Christopher Frederick Andrews (born 15 October 1942) is an English-German singer-songwriter and producer, whose musical career started in the late 1950s.[1][2][3][4] His biggest hits as a solo artist include "To Whom It Concerns", "Yesterday Man", and "Pretty Belinda". He had thirteen number one songs between five countries between 1965 and 1970.
Chris Andrews | |
|---|---|
 Chris Andrews performing in Germany (2014) | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Christopher Frederick Andrews |
| Born | 15 October 1942 |
| Origin | Romford, Essex, England |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
| Labels | Decca, Vogue Schallplatten |
| Website | www |
Andrews was a songwriter, and wrote songs for many artists, including Sandie Shaw, who he wrote other fifteen songs for, such as "As Long as You're Happy Baby", "Don't Run Away", "Girl Don't Come", "I'll Stop At Nothing", "Long Live Love", "Message Understood", "Nothing Comes Easy", "Run", "Show Me", "Think It All Over", "Today", "Tomorrow", and "You've Not Changed".
Career edit
Early career and songwriting edit
When Andrews was in his mid teens, he had formed his own group, Chris Ravel and the Ravers.[5] One of the records made by the Ravers, which according to Andrews probably only sold around five copies, is said to have been purchased by Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones.[6] On 14 March 1959, he made his British television debut, performing on the Oh, Boy! show. He would later return in April to perform a cover of Cliff Richard's, "Move It".
For Adam Faith, Andrews wrote "The First Time"[7] (No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart, 1963)[8] and "We Are in Love" (No. 11, 1964),[8] and then a string of hits for Sandie Shaw. They included "Girl Don't Come" (No. 3, 1964/65), "I'll Stop at Nothing" (No. 4, 1965), "Message Understood" (No. 6, 1965) and "Long Live Love" (No. 1, 1965).[5] The latter remained a chart topper in the UK Singles Chart for three weeks.[9][10] "Girl Don't Come" was covered by Cher on her debut album, All I Really Want to Do.[11]
As a songwriter, Andrews has also written "I'll Remember Tonight" for The Mamas & the Papas, "Out Love Has Gone" for The Fortunes, and "Heart of Stone" for Suzi Quatro.
Solo career edit
Also in 1965, Andrews as a solo artist, reached No. 3 in the UK with the single "Yesterday Man",[12] which peaked in Germany at No. 1 for four weeks;[13] followed up with a No. 13 hit in the UK "To Whom It Concerns".[9] The instrumental section of this song was used as the theme for RTÉ's long-running TV programme, The Late Late Show, until 1999, and a re-arranged version returned as the show's theme music in September 2009.[2] As well as obtaining a high placing in the UK chart, "Yesterday Man" climbed to No. 1 in Ireland and Germany. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[7]
Later releases by Andrews were not as successful, but his own hits are seen as early examples of bluebeat influenced white pop music. Although his chart appearances dwindled in Britain by 1966, his chart topping success continued in mainland Europe for a number of years, particularly in Germany, and Andrews often recorded in foreign languages.[1] It is possible that Chris Andrews' huge success in Germany was connected to the fact that his two UK hits, at least, were rhythmically redolent of Oom-pah music (although not intentionally so; see above), thus making them more acceptable to older German audiences who would not have liked many of the other Anglophone songs which became hits there.[citation needed]
In South Africa, his later single releases proved particularly popular,[14] with "Pretty Belinda" (1969), "Carol OK" and "Brown Eyes" (both 1970) all topping the charts there. "Yo Yo" reached No. 7 at the end of 1970. Throughout the 70s and 80s, Andrews worked mainly as a record producer.[6] Those same four songs all went to number one in Zimbabwe, where surprisingly, Andrews had the most number one singles in any country.
Between 2009 and 2013, he released three songs in collaboration with Tobee. These include "Pretty Belinda – Schlauchboot" (2009), "Pretty Belinda – Skilift" (2010), and "White Christmas" (2013). "Pretty Belinda – Schlauchboot" went to 58 on German charts,[15] marking the first time he was on any music chart since 1970 with "Yo Yo".
Andrews remains active in his career as a singer-songwriter, working primarily in Germany, continental Europe and in the United Kingdom.
Personal life edit
Andrews was born Christopher Frederick Andrews in Romford, Essex, England. He learned how to play the piano at age five, and switched from blues music to rock and roll at the age of twelve.[16] Inspired by Lonnie Donegan, he also learned how to play the guitar.[16]
He lives with his second wife Alexandra, who is also his manager, in Selm, Germany, and Mallorca. Because of the Brexit vote, Andrews also obtained German citizenship in 2016.[17]
Songwriting credits edit
- "To Whom It Concerns" – Keith
- "Groovy Baby 1969
- "As Long as You're Happy Baby" – Sandie Shaw
- "Come Closer" – Adam Faith
- "Don't Run Away" – Sandie Shaw
- "The First Time" – Adam Faith
- "Girl Don't Come" – Sandie Shaw
- "Heart of Stone" – Suzi Quatro
- "Here's Another Day" – Adam Faith
- "How Can You Tell" – Sandie Shaw
- "If Ever You Need Me" - Sandie Shaw
- "I'll Remember Tonight" – The Mamas & the Papas
- "I'll Stop at Nothing" – Sandie Shaw
- "Long Live Love" – Sandie Shaw
- "Message Understood" – Sandie Shaw
- "Nothing Comes Easy" – Sandie Shaw
- "Nothing Less than Brilliant" – Sandie Shaw
- "Our Love Has Gone" – The Fortunes
- "Run" – Sandie Shaw
- "Show Me" – Sandie Shaw
- "Think It All Over" – Sandie Shaw
- "Think Sometimes About Me" – Sandie Shaw
- "Today" – Sandie Shaw
- "Tomorrow" – Sandie Shaw
- "We Are in Love" – Adam Faith
- "You Don't Love Me" – The Roulettes
- "You've Not Changed" – Sandie Shaw[18]
Discography edit
Albums edit
- Sings Chris Andrews (1970)
Extended play's edit
- Ton jour de chance (1965)
- Yesterday Man (1965)
- Lady, Oh Lady (1966)
- Merci cherie (1966)
- Stop That Girl (1966)
- Is Anybody Listening (1967)
- That's What She Said (1967)
Singles edit
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [20][9] |
AUS [21] |
AUT [22] |
BE (FLA) [23] |
BE (WA) [24] |
CAN [25] |
GER [15] |
IRE [26] |
NL [27] |
NOR [28] |
NZ [29][30] |
SA [31] |
US [32] |
ZIM [33] | ||
| "I Do" (as Chris Ravel and the Ravers) | 1963 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Someone's Taken Maria Away" (with Adam Faith and the Roulettes) | 1965 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Yesterday Man" | 3 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 94 | 2 | |
| "To Whom It Concerns" | 13 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 45 | — | 3 | 9 | 3 | — | 4 | 4 | — | 3 | |
| "Something on My Mind" | 1966 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | — | — | — |
| "What'cha Gonna Do Now" | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Stop That Girl" | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "That's What She Said" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "You're Gonna Like This" (Germany-only release) | 1967 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "I'll Walk to You" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Hold On" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "The Man with the Red Balloon" | 1968 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Pretty Belinda" | 1969 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 5 | — | 8 | 3 | 10 | 1 | — | 1 |
| "Carole OK" | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | |
| "Maker of Mistakes" (Netherlands-only release) | 1970 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Brown Eyes" (Germany and South Africa-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | |
| "Yo Yo" | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | 1 | |
| "Lovely Lorraine" (as Tony Sumner; Germany-only release) | 1971 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Michigan River" (Germany and Sweden-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Seltsam sind die Wege der Liebe" (Germany-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Maybe You're the Love of My Life" (Sweden-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Hallo Lovely Lorraine" (as Tony Sumner; Germany-only release) | 1972 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Lazy Days" (Germany-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Sugar Daddy" (Germany, Austria and Spain-only release) | 1973 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "I Love Ya" (Germany and Spain-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Do You Wanna Love Me" (Germany-only release) | 1974 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Rainstorm" | 1977 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "The Girls of Brazil" (Germany and Netherlands-only release) | 1985 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Let Go!" (Netherlands-only release) | 1988 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Get Up and Party" (Germany-only release) | 1993 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Pretty Belinda – Schlauchboot" (with Tobee) | 2009 | — | — | 75 | — | — | — | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Pretty Belinda – Skilift" (with Tobee) | 2010 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 97 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Take Me to the Limit" (with Leticia) | 2011 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Life in England" | 2012 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "White Christmas" (with Tobee) | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Die Nacht ist da zum Feiern" (with Guido Westermann) | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Never Miss the Water" | 2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Unterberger, Richie (15 October 1942). "Chris Andrews – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ a b "Chris Andrews". IMDb.com database. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ His birth date is sometimes stated as 1938, notably in Larkin, C., Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music (Muze UK Ltd, 1997) ISBN 0-7535-0149-X
- ^ "Schlagersänger aus Selm: Das sagt Chris Andrews über den Brexit" (in German). ruhrnachrichten. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ a b Larkin C Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music, (Muze UK Ltd, 1997) ISBN 0-7535-0149-X p13
- ^ a b Angus, Janet (November 1983). "Chris Andrews - Producer (HSR Nov 1983)". Home & Studio Recording. pp. 40–42.
- ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 186. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 193. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 24. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 495. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Sendra, Tim. "All I Really Want to Do – Cher : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ Nugent, Stephen, Anne Fowler, Pete Fowler: Chart Log of American/British Top 20 Hits, 1955–1974. In: Gillett, Charlie, Simon Frith (ed.): Rock File 4. Frogmore, St. Albans: Panther Books, 1976, p. 70
- ^ Ehnert, Günter (ed.): Hit Bilanz. Deutsche Chart Singles 1956–1980. Hamburg: Taurus Press, 1990, p. 17
- ^ Brian Currin. "South African Rock Lists Website – SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (A)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ a b "Suche - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Chris Andrews – Official Website » Biografie English" (in German). Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ "Das sagt Chris Andrews über den Brexit". www.ruhrnachrichten.de.
- ^ "Chris Andrews – Songs". AllMusic. 15 October 1942. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ a b "Chris Andrews discography - RYM/Sonemic". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "CHRIS ANDREWS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
- ^ "Das österreichische Hitparaden- und Musik-Portal". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "Image : RPM Weekly". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "norwegiancharts.com - Norwegian charts portal". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "flavour of new zealand - search lever". www.flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". www.flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Acts (A)". 9 May 2019. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1994). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1993. Record Research. p. 15. ISBN 9780898201048.
- ^ Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
External links edit
- Official website
- Chris Andrews discography at Discogs