Christie: The history of Yellow River
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
- The story of Christie's success with Yellow River is well-known. The Tremeloes spurned Jeff Christie's song, which in turn launched Jeff on his own way to a successful music career. Here a Dutch TV show interviews the players involved and gets their recollections on how the song Yellow River was produced, quickly becoming a pop classic and one of the biggest-selling singles of all time.
www.yellowriver.0catch.com
Hi Matthew. While this song has been regarded as a Vietnam War classic, I wrote it about a man returning from the US Civil War. But I am happy if it evoked good memories of the 70s for those who loved the song. Jeff
Hello Jeff---Yellow River is the most distinctive, clear, clean, and beautiful vocal that ever came along in the 70s. Though so many bands have tried to sing, no one match your vocal--the original. It is truly inspired.
Jeff Christie this song is the only good song on our crumby radio station in Outback Australia. It was my first riff based song I liked which led to getting into slade and eventually zeppelin and sabbath.
I was in Vietnam in 1970 and this is one of the songs I remember most. When I hear it I go back to those long nights in VN.
Hi mate, we sang your song all over Australia in the early days all over in a little place Called Kalgoorlie, , then Townsville/ Cairns,/ Melbourne, /Sydney/ New Zealand,, a great song still going strong Thankyou, You most probably never needed the royalties
I did charity mini concerts with Norwegian guy here in Thailand & we played this great tune. I had to correct him that yes, it was about American Civil War but popular with Vietnam soldiers (War is war, eh?). Really clever tune regarding chord changes. Still popular in SE Asia
It is a classic pop song. Will always be played somewhere in the world.
thank you for writing this song - born in 1969 this epic song belongs to my earliest music memories - this song is still helping people today with recovering from traumatic experiences - thank you
I've been enjoying this song since 1969.
It’s just that all the songs here are good, and the music of that time was a healing property for many, we understand this today, listening to old works, different energy and different rhythms, melodies and beauty of sound.
One of my all time favorites. I was 18 at the time.
this was the best song of the whole 70's. I know because I was there.
A true classic song and oh my haven’t you aged beautifully Jeff.
I had no idea this song was written about the American Civil War until watching this! But, it became an anthem for the American War in Vietnam. Song still moves me all these years later.
I thought it was about the Vietnam war. Go figure.
The "cannon" reference gives it away. Cannons weren't being used anymore by the time of Veit Nam.
Richard dude, they did write about the northamerikan civil war!
The Commander clearly was never in Vietnam. "Cannons" ain't what they used to be....
RichardFeynmanRules yup i thot so lol
One of my favorite songs, from my bittersweet year of life (1970). In July my very first boyfriend was tragically killed in a car wreck. In late August, I would meet the love of my life, with whom I was blessed with 45 years and 10 months of marriage. In my humble opinion, 1970 was the best year for rock and roll. The entire top 100 rock hits for the year 1970, are pretty much hard to beat.
I agree
So sad about losing your first boyfriend. Not to worry, he went to Heaven, and to a much better life.
There is something so bloody true about his voice, as if he's telling his own story, his own real-life story.
Everything you need to know is on the Christie website. Thanks for listening.
In late 1970 my Navy aircraft squadron deployed to Iceland. On weekends a local cover band would play in the club, and they were extremely good. They were the first group I heard perform Yellow River and I thought it was their own song. The group pretty much just mimic'd US song lyrics with a slight accent. Some local Icelanders thought they were singing "Yellow Reefer." Ha! Later found out that Christie was the original artist, and bought the record...never knew about the Tremeloes part of the equation though. Still a favorite with many memories. Thanks for sharing!
i wonder if it was the band trúbrot.
A Great Song that will live for a long long time the melody just stays with you along with that driving beat. I love this song.
Loved this song since I was a Child. Your voice was perfect for this masterpiece of a song you wrote. No other version sounds as good. I didn't think it sounded like a Tremeloes tune but more like Credence Clear Water Revival. And !! San Bernadino is classic all on its own well done Jeff👍👍👍👍👍
Love this song and love learning about its history, fascinating.
Somehow, I think because of the "cannon fire" lyric, I imagined a Civil War setting for the song. Loved it, and still do. Once, when I left an unpleasant job, this song was going through my head. It felt like I was leaving a war. Thanks for this song, Jeff.
