CHINA CRISIS: ACOUSTICALLY YOURS

It's their thirteenth year in the music industry, it's their ninth album release and it’s their first "live" album. Well, "Acoustically Yours" is their first official live album, no doubt there are bootlegs out there, as Gary Daly points out, "I purchased one bootleg in Barcelona, the cheeky bar steward had me pay him for the copy, even though I protested that I was actually in the group!".

Putting together everything for "Acoustically Yours" was no easy task. Eddie Lundon explains, "The "acoustic show" had been suggested by the manager of the Neptune Theatre, Liverpool. This was at a time when we were already touring and booked into many clubs/dives up and down the country, so the chance to do something different was looked on as "why the hell not". Especially as it would give us the opportunity to dispel with all the "electronic pop duo shit" and showcase our music as bona-fide songs, worthy of any setting".

Money however, was a big problem, how to put on something of a spectacle in a wonderful old theatre and make it look and sound great on a very small budget. Gary puts it succinctly, "Being ex-Virgin artists, approaching Dickie Branson for a little sponsorship seemed pretty much out of the question, but we did take a leaf out of his business book and decided, along with our current record label Telegraph Records, to exploit our catalogue to our own benefit, something we failed to do in the past". Ed continues, "Record and film the concert, great idea, Telegraph will pay for that, but how do we get all the musicians and everyone involved to do it for less than nothing and still remain good friends! Well, after many, many phone calls (bribes and shares in the companies floated and sunk) we got our team together and had ourselves a convoy".

Drummer Kevin Wilkinson was busy recording a new "Squeeze" album but they very kindly gave him the night off, so Kevin was available to play his own original parts (Fire & Steel, Flaunt, Paradise, Diary, etc.). Keyboard player Brian McNeill had not long finished work with the "Proclaimers" and was able to join the band for the "Warped by Success" and the "Acoustically Yours", tours. Gary comments, " No tour or band would be complete without a wee shite moaning about food, beer, hotels, gigs, food, beer and Brian, ladies and gentlemen, is that man!" Gary "Gazza” Johnson on the other hand, is Mr. Bass, a real gent and almost always available to provide his own essential ingredient to the China Crisis brew. The legendary guitarist John Lewie (Chuck Berry, Blues Shouters etc.) heard about the gig on the Liverpool vine and offered his mandolin, guitar and backing vocal services. John also sang on the "What Price Paradise" album so it was great for the band to have him back on board. Martin Green has played sax and flutes with the Crisis' since the mid eighties and continues to do so, even though he does cost an arm and a leg! When not working with China Crisis, Martin divides his time between working with the artist "Black" and running "Tomato Studios". Gary and Ed explain the string section, "We stole our string section from the set of "Batman Forever", "Goth Rock Horror Chic" or whatever it is these young ones are into these days! After words with headmasters and form tutors (Rachel, violin, busy with A levels and Faye, viola busy getting her degree in chemistry and cancer research and Jo, cello busy keeping the other two in her string section) we had ourselves strings for the Neptune gig and indeed the whole UK tour".

Having always felt their songs could be covered, they invited a couple of people along to sing guest lead vocals. Peter Coyle (Lotus Eaters) sang "Here come a Raincloud" and Jenny John (Sense of Sound) sang "Hard to be Around". These performances will be available in the form of a limited edition later in the year.

Gary and Ed sum up, "One of the most enjoyable aspects of the show was being able to decorate the stage, with the help and guidance of the "Neptune Crew", with the idea of the stage being our collective living room. We all brought something along to help us feel at home, in Gary's case it was some of his painting, with Tony (second drummer) it was his pot plants (only joking!). Anyway it did the trick. The show sold out, we created a huge buzz, we've come away with a great record and video and now it's just a matter of playing on happily ever after!"

Liverpool Daily Post...the day after Headline...
"BAND CROWDS THE STAGE FOR A SPECIAL ACOUSTIC EVENING" "When a band puts on an acoustic show, you normally expect something simpler than the usual electric rock lineup. But this one-of date from China Crisis was the opposite. There were 12 musicians on stage, and that was before you count the guest vocalists. Video cameras were also in evidence, providing a surreal atmosphere on a stage dressed to look like someone's living room. The band sat on armchairs and sofas, surrounded by knickknacks. It was a witty setting for an evening that felt special......."The sound was rich but cleverly uncluttered and the lineup suited the group's melodic gentle songs." "One track included from last year's album is titled "Every Day The Same". It is to China Crisis' credit that they have come up with something that is different."

What the press is saying about "Acoustically Yours "

Headline... "HOMETOWN LIVERPOOL SOUND A WINNER"
Album of the Week "The Liverpudlians have stripped the sound down and brought the best out of all their top tunes. Plenty of sax and drums keep a sharp edge to songs that are always bright, breezy and bonafide. A spontaneous, sparkling showcase recorded live with lesser known stuff trouncing hits like Wishful Thinking and King In A Catholic Style."

