Yellow River (song)
| "Yellow River" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Christie | ||||
| from the album Christie | ||||
| B-side | "Down the Mississippi Line" | |||
| Released | 23 April 1970 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 2:44 | |||
| Label | CBS (UK) Epic (US) | |||
| Songwriter | Jeff Christie | |||
| Producer | Mike Smith | |||
| Christie singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Yellow River" on YouTube | ||||
"Yellow River" is a song written by Jeff Christie and recorded by the British band Christie. It was released in 1970 and became a No. 1 hit song for the band in the UK.[1]
Background
Jeff Christie, the leader of Christie, first offered the song to The Tremeloes. They recorded it with the intention of releasing it as a single at the beginning of 1970. However, after the success of their single, "(Call Me) Number One", the band decided to go in a different direction. Instead of releasing "Yellow River" as the follow-up single, they went with one of their own compositions, "By the Way", which was only a minor Top 40 success.
Producer Mike Smith then took the Tremeloes' vocals off the recording and added Jeff Christie's. Released as a single on 23 April 1970, it became an international hit, reaching number 1 on the UK Singles Chart for one week in June 1970. In the US, it reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2]
In the song, the actual location of Yellow River is not specified, although the author, Jeff Christie, is on record as saying that it was inspired by the idea of a soldier going home at the end of the American Civil War.[3] As the song was released during the Vietnam War, it has been interpreted as being about a soldier leaving the U.S. Military at the end of his period of conscription.
Personnel
- Jeff Christie – lead vocals (Christie release)
- Dave Munden – lead vocals (Tremeloes release), drums
- Rick Westwood – lead guitar
- Alan Blakley – rhythm guitar
- Len Hawkes – bass guitar
Chart performance
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Other versions
"Yellow River" has spawned a host of covers by artists as diverse as R.E.M., Leapy Lee, Elton John, The Compton Brothers, Middle of the Road, Chris Rea, Bernd Spier, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Mayada, and Joe Dassin (his rendition, named "L'Amérique" reached No. 1 in France).[13]
In Australia, Christie's version of "Yellow River" gained only limited airplay due to the 1970 radio ban. Local bands Jigsaw from Melbourne and Autumn from Sydney both had success with their cover versions.[14] On the Go-Set National Top 60 it peaked at number one in October and was credited to Christie, Autumn, Jigsaw and Leapy Lee.[15]
In the USSR, the band Singing Guitars (Поющие гитары) used the melody of "Yellow River" paired with the words to a Russian children's song called "Fat Karlsson" ("Толстый Карлсон").[16]
See also
References
- ^ Pingitore, Silvia (1 November 2020). "50 years from Yellow River: interview with Jeff Christie". Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 126.
- ^ Youtube recording of interview, copyright to Nederlandse Programma Stichting, 2003, uploaded to Jeff Christie's Youtube channel, 4 February 2011 |https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyza1A00AxA&t=1m46s
- ^ "Cash Box - International Best Sellers" (PDF). Cash Box. 26 September 1970. p. 50. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 13 September 1971. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "Billboard "Hits of the World"". 23 January 1971. p. 65. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 26, 1970". Retrieved 3 March 2008.
- ^ Flavour of New Zealand, 14 September 1970
- ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts 1970" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1970". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
- ^ "Charts singles Top 50 en France: TOP 100 ANNUEL 1970".
- ^ "Yellow River - Autumn". PopArchives.com.au. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
- ^ Nimmervoll, Ed (31 October 1970). "Go-Set Australian Charts - 31 October 1970". Go-Set. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Текст песни "Толстый Карлсон" поэта Ильи Резника". 13 March 2018.
