FAREWELL CRISPIAN ST.PETERS

REMEBERING CRISPIAN ST.PETERS – PIED PIPER OF POP

Crispian St.Peters the Swinging Sixties’ pop star who hit the charts with ‘Pied Piper’ has died at the age of 71. Blessed with a mellow vocal style, his songs were featured on a Repertoire tribute CD ‘The Best Of Crispian St.Peters’ released more than a decade ago and still available. When the collection was first proposed back in 1996, Repertoire’s Thomas Neelsen and Chris Welch went to meet Crispian at a pub near his home in Swanley, Kent, where he reminisced about his career and the ‘good old days.’

After being neglected for many years, he was pleased the record industry was taking an interest in his work once again. Just a few years earlier in 1990 he had recorded a new album with songwriting partner Roger Rounce called ‘New Tracks On Old Lines’ that included an updated version of ‘The Pied Piper.’

Crispian confessed he’d had a hard time after his initial success in the pop world, but remained proud of his achievements that included ‘Pied Piper’ andanother Top Ten hit ‘You Were On My Mind’ both in 1966.

SKIFFLE DAYS

Real name was Robin Peter Smith; ‘Crispian’ was born on April 5, 1939 in the house where he was still living in his old age. His parents were Phyllis and Gerald who owned a plant nursery in the village of Swanley. He grew up in a musical family and most of his relatives played instruments.
After leaving school at 15, he worked as a cinema projectionist and in a paper mill. He was inspired to become a musician on hearing Lonnie Donegan’s 1956 hit `Rock Island Line`. Peter formed the Hard Travellers skiffle group that played at Chislehurst Caves and the Skiffle Cellar in Soho.

Called up for national service he was in the Army when he heard a concert by rock’n'roll star Gene Vincent. The experience encouraged him to write his own songs. On leaving the army he formed the Beat Formula Three. In 1963 the group was spotted by David Nicolson of EMI who saw potential in Peter Smith’s voice. He was subsequently signed to Decca and Nicolson suggested Peter change his name to ‘Crispin Blacke’ which Smith amended to the more stylish ‘Crispian St Peters.’

His first two singles for Decca, `At This Moment` and `No No No` failed to chart. Then Nicolson heard an American hit `You Were On My Mind` a wistful ballad composed by Sylvia Fricker of the folk duo Ian and Sylvia. When St Peters refused to record the song, the manager appealed to his artist’s mother to persuade him. Once in the studio, the track was arranged by organist Harry Stoneham and the young Jimmy Page played guitar.
`You Were On My Mind` was released in December 1965 and the following year reached No 2 in the British charts. Crispian St Peters gave an ill-advised interview to the New Musical Express in which he claimed his songs were better than The Beatles’ and that his stage show made Elvis Presley seem – ‘like the Statue of Liberty’. For good measure he added that he was sexier than Tom Jones.

THE FAME GAME

After protests from fans he later claimed his remarks were all tongue in cheek. Next single `The Pied Piper` was co-written by Artie Kornfield, who organised the Woodstock festival. Pirate radio plays helped it reach No 5 in the UK charts. `The Pied Piper` was also a hit in Canada, Australia and America and Crispian went on tour of all these countries.
He was by now a big star and a fixture on the Swinging London night club scene. But the wild life took a toll and ultimately damaged his career and his health. `I was crazy` he said in 1996. The singer sat with friends in the pub where he was better known as `Peter` and chatted with wry good humour about his escapades. He admitted he’d sometimes sign contracts without even reading them. For St.Peters business was a mysterious affair, best left to ‘experts’.

But this laisses-faire attitude was not always been to his advantage. Over the years he suffered three nervous break downs, a divorce and a stroke which left him paralysed in one arm. But he carried on doing what he knew best, singing a good tune with warmth and feeling.
Crispian recalled his childhood: `I was a war baby. I remember the V1 Doodle Bugs flying over and falling on farm land. They made great big holes in the potato fields!`

He was still at school when he was inspired by Lonnie Donegan. `I started out singing with a six piece skiffle group back in 1956. You only had to know three chords and you were a musician. We used to work down at the Chislehurst Caves for three pounds a night.` When skiffle lost its appeal, Crispian and his mates delved into rock’n’roll and country music. They played songs by Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Hank Williams.