Liverpool Echo

"Though most arrangements remain faithful to the originals, give or take a smooth sax solo ("It's Everything","No More Blue Horizons") or pizzicato strings ("Wishful Thinking") the stripped-down approach serves their gentle, emotive songs well. Particular beneficiaries are "Fire & Steel" (restored to its former glory on guitars only), "Singing The Praises" and the four tracks from Warped by Success. A change, a real grower and an instructive treat for doubters as well as fans".***

Q Magazine

"...a remarkable album... China Crisis sheds it's electronic pop image and records a superb collection of songs....for fans of good acoustic pop music it's a delight....High marks all round ..." *****

Moncton Times-Transcript

"One of the bands that defined the '80s techno-pop scene goes live and unplugged with this collection of hits and album tracks. Their instrumental prowess shines here as usual, while the acoustic arrangements on songs like 'Working with Fire And Steel' and 'African and White' are surprisingly strong" ***

The Record (Canada)

Alternate Top 10 June 4-June 11, 1996 China Crisis "Black Man Ray" "As incongruous as it seems, this '80s radio hit works beautifully in "unplugged" form".

Jam! Toronto Sun

China Crisis The Robin R&B Club, Merry Hill, Dudley
Smiling, happy Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon are genial frontmen, oozing a natural wit and a charismatic attitude, and with a natural ability to create an inimitable brand of pop song. Their respective melodica and guitar playing was boosted no end by the brilliant foursome accompanying them on bass, drums, sax and keyboards; the recent month long jaunt around Europe having encouraged loose-limbed but tight-as-a-Scouser performances. The crowd expected and were given the old favourites - `King In A Catholic Style', `Black Man Ray' and `Wishful Thinking' ( introduced as "the song that should have been England's Euro `96 anthem").

If you haven't experienced CC's recorded efforts, then you could do worse than investigate the recent `Acoustically Yours' live album and/or video. Failing that there should be a new album out by the end of the year (containing the unashamedly swoonsome Sweet Delight) with a hint that more gigs will follow in November: the only difference being that they might well have to book larger venues to accommodate demand by that time. Some people know it's fun to entertain.

Brum Beat Birmingham (July/August `96)

THE HISTORY

Every band begins with a song. China Crisis' song was "African and White", the year was 1981. The chance came to record for the local label Inevitable Records, a Liverpool based independent. The band consisted of Dave Reilly on drums, Ed Lundon on guitar and Gary Daly on bass, with Eddie and Gary sharing the singing. The single was re-released by Virgin Records in the summer of 1982 and reached number 45 on the UK charts.

Virgin Records soon signed the band to a long term album contract and work commenced on their debut album "Difficult Shapes and Passive Rhythms". The work took over a year, four producers and one drummer to complete. The album was launched in 1982 with a lengthy tour with "Simple Minds". The popularity of the band was further accelerated by the release of the classic single "Christian" which reached number 12 on the UK charts in January 1983.

Not wishing to rest on their laurels however, work soon began on a new album with producer Mike Howlett at the helm. Gary "Gazza" Johnson and Kevin Wilkinson had played bass and drums respectively on the tour and stayed. Steve Levy joined on oboe and saxophone to complete the lineup for the recording of "Working with Fire and Steel". The third single from the album "Wishful Thinking" reached number 9 in January 1984 in the UK and was huge success throughout Europe. The album's release in America and subsequent tour secured Walter Becker as producer for the third album.

With the Top 20 singles "Black Man Ray" and "King in the Catholic Style" the album "Flaunt the Imperfection" went gold in the UK. Brian McNeill joined on keyboards and the rest of 1985 was spent performing around the world. Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley were brought in to produce the following album, "What Price Paradise" which included "Arizona Sky", "Best Kept Secret" and "Its Everything". It's successor ‘Diary of Hollow Horse was two years in the making and reunited the band with Walter Becker, with Mike Thomas producing the single "Saint Saviour Square".

In 1991 Virgin thought it time to release a "Best of" compilation with China Crisis well into their tenth year in the recording industry, "China Crisis Collection" being the result. Due to the success of the collection album, "China Crisis a Diary" was released in 1992. For the next two years Eddie and Gary worked hard writing and recording their sixth studio album and in October 1994 "Warped by Success" was released by Scratch Records in a one-off deal. The band toured the UK to promote the album in November and December 1994 and toured again in March and April 1995. On the latter tour however, they decided to do things a little differently, they chose to play all their songs completely acoustically. Also at this time, they decided to sign with the new Chester based record label, Telegraph Records, who recorded and filmed their acoustic concert at the Neptune Theatre, Liverpool. "Acoustically Yours" was released in the UK and Europe in September 1995. A CD Single Remix "Black Man Ray" b/w the previously unavailable "Here come a Raincloud" with lead vocals provided by Pete Coyle, is in current release in the UK and throughout Europe and is already receiving extensive regional radio play in Britain. The single and album began shipping commercially in Canada on May 28th.

Gary and Eddie are currently working on a new studio album, also on Telegraph Records, which has been tentatively slated for release the fall of 1996.