Oh man... Always loved this song, so glad to see how it evolved! TY for the post!
Love this.......💚💚💚 love from,,,l New Zealand 🇳🇿
I remember this song when I have 5 years old and live in southern brazil....
This song is a number one on my young ages soundtrack ♥
I always remember all my young friends, my first book, my Daddy's house and makes me feel happy again.
Long time ago, but stills awesome♥
Thanks so much Mr. Jeff Christie!
Cheers♥
🤗 x
Big hit here in Uruguay,like a classic song that transcended many generations
love this song , a source of beautiful memories for me.
To this day, one of my top songs..I play all the time, and thank you all for this..Belong in
the archives for sure !~
This was my first 45 rpm record at age 14 in the early 70's...!!
Im 62 now and still addicted to this song.
Its a classic along with San Bernardino...
And American pie too by Don Mclean..
Tie a yellow ribbon, knock 3 times..
My sweet Lord n other incredible unforgettable songs.❤️❤️❤️
Well, if you're going to a one-hit wonder, make sure it's one that everyone will remember for decades to come. I can remember riding in my mom's '69 Impala and hearing it over CKLW, and being told to turn the volume down when this song came on. This was homecoming song for a lot of Vietnam veterans, as this was the time when we were winding down our involvement over there. Nowadays, my mom likes this song!
+brent rau "We were winding down our involvement over there" or, translated into plain English: "we were shamefully defeated and fled home with our big, fat, lardy asses torn to pieces"!!! Yanks are PATHETIC!!!
Were you over there fighting ? no Were you in Iraq fighting ? no Were you in any war fighting ? no YOU ARE A COWARD !!!
They were more than a one hit wonder the other hit being San Bernardino , a great recording
@@juanbbien I'm a Vietnam Vet and, though it tugs at my heart, it was written about a Confederate soldier and not Vietnam. ☺
This song to me is a statement that the English & Americans still have a kindred spirit.
I would never have thought this totally American song was written and performed by an Englishman.
Also : two other great Vietnam
songs : Reflections Of my Life
by Marmalade.
And; He Ain't Heavy ( the Hollies )
Excellent and informative video. I spent 22 minutes very pleasantly engrossed in it. I might add, what a lot of talented, nice guys.
Wow! Despite the fact that I have loved this song since I first heard it during my senior year of high school in Cleveland OH, I never knew any of the back story about the instrumental track by The Tremeloes (best remembered here in The States for Silence Is Golden and Here Comes My Baby), nor did I realize that you, Jeff, were "swapped out, then swapped back in" on the lead vocal. With the passage of 50 years since that time, as I approach my high school reunion, I look forward to being able to share this terrific tale with my classmates of five decades past. Additionally, I know that my brother, who served USMC in Vietnam '68-'69, will enjoy learning that the war you had actually been writing about preceded his service by almost 100 years, LOL! Thank you, Jeff, for such wonderful memories, as well as for this "learning opportunity" with the video here. Hope that you will keep bringing joy to others with your music wherever you may travel!! Brian Patrick Clarke, Orlando Florida
still have the single bought in South Africa where i lived at the time i was 13 years old thanks to you Christie
This song (San Bernadino also) brought me back to my youthful days. We used to dance a lot with this number. In a small corner of our country we remembered Christie so well because of this song.
And in 2021 my Classic Rock band is covering this. Great timeless song.
Still one of my favorite AM favorites. I remember the hair styles and fashion colors…..yes, I still sing along when it comes on the radio 😃
Great group,Christie.I remember in 1970,was4.My brother Barry would play back then.Barry passed away,July 19,2019.I dedicate this song to Barry Parsons.
back home where I used to in Iraq Baghdad Yellow River was number one song in every event and fest and wedding that. you can imagine and still I sing this song with my band and I lesting to it greating from Chicago USA
Always My Favorite! Thank You Christie! Good Memories*****
Well done and it brings back memories. Its appeal is the rythym and bass with playable chords, capped with a good memorable chourus into "Yellow River". And that's it.
Jeff Christie wrote, sang and recorded the original Yellow River, but with the Tremeloes as the backing band. The Tremeloes were offered the song but they declined to record it themselves. After YR became a success, they released it in Spanish. YR came out in 1970. No Comprendes was after that. All this and more can be found on the Christie website and Jeff Christie's Facenook page.