On leaving school Crispian worked by day at a paper mill and played at gigs at night. Then he joined the Army and while training managed to escape from the barracks and saw a concert by Gene Vincent and Sounds Incorporated. It inspired him to get back into the music scene and began writing his own material. `I eventually came out of the Army and began singing in working men’s clubs in a duo called the Two Tones.`
Tired of this limited format he stared the Beat Formula Three sometimes called the P-Mix. `We began touring and then in 194 I met David Nicolson who would become my manager. That’s when it all started.`

YOU WERE ON MY MIND

After hearing some demos Nicolson signed the singer to a ten year management and production deal. He arranged the distribution deal with Decca and dreamt up a new name for his artist. As we have described, `Crispian St.Peters` was born. As he’d called himself ‘Woody Smith. In his skiffle group days, he wasn’t worried about using a stage name.

Crispian was groomed for stardom and the Beat Formula Three were dumped to be replaced by The Puppets from Preston a professional group that had backed Jess Conrad and Tommy Bruce. After his first two Decca singles were unsuccessful, it was in some desperation that Nicolson persuaded Crispian to cover ‘You Were On My Mind’ which had been recorded in California by the We Five quintet.

Crispian: `David said `Try the song, please`. And I said `No, it’s horrible!` He got down on his bended knees to my mothers and said: `Please get him to do this, it’s going to be a hit.` And of course it was. I wished I’d had the money for it though.`
The recorded was produced by Nicolson at Advision Studios in New Bond Street, London in 1965 and was recorded on a 4-trck Ampex. Backing was provided by organist Harry Stoneham with Vic Flick from the John Barry Seven on guitar. Jimmy Page played the rhythm guitar and was paid £12 for the session.

The ‘soft-loud’ arrangement was quite unusual and enabled Crispian to show off his vocal range, By January 1966 ‘You Were On My Mind’ was rocketing up the UK chart peaking at No. 2. It was an American hit later in the year when Crispian’s version got Number 36 in the Billboard chart.
His hold on the chart was further established when follow up single `Pied Piper` leapt to Number 5 in the UK and also got to Number 4 in the States. Crispian: `It was also Number One in Canada. I appeared on TV and even did a tour of America but everything was thrown together too quickly.`

After `Pied Piper` Crispian hit with a Phil Ochs song called `Changes` but only got to Number 47 in the UK in September 1966. While royalties were slow coming Crispian was getting some financial reward, through touring `I bought a Jaguar Mk.11 which I’d always wanted, which I later gave to my road manager. Then I bought myself a new 3 litre Rover, which was a lovely car.`
As for his ‘Cassius Clay of pop` mouthy image he said: `The rows with P.J.Proby wasn’t me saying all that. It was Nicholson’s idea. I don’t normally say boo to a goose. It was all a big show that I put. Deep down I’m really shy.`

Crispian carried on raving it up. `After the shows I enjoyed the women, the sex and the booze!` He went clubbing and remembers seeing Jimi Hendrix at Blaises for the first time. `The Beatles were in the audience and Jimi was really outstanding. After the clubs I spent most of my time at Heathrow Airport going off to tour Germany, America and even Singapore. I’d pick up a group in each country. The best backing band I had was in Australia.`
Everything seemed to be going well but gradually he found himself playing working men’s clubs. `It was a nightmare really. I just did it for the money, which wasn’t a lot.`

ROCK’ROLL BREAKDOWN

In 1970 he stopped touring when he had his first breakdown. `It happened after I got married. I married the wrong one. Then I had another breakdown and then another, all during the Seventies. It was caused by the music business…and adultery. `
Crispian split with his old manager and began working with composer Roger Rounce who wrote such tunes as `Oh Caroline`, `It Ain’t The Same` and `Country Roads (I Almost Made It Back)` that Crispian recorded under the name of Wheels in 1971. In 1990 Crispian recorded ‘New Tracks On Old Lines’ that Rounce produced.

By 1996 the singer admitted he couldn’t really do much on stage anymore apart from some solo spots in Germany and gigs with local group Old Crow. Looking back over his career Crispian said ruefully: `This rock’n’roll business, it wears you out. I worked it out that I only ever earnt £37,000 in forty years which is chicken feed. But I can’t blame my manager. At least he made me famous. It was always my ambition to be a pop singer but it was a struggle. I only just scratched the surface but I had a good go. I’m getting tired now. I want to pack it up. But then George Burns (the comedian) makes me look silly. He died aged 100 and he was still going strong!`

Robin Peter Smith (Crispian St Peters), singer and songwriter, born 5 April 1939. Died 8 June 2010

Sunday, June 27th, 2010 in News & Gossip.

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