Chris Andrews Biography

English-German singer-songwriter

Musical artist

Christopher Frederick Andrews (born 15 October 1942) is an English-German singer-songwriter and producer, whose musical career started in the late 1950s. 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.

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

Early career and songwriting

When Andrews was in his mid teens, he had formed his own group, Chris Ravel and the Ravers. 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. 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" (No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart, 1963) and "We Are in Love" (No. 11, 1964), 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). The latter remained a chart topper in the UK Singles Chart for three weeks. "Girl Don't Come" was covered by Cher on her debut album, All I Really Want to Do.

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

Also in 1965, Andrews as a solo artist, reached No. 3 in the UK with the single "Yesterday Man", which peaked in Germany at No. 1 for four weeks; followed up with a No. 13 hit in the UK "To Whom It Concerns". 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. 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.

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. 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.

Andrews on stage in 2010

In South Africa, his later single releases proved particularly popular, 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. 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, 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

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. Inspired by Lonnie Donegan, he also learned how to play the guitar.

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.

Songwriting credits

"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

Discography

Albums

Sings Chris Andrews (1970)

Extended play's

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

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chris Andrews (singer).

Official website
Chris Andrews discography at Discogs

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