Search - Crispian St Peters :: Anthology

Folk-pop singer of the sixties

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 10/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Crispian, a former soldier, was expected to become a major star but didn't. He once told the world that he could write better songs than the Beatles and declared that they were past it. He also said he could sing as well as Elvis Presley and he could make him look like the statue of Liberty. He also claimed to be more exciting than Tom Jones. If he'd come even close to being right about all that, he would indeed have been a major star.



As it was, his first two singles (At this moment, No no no) both failed to chart. Having failed with two self-penned songs, he was persuaded to cover an American song - You were on my mind, a major American hit for We five. This became his biggest UK hit, peaking at number two. It remains the song he is best remembered for in his homeland. A year after its UK success it made the American top forty.



The next single, Pied piper, made the top five in Britain and America. It did even better in Canada, where it went all the way to number one. With a major international hit behind him, Crispian looked as if he was well set for stardom. It didn't happen. The follow-up. Changes (a cover of a Phil Ochs song) was a minor UK hit but that marked the end of his UK chart career. Crispian's boastful image had upset too many people in the music business and those people were able to wreak their revenge.



Crispian had several more singles, all but three of which are included in this set. Several B-sides and album tracks are also included. Crispian's life after stardom is sad but it seems that he has come to terms with his situation.



Crispian's style began as folk-pop but later tracks have a country influence. He even wrote and recorded a sequel song to Take me home country roads (Country roads I almost made it back). Crispian also covered John Denver's original song but that cover is omitted from this set.



All the essential tracks are here. I am not familiar with Crispian's other recordings but if (as one reviewer suggests) they are better than what's here, I'd certainly like to hear them. For somebody who only had two major hits, this is a brilliant compilation.



If you are interested in folk-pop music of the sixties, Crispian is well worth a listen."

Good but where are the really great Chrispian songs?

aves@breathe.co.uk | England | 09/19/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I think it such a pity that this talented singer and songwriter's only available CD contains hardly any of his best work. The real best of Chrispian St Peters is definately not on this CD. However, as this is the only available recording of Chrispian's work, do buy it. If you are a fan you will like it."

Quite a Good Compilation!

Morten Vindberg | Denmark | 04/17/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Crispian St. Peters had two big hits in 1965-66 with "You Were on My Mind" and the "Pied Piper". He was expected to become big, but somehow he was not able maintain his success, and never again made the top twenty with his following singles. In 1967 he released the fine album "Follow Me" with all but the two hit-singles written by St Peters himself. A great song like "My Little Brown Eyes" would have been the logical follow-up to "The Pied Piper".



This CD is mostly a singles A`s and B`s compilation, containing most of his 1965-68 Decca singles. St Peters left Decca in 1968 to do a few singles and an album ( "Simply" ) for the Square label. A handful of these later recordings are also to be found here along with 3 songs recorded in 1990. Only few of these tracks come up to his best 1966-67 recordings.



The booklet contains a fine biography written by Chris Welch and a UK and German discography.



Though missing many of the best tracks from "Follow Me", still quite a good compilation."