Jeff Christie great song
Such a great song. Made the radio an amazin place in the 70's. Sound of my childhood.Thank you.x
Great song beautiful voice ...my late father Peter loved this song & use to sing it in his act back in the 70's so I thank you sir ! * ..PDH.
Gracias, desconocía que existiera una versión en español, Thanks a lot
Remember this song on WABC, brought back good memories! Thanks for posting.
One of the first songs I learned to play at my guitar lessons and I still play it to this day I am 62 , I used to be in a rock band & we would play this song in Jr high . I remember when it first came out in 1970 . It was ment for the group CHRISTIE to record this song boy did the tremolos scew up !
Beautiful song and the best version by the writer Christie, have such fond memories of this song as my late father Peter loved this song and use to include it in his act around the social clubs of Birmingham back in the 70s ! ******PDH
Моя любимая песня. В молодости танцевали, влюблялись под эти песни и были безумно счастливы и беззаботно.👋👍👍👍👍👍👍💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
Is timeless great memory song bring so many energy to our world
Great story...Amazing song (childhood era)
Thanks for the small biography, great song and it still has a touch to the heart and soul. Your a remarkable man Jeff Christie.
i always loved this song and its was good to know its history THANKS
Wow, fascinating history of a song that has long been on my short list of all-time favorites. Thanks for posting this great video, and for writing such a great song!
Spotted the debut album at a store earlier today. Going to go back tomorrow and pick it up. Been looking for it for ages. Great video, this.
WELL WRITTEN LYRICS AND PERFORMED.
GREAT HIT OF EARLY 70"S
TREMELOES GREAT !!!
Christie---An old soul. He recognized the era of the Civil War, even though he was not OF that era....but still, he recognized it and wrote this incredible song.
+Carolyn Evers :I'm not disagreeing with you - but here's a different take on the song. --- Even tho Christie says the song was about a Civil War Confederate soldier - the parallels to the Vietnam War GI are very real. #1 "So long boy you can take my place" -, ( GI's were rotated from Nam when their year was up- usually replaced by someone.) #2 "Got my papers and got my pay." - (Papers = military orders for stateside.) #3 " Put my gun down the war is won." ( can't figure that one out . As neither Vietnam War was won by US. nor the Civil war was won by the Confederates.?) ----- #4 Timeframe of the song was during the latter stages of the US Vietnam War ( " put my gun down ..." ; " Cannon fire lingers in my mind...") A lot of Nam GI's can definitely relate to this song.
Thanks so much Jeff, Nice haunting tune and lyrics and Im sure even though based it on the American civil war.This song cay be apropos in many ways to many people. Eg. the Vietnam war or anyone who is a veteran returning home.
Always liked your music, Jeff.
Truly, a great song!!!!!!!!
Have always loved this song! Such great memories from back in the 70s!!♥️🎶 the Tremeloes song silence is golden is another song I loved!!👍
great song...well done Jeff.
Great song, loved it then, still love it today, brings back good memories...Thanx.
Hola desde Puebla México. Desde hace 50 años yo los he escuchado desde los tremelos .me encantan muy guapos todos ellos . desde siempre los amo.
Fantastic song, a legendary number.
GOOD MEMORIES FROM THE PAST.... THANK YOU CHRISTIE!!
Hi Jeff, I just wanted to let you know that I have always loved Yellow River. It's one of my all time favorites Thank you for writing it. Thank God the Tremeloes didnt release it as then we would not have the Christie version. Here in Australia it was covered by a band called Autumn, I think both version's charted here at the same time. But I liked your version better and still listen and sing along to it to this day.Thanks mate
It was the first real western LP I saw and heard as a boy in my life. It was officialy pressed behind the iron curtain, in Poland - a miracle (I was not aware of at all)! How come?! I loved the whole album. I still do play it from time to time. Thanks for the music, Jeff!!
Шикарная песня моего детства!!! Спасибо дружище!!!!
