks with his double tracked voice. [2 stars]



?Big Time? One of Lou and Twyla?s most simple in terms in terms of form and lyrics, but melody and especially the back-up vocals really got fleshed out, possibly more than on any of their songs. Everyone singing does a totally gorgeous job, and the overall arrangement/mix is a wonder to behold, and great in stereo! [5 stars]



?Rhapsody in the Rain? ? the follow-up to ?Lightnin? Strikes?. I paid plenty of attention to the latter, none to this one ? in hindsight, an oversight. This one bears up very well to repeated listening. [5 stars]



?Painter? another ?Lightnin? Strikes? relative sound-alike. This got so little airplay in NE Ohio I didn?t get a chance to form an opinion, which was quite a pity ? it?s a good song, especially strong melodically and compositionally. The only thing holding it down is Lou?s voice sounding uncharacteristically strained. But check the cool Spanish-sounding trumpet solos. Singing sounds a bit strained, though. [3? stars]



?I Remember Gina? The first song on the CD that?s not a Christie-Herbert composition, it seems at first like a nod to the 4 Seasons (both their early and late incarnations). There?s an obvious sincerity and passion. There are multiple sections dovetailing together rather magically ? its more relaxed, less dense moments almost look forward to people like the Classics IV and Spanky & Our Gang, though in a slightly more driving, up-tempo sort of way. [5 stars]



?She Sold Me Magic? made no dent in the U.S. but was a colossal hit in Europe and Asia, including spending several weeks at #1 in Japan. Though its texture is relatively thin in some sections, still it is a great and passionate song, better as you listen to it more. The engineers did a terrific job on this innovative, well-crafted song. [5 stars]



?Indian Lady? is a rather unmemorable non-Christie song, with not much of a sound to it. [1 star]



?You Were the One? ? a pretty country song ? though a little too lushly orchestrated for my taste ? not a Christie/Herbert song. [3 stars]



?Beyond the Blue Horizon? A very pretty, very old song from the thirties. Christie?s vocal treatment doesn?t really suit it, though. [2 stars]



?Good Mornin?? Another nice song, but with not too much interest really. [2 stars]



?Hey You Cajun? A great Cajun/country meld. No falsetto. Great back-up vocals. Improves a lot with repeated listening. [5 stars]



?Riding in My Van? Very sincere and excited-sounding performance ? kind of simplistic composition, but, repetitiousness notwithstanding, it?s really a feel-gooder. [4 stars]



?Bitch of Fantasy? At the beginning, sings into some kind of megaphone effect to sounds like an African-American funk wailer ? think of the lead singer of the Chairmen of the Board (someone even better whom I can?t place) at other times like one of the Gibb brothers. His record company refused to release this one unless he changed the lyrics, which he didn?t do. This one starts out far better than it finishes as his voice loses some of its luster/juice about halfway through. [3 ? stars]



?Medley: Since I Don?t Have You/It?s Only Make Believe? with Lesley Gore. These two equally talented, equally expressive soloists (both first hit it big in 1963) plow into this one like it?s never done before, or done better. Be amazed to hear the section where Lesley harmonizes to Lou?s falsetto! Truly strong, beautiful stuff ? Chuck Jackson would have loved it I?m sure. [5 stars]



?Dancing On Shaky Ground? Terrific Cajun accordion introduction which recurs here and there. Efortless glide between his baritone and falsetto on this relatively medium-tempo disco romp. Upbeat and positive. Really fits the formula, and fills it out beautifully. Great how all the tendencies and instruments layer together. Lou sounds eternally young here ? the backup singers manage to sound half-human, half-munchkin, and it?s very effective. [5 stars]



?Here Comes Summer? Kind of a disco-rock ? sounds like a bunch of other tunes from the era, but it?s good anyway. Almost a slight tinge of Beach Boys ethos. Not a great tune, but very upbeat and positive.

[4 stars]



?The Clouds of Rock Roll On? another 70s sound-alike ? Lou (with himself singing harmony back-up vocals at the chorus) ? makes it sound just like a great new BeeGees song ? falsetto forever and ever! Here?s another song that gets better with each subsequent listening session. [5 stars]







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