CHICK CHURCHILL (feat. Cozy Powell, Bernie Marsden) – You & Me [remastered reissue]

This one is for old-school rockers, lovers of the Seventies sound when rock music was immediate, from the guts, when artists as soon got the songs written, as soon entered into the studio.
“You & Me” is the 1973 album from British musician CHICK CHURCHILL, which included among the session musicians the great Cozy Powell on drums, future Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden, Supertramp leader Roger Hodgson on bass & guitar, and other talented musicians.
Real name Michael George Churchill wasn’t unknown at the time of this recording: a classically-trained pianist best-known as on/off keyboard man with Ten Years After, possibly the archetypal British blues/rock band, featuring Alvin Lee’s lightning-fast guitar work.
Musically “You & Me” goes from hard rock to pop-rock to progressive, all with melody and interesting arrangements. An unfairly forgotten gem from the British early Seventies scene which needed a CD edition, done by a Swedish label.

Churchill began playing the piano at the age of six and studied classical music until he was fifteen. He became interested in blues and rock music, and joined his first band “Sons of Adam” in Nottingham. Churchill then met Alvin Lee of The Jaybirds. At first, Churchill joined the band as its road manager, but he soon became the keyboard player.
There was a name change to “Ten Years After”. With this group , Churchill played at major rock festivals including Woodstock in 1969, and the Isle of Wight Festival on 29 August 1970.

In 1973 he got the chance for a solo album, “You & Me”, released on Chrysalis Records. All songs were written by Chick Churchill, who also produced and arranged strings. He does lead vocals on a couple of tracks, but the main vocalist is Welsh singer Gary Pickford-Hopkins (Rick Wakeman band, Wild Turkey), a capable, solid singer.

As you might have guessed after reading the names of the supporting players, the music on ”You & Me” suggests that Churchill was considering a solo career in the then-dominant progressive rock genre.
The album mainly consists of mellow art-rock with light accessible progressive touches, and a strong bluesy background. Churchill’s playing distinguishes the material like on the pretty ballad “Dream of Our Maker Man” and the instrumental “Chiswick Flower”.
The musicians involved elevates the other tracks like the rocking opener “Come And Join Me”, title track ‘You And Me’ and ‘Reality In Arrears’.

While the album sold well Churchill decided to continue as member of Ten Years After, and when they broke up in 1976, Churchill became Professional Manager at Chrysalis Music, and later in his own Music Publishing Company.
Fans of first half of the ’70s Brit rock will love “You & Me”, and aficionados of good classic rock in general.
Highly Recommended

01 – Come And Join Me
02 – Broken Engagement
03 – You And Me
04 – Reality In Arrears
05 – Dream Of Our Maker Man
06 – Ode To An Angel
07 – You’re Not Listening
08 – Chiswick Flyover
09 – The Youth I Dreamt In Slipped Away
10 – Falling Down An Endless Day

Drums – Cozy Powell (tracks: 1, 5, 8, 9)
Drums – Rick Davies (tracks: 3, 4, 6, 7)
Guitar – Bernie Marsden (tracks: 4, 6, 7)
Guitar – Martin Barre (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 9)
Guitar – Roger Hodgson (track: 3)
Bass – Leo Lyons (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 8, 9)
Bass – Roger Hodgson (tracks: 3, 4, 6, 7)
Lead Vocals – Gary Pickford-Hopkins
Saxophone – Bill Jackman
Piano, Mellotron, Moog, Producer, vocals on 7, 10 – Chick Churchill

Out of print