Cпасибо ребятам за работу, песня на все времена. Как услышу, так в молодость провалюсь. Evergreen
When I was a teen living in Northern Mexico in the 70s I recall this song and a presentation of the band Christie in my town and I was into Rock music (still am), i thought this band was fabulous. Yellow River played a lot on the radio but there was another great song of the band which I can´t recall. If you are Jeff Christie maybe you can recall those events ...Greetings
Wow -- I had no idea there was so much of a backstory to this song! I just heard it in the supermarket here in Pennsylvania (USA) the other night, and I came here to look for it and found this documentary. I will be post the link to Facebook shortly. I, too, thought it was about the Vietnam war... the only Yellow River I knew was in China.
Good stuff- It has a lot of heart.And so do you- thanks for telling the history, I thought it was Vietnam related as well - I was 9 yrs old at the time and learned guitar because of this kind of music
Love this song. I graduated hight school in 1973. Flunked 1st grade, which kept me out of Vietnam. I was mostly in a fog, heard hits. Liked certain groups. I cannot recall hearing this song. We live in Dallas TX area. MY dad was an Engineer at NASA till 1975. I still have his 69 Camaro. I am good at recalling tunes. I can sing or hum one tune. Picture another in my mind, then on the fly create (hum) a translation or in between to the other, while apparently switching keys. I played Claironet in hs for 6 years. My wife shuts down all my activities because of money. I just discovered last week "Gaslighting". I was almost there playing the guitar until my wife shut it down. I still have an Airplane in a hanger. It gives me joy and started picking up my guitar again. I was almost there. I could go up and down scales. It won't take long to pick it up.
I remember "Yellow River" getting alot of air play on radio during the summer of 1970.
It was in the Top 40 for some time, I had kept my Top 40 Radio flyers for many years.
Sometimes so many years go by, you don't hear the song for so long, you think you dreamed it! Thank goodness for RUclips, because alot of radio stations ignore this music.I never knew Jeff Christie was English. Thought the group Christie was American. (The Tremeloes have also been a favorite group of mine since the 60's.)
This was super interesting!!! Thanks Jeff for sharing :o) xxx
10 yrs old,best student in class,my class teacher promised me a present if i would sing for the class.
I remember vividly 45 years later...the only words they could understand was,"yellow river,yellow river"....in fact ,the only words i knew of the song.
It is always my favorite, like many during the time frame it fit Vietnam War perfectly. Just decided to look up the meaning of the song. I would have guessed that yellow river would have been something flowing with stench in Vietnam! Thanks Jeff for a monumental song! Raymond
As a teenager in Florida I loved this song. Wonderful memories.
This song is in my playlist ❤️👏
Loved the sideburns
Without a doubt, this is one of the best hits of the 70's. Thanks for posting this.
love this song and the memories it holds for me
Joined The Marine Core 1976 and song played a couple of times on the radio, became one of my favorites.
We had a band here in Australia called Jigsaw cover your song in the early 70s, I think that is the first version that I ever heard on radio. But after listening to your version I have found that nothing beats the original.
+yowie65 Yeah, and the clip with the band playing on the boat sailing down the Thames, with the houses of Parliament and Big Ben in the background is so atmospheric and interesting! BEAUTIFUL!!!
did they play sky high 1975?
@@bosuxredsux5127
Here in Australia Sky High was played by ‘British Jigsaw’ no doubt in order to to distinguish between the two groups.
Arguably, the best pop song of all time...
+David Dubery Errr, no! "She loves you" is far more intricate, interesting, varied, and exciting!
+Javier Gil Vidal No slur intended on "Yellow River" though, which is great. Been humming it on and off for almost five decades!
@@javiergilvidal1558 I much prefer Yellow River. The mind optics are very visual, haunting melody, etc.
@@philbrown1474 The haunting melody is quite rightly so, because it is classical, written by a true musician who knew what he was doing, as opposed to these "rock" hacks and impostors: ruclips.net/video/YVzLc7syPkA/видео.html
@@javiergilvidal1558 get a life man 🙄
The 7 inch vinyl single sounded fantastic on this record on the old mono record player.. Cheers Christie One of my all time fav records to this day
This song is my all time fav ty Jeff ox
One of my fav songs and very popular in Madras India when I was living there my home town . Such a great song to sing to and sung at all jam sessions dances pound socials and house parties . By the way pound parties are where you bring a pound of snacks or chips or whatever that can be eaten . No entrance fee . Those were beautiful times in Madras in the 70’s which will never come back . Cheers and thank you Jeff Christie from Australia .
The greatest song for all times.
Wow, never knew the history of this song. So Glad Jeff recorded it. I still listen to the song today. God bless...✝☮💖💛
Amazing song Jeff love it
In Australia we had the International record ban at the time Christie recorded this. A band called Jigsaw did a copy that reached No1 here. Like Christie Yellow River was their only success....its a song ive always aligned with the wonders of being a 15 and 16 year old, discovering the world outside school. Great, wonderful 70s!
Trying to learn this one now. Love it! Remember it well!
I was 10 on overnight train from in Italy and in the compartment I was with my dad a gentleman offered us some coffee and played on a cassette yellow river. First time I heard this song it really impressed me. Still a fresh nice memory.
Thank you so much! It's very beautiful song! ❤
Great story!
KB
It's happened a few times in life , people missing out on a good thing .. But I really believe it was faith he got to preform the song himself . Because of his interest in the subject of the lyrics ..San Bernardino was a great song too ..
Мы ее на танцах играли. Я молодость вспоминаю и играю ее.Серега Завгородний с Горловки научил. Спасибо Кристи!
I listen to this song on daily basis nd while listening imagine a very young couple javing close your eyes nd listen to this beautiful song
yellow river this song took a place wherever we play in our parties in Baghdad I sang this song when I was young with my band in the end of seventies the people always ask us to sing it really I can not forget this song now, I am in 60 years old and I hear it a gain thank you Jeff for this immortal song
Thanks Salam ! What a great
Story ! Good luck to Iraq.
You deserve it after all.you've been
through.
Amei a entrevista com christie, obrigado
I remember the song from when I was a boy. I thought it was about a Vietnam war soldier since it mentioned about getting (discharge) papers and I thought Yellow River was some sort of commune the guy wanted to get back to. I was a bit troubled by the war being won since the US ended up losing that one. A rare song you can tell is great the first time you hear it. The tune and lyrics come together just right. Christie has the best version, I don't think it would have done as well as it did if the Tremeloes version was released instead.
Incrível esta reportagem! Show de bola. A música é ótima. Dave na bateria e cantando... wonderfull.
one of my favorite growing up...thanks for reminding
Loved this song, one of the catchiest ever - just keeps rolling on, as the guy says. It always reminded me of a typical Creedence Clearwater Revival type of song (who ironically recorded a Green River) more than a typical Tremeloes. I thought that Iron Horse, had it been the follow up (instead of San Bernadino), would have also been a big hit. It has that certain bit of magic, but by the time of its release Yellow River had faded somewhat from the memory.
+hauntboy Hey, never thought of it, but yes, you're dead right: "Yellow River" would have made a perfect CCR song!
Wonderful
Wow. Best quality sounds and old song music late 70s😊
O maior acervo musical dos anos 50, 60, 70 e 80 está nas minhas mãos - demorei 55 anos pra contruí-lo - Essa música faz parte da minha juventude e do tempo em que eu sonhava ter todas as músicas do mundo. Por isso virei DJ e montei uma das primeiras casas noturnas de São Paulo em 1971 e onde eu tocava as melhores músicas até 1999. RECORDAR É VIVER, MÚSICA É CULTURA, MÚSICA É A MELHOR TERAPIA PARA OS NOSSOS DIAS DE VIOLÊNCIA, INTOLERÂNCIA RELIGIOSA, POLÍTICA, SOCIAL....etc... MÚSICA É REMÉDIO ATÉ PARA CÂNCER, COM DEUS A FRENTE DE TUDO, É CLARO!.....e eu sou testemunha viva disso. Meu amigo, Jeff Christie me enviou mensagem dizendo que ama o Brasil e lembra quando esteve aqui em 1971 para receber o disco de ouro e o cinturão de platina num programa de TV.
Hi Mr. Christie, how are you? I discovered your song when I was 11 years old, searching my dad’s grand collection of LPs and cassetes. This was back in 2005. Yellow River is still my favorite song, together with Del Shannon’s Runaway. In my home country, Yellow River was number one, and it is still remembered as one of Rock n’ Roll’s best! Anyways, I’d love to get a reply from you. It would really make my day. (PS: I also love many of your other songs, such as Iron Horse, and my wife’s favorite, Everything’s Gonna be Alright).
Love this song!
I’ve always loved this song.
I listen this song in the earliest 70 in my neighborhood billiards in Madrid, I was 12 then.