"BLUE SUBURBAN SKIES: songs of my childhood"
CHRISTOPHER CLAUSE biography
"'Blue Suburban Skies', his debut release, is a handsome and finely crafted collection of twenty of his favourite Beatles and solo compositions. What's truly impressive is that every instrument, every lead and every backing vocal (bar one track) is handled by Christopher." - Steve Clifford, Beatlology Magazine
(http://www.steveclifford.com/beatles/audio.htm)
"Yet another cool Beatles-inspired disc is Blue Suburban Skies by Christopher Clause. The disc features twenty songs from the Fab Four repertoire. Not surprisingly, the standout jangly tracks are Clause's cover versions of "And Your Bird Can Sing" and "Every Little Thing." Sir George would be pleased to hear his Rickenbacker 360V64 model being emulated on these songs"
- Eric Sorensen (http://www.fufkin.com/columns/sorensen/sorensen_08_02.htm)
"What stands out initially is the title: a subtle reference to "Penny Lane". However, the subleties end there! "Blue Suburban Skies" is an eclectic collection of Beatles and solo covers that only a true fan could imagine compiling. From "The Word" to "In My Life" (with an unlisted bonus "cover" at the very end), the songs flow through one's memory like a beautiful spring day spent lying on the grass admiring those Blue Suburban Skies."
Pat Matthews,
Internet DJ, Beatles-A-Rama
(www.live365.com)
(http://www.beatlesarama.com/Reviews.htm)
Canadian Christopher Clause has always had a profound love for music. "My Dad always had music on at our house. One of my earliest and fondest memories is playing with my Dad in the basement of our Grimsby home. I was about six years old, and he had a cassette of Bizet's "Carmen" playing on the portable. He's an avid opera fan and, although I wasn't inspired by it at the time, I learned to appreciate and love it through him. Then of course in 1973, when I was eight, I saw the movie HELP! on television as well as hearing my sister's new album '1962-1966'. Once I heard this joyous, life affirming music and saw these zany young men, I knew my life would NEVER be the same! THIS was music that caught my attention, and would eventually change the direction of my life"
The thirty-eight year-old multi-instrumentalist has returned to his musical roots for his first recording in over six years (his last recording being the critically acclaimed 1995 cassette. "Chimes of Grace"). His latest release, "Blue Suburban Skies" (Foot Records), is an eclectic, self-produced presentation of his favourite Beatles songs that "are not the tried and true classics, but rather some of the more obscure jewels of their repertoire, from both the Beatles years and some solo material as well". Recorded entirely by himself (all of the instruments and voices, except for one track) at his home on his Macintosh Blue and White G3 computer using a program called Cubase VST 5.0. "Blue Suburban Skies" is his first 'official' CD release to the public: "I felt that I needed to go back to my earliest influences in