Genre: rock
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Brighter Days
Company: Manticore
Catalog: MAS-503S1
Year: 1974
Country/State: Wivenhoe, UK
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: original inner sleeve
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5781
Price: $20.00
So here's one of those journeymen British artists who's been recording since the late 1960s, accumulating a modest recording catalog along the way, but never really generating much attention in the States (or really in his native UK). That said, the funny thing about Keith Christmas is that he's quite talented and has had a couple of brushes with near success, including recording an album with support from the critically acclaimed Mighty Baby and providing support on David Bowie's debut album.
1974 saw Christmas continuing his corporate wanderings, this time out signed by the Motown affiliated Manticore label. As home to one of the era's bigger selling acts in the form of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Manticore had the resources to break Christmas to a broader audience, but naturally it didn't happen. Working with Greg Lake and Pete Sinfield in the production chair (the two working separately and together), 1974's "Brighter Day" was considerably more diverse and commercial than his earlier offerings (see my comments on the individual songs). As such it probably came as somewhat of a shock for longtime fans. On the other hand you couldn't really blame the guy for wanting to breakthrough and attract a bigger audience. For his part Christmas had one of those voices that wasn't particularly commercial, but had a quirky appeal that grew on you if given a chance.; particularly when he avoided reaching for the higher registers. The album was also noteworthy for the extensive list of guest musicians including members of ELP and King Crimson.
- Wow, the album started out with a totally unexpected move - a slamming slice of horn-propelled funk !!! Hard to imagine Christmas' voice would sound decent in a funk groove, but the man somehow managed to pull it off. Amazing performance and Phil Collins should hang his head in shame ... rating: ***** stars
- A more typical Christmas effort, 'Foothills' was an interesting ballad featuring some cheesy 1970s Moog synthesizer from Pete Solly. To my ears the pasteral track had a distinctive Stevie Winwood and Traffic flavor. rating: *** stars
- In case you couldn't guess, 'Country Farm' found Christmas trying out a country-flavored mid-tempo number. I've never really understood English fascination with country and western, but I'll take that as a personal shortcoming. Still, the song sucked. rating: * star
- ' The Bargees' was a patented sensitive singer/songwriter effort. Pretty, but not particularly memorable to me. rating: ** stars
- Complete with harps, 'Lover's Cabaret' started out as an extremely fey ballad, but about halfway through morphed into a cool jazzy piece, went back to the touchy-feely vibe, and the back to the jazzy mode. Should've stuck with the jazzy feel. rating: ** stars
- 'Robin Head' pulled a page out of the Fairport Convention catalog of English folk tunes. If you liked that renaissance feel you'll be okay. Otherwise, well on to the next song. rating: ** stars
- The original UK pressing didn't include Christmas' cover of 'My Girl' leaving you to suspect that it was added to the US pressing in a misguided attempt to increase the album's commercial potential. Talk about grasping at marketing straws ... To his credit Christmas didn't totally butcher this Motown classic, but you had to wonder what the point was. Musically it really didn't stray that far from the original (good thing), but Christmas' high pitched, uncomfortable delivery wasn't a great deal of fun. rating: ** stars
- Apparently an autobiographical ditty, 'Could Do Better' was about as close to the blues as you were going to get. The funny thing is that the song actually had a catchy groove that kind of sucked you in. rating: *** stars
- Another mid tempo ballad, 'Song Of A Drifter' included a pretty melody and some nice electric guitar from Neil Hubbard. Imagine Al Stewart without the historical underpinning and you'll get a taste of what to expect. rating: *** stars
Elsewhere Manticore actually tapped the album for an American single:
- 1974's 'My Girl' b/w 'My Girl' (Manticore catalog number MA 7004F).
In the UK two album affiliated singles were released:
- 1974's 'Brighter Day' b/w 'Sweet Change' (Manticore catalog number K 13057)
- 1974's 'My Girl' b/w 'Country Farm' (Manticore catalog number K-13509)
Not a masterpiece, but intriguing and more than enough to make me look for some of Christmas' earlier offerings. I'll let you know what I think when (if) I ever stumble across those items since they're apparently quite rare.
"Brighter
Day" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Brighter
Day (Keith Christmas) -
2.) Foothills (Keith
Christmas) -
3.) Country Farm (Keith
Christmas) -
4.) The Bargees (Keith
Christmas) -
(side
2)
1.) Lover's Cabaret
(Keith Christmas) -
2.) Robin Head (Keith
Christmas) -
3.) My Girl (Smokey Robinson - Ronald White) -
4.) Could Do Better (Keith
Christmas) -
5.) Song Of A Drifter (Keith
Christmas) -
Naturally the original UK release sported a different cover and a slightly different track listing - the UK album featuring another Christmas original 'Gettin' Religion' versus the US pressing cover of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles 'My Girl'. True Christmas wasn't the greatest lookin' guy you'd ever seen (not that I should be pointing a finger), but gawd only knows why Manticore marketing elected to slap different artwork on the US release. Hard to imagine that they expected Terea Sohn's cover art to attract legions of American fans ...
UK pressing Manticore catalog K-53503
"Brighter Day" track listing: (UK pressing)
(side 1)
1.)
Brighter Day (Keith
Christmas) -
2.) Foothills (Keith
Christmas) -
3.) Country Farm (Keith
Christmas) -
4.) The Bargees (Keith
Christmas) -
(side
2)
1.) Lovers' Cabaret (Keith
Christmas) -
2.) Robin Head (Keith
Christmas) -
3.) Gettin' Religion (Keith
Christmas) -
4.) Could Do Better (Keith
Christmas) -
5.) Song of a Drifter (Keith
Christmas) -
For anyone interested, Christmas has an entertaining website at:
http://www.keithchristmas.co.uk/