Tony Christie is a singer with a huge voice, kinda like a Yorkshire version of Tom Jones. He had a number of hits in the early 70s, was the original Magaldi on the Evita concept album and also tried out for the UK's entry into the Eurovision Song Contest in 1976, the same year as Brotherhood Of Man (who went on to win).
After that his popularity in the UK waned though he continued to be big on the continent. However, interest in his career has taken off in recent years. First, he was used as lead vocalist on The All Seeing I's 'Walk Like A Panther' in 1999, then 'Avenues & Alleyways' was used as the theme to a so-so British gangster flick 'Love, Honour & Obey' (which featured a version of the song sang by such luminaries as Ray Winstone, Jude Law, Johnny Lee Miller and Denise Van Outen - see a clip here). Next, Peter Kay chose 'Is This The Way to Amarillo?' for 2005's Comic Relief Song.
'Avenues & Alleyways' is a great song and was originally the theme to a not-that-well-known 1971 Gerry Anderson (him of Thunderbirds, Terrahawks et al.) detective series, though I first heard it in the aforementioned film and it has been a Guilty Pleasure of mine ever since. Plus I love this clip - the audience looks like they've wandered into the wrong studio! Also, anyone who has ever seen my dad sing may see a lot of similarities here...
Bonus clip: For no other reason that I think it is just a brilliant song (nothing guilty here), here's the Peter Kay video to 'Amarillo'. Pop Quiz: Can anybody outside the UK name one of the 'celebrities' in this clip? All together now - "Sha La La, La La, La La La"...
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