Search - Tom Christopher :: Blue Guitar

What a great second record coming up! I heard it

Suzie Pemrooke | Amsterdam | 04/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am a writer for an English Pop paper. I had heard about Tom Christopher's CD while interviewing Steve Winwood in England. Tom's album "Blue Guitar" was playing as we spoke. Tom played in had played in the band Orleans but was Pop hits were not enough challenge. He lived/played with the brilliant Boona Boylan as well. Tom had played on a tour or two with everyone it seems and is always in great demand. There was a definite buzz in London about his solo album. It had charted high or a first effort. He was here to promote it and play from his second CD. I got the first CD, poured a glass on wine and put on my headphones. I fell in love. I am a journalist, drat it! But I am in love! I was determined to have an interview and meet him. I called my contact at BMG records. They gave me manager Ray Wilson, one of the most innovative men and powerful men in the New York music business. It made sense those two would hook, as Wilson is known to like difficult acts with quirky talent. Ray Wilson had managed Dom MacLean and Tom had been on those worldwide crazy tours, again he knew the hit parade was not all there was for him.
Yom did a signing earlier that day. They ran out of his CD so he signed any record with lines from the Bhahvad Gita", a Hindi Bible. What? I read the promo interview he gave and Tom speaks the CD being perfectly good for vacuuming??? What What??
I was found out (I am a journalist) Tom was staying at the St James Hotel so I called. A thick French accented girl answered and she told me in German (our almost common language) she would leave a pass for me tonight. (She later joked that I misunderstood and she would make a pass at me). She sounded like Catherine Deneuve. It was rumored they were an item. A scoop! Anyway I was backstage with a pass! There was no privacy here for an interview. Backstage was a mob scene with no security. I remember seeing Members of Harem, Catherine Deneuve, Marianne Faithful, Nicky Hopkins; Indian Devotees from the local Ashram had brought stick incense as good omens, and many odds and sods were about. New Castle Brown was plentiful with illegal substances being blown about by a huge fan. Madness!
Tom walked out with a Gold Top Gibson with Indian painting all over it. His Indian friends all closed their hands and chanted. No one understood. This was all too much.
The all-English band was a surprise as Tom Christopher is American. There was an American with a flag and as Tom passed this girl on the way to the stage said "Don't point that thing at me" The band kicked in at full volume. Where was the sensitive singer songwriter? Who cared! It was exhilarating music. They started with "mercy" In between one song Tom inexplicably said, "Beep if you know where you are". There with a jam on "House of Love", a sensational mantra piece followed, must be new I thought it was... called "Peace and Love"". Tom played Hell Hounds on My Trail and the place lit up! Then East West, by Butterfield. He announced his new record as a version 2.0 of the Electric Church (with bugs). What is that? Peace and Love had a voices saying Peace and Love in all languages in the background over Zen riffing that reached a crescendo like the old Yard birds raves!!!! And a big beat.... wow then they got it serious with The Warrior, Soul Sunday. Then {who's that Girl ==a great groove} everyone in this club understood we were all listening to a truly great guitar player. The next great guitar player. If Clapton is God, TC is Guru. The third encore had Tom play It's a great time To be Free". It certainly was a great time to be free. I found myself dancing with others. What great fun! In the audience I watched rich and famous guitar players become spellbound. what do you think? Who is this Tom guy? "after I went backstage there was a note for me from Tom " "Meet me in Morocco", TC This new sound is so organic and electrically vibrant and spiritual it will have followers devotes and hippies lining up for the mystique and beauty alone. Who is Tom Christopher? Wow
Lets do it again! Buy his records..."

James Taylor meets Joni Mitchell

Jenny Langland | Idaho | 12/21/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is magical and I am in love. Why can't men all confess like this and sing with warm smooth tones while playing liquid guitar. This is a guy with complications and a reserved love that is so understated you want to just love em and take him home! I have seen Tom live in a place in the Montana mountains called the Gallatin Gateway. It was 20 below and he played to a packed house. Richard Thompson was there, Joe Cocker and of course Jane Fonda too. Doesn't it just make sense! Everyone was so knocked out. He played his first album and songs from his second. He was completely self absorbed and his comments were well...out... Ray Wilson his brilliant manager and perhaps the most powerful executive in the NYC music scene said " Tom will be the Sam Shepard of rock and roll" Way cool.Our radio station plays "House of love" in which Tom mentions the obscure band "It's a beautiful day ", "Glass Harp"(even more obscure)but why? why? . Get this CD!"

If you miss early James Taylor Jackson Browne Joni Mitchell

Jenny Langland | 10/26/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like James Taylor, Jackson Browne and Joni Mitchell you remember the days when you poured over the albums and wore them out listening. It seemed each song fit a different colour of your personlity. As those artist grew older their albums changed. Tom Christopher has recreated that old feeling all us sensitive people miss. I poured over this CD and Tom's songs did evoke different colours in my soul. Wow! This album takes you on a journey of moods and paints wonderful pictures. Of course many don't know Tom was a pro studio player and buddy with Don Maclean ( American Pie). Tom played with Orleans, Jon Sebastion (Lovin Spoonful), Livingston Taylor,and with a bass player Jack bruce from Cream. That band was T Lavitz (Dregs) Tom (Don Maclean) Jack ( Cream) and Bruce Gary ( The Knack). His background is eclectic. Years behind the scenes really help make this CD have substance. Ray Wilson a New York legendary music promoter asked Tom to gather his friends amd make a record. Tom went into a cabin in Montana and wrote this album. Tom and friends from Woodstock recorded this CD in 20 below temps outside. When you listen to this CD it will be like Tom and the band are playing by a warm fire with snow outside gently falling as you let Tom lead you away to dreamland. Tom is the next James Taylor, but a better guitar player. I loved this CD. Don't pass it up, its our favorite at Montana State radio Buy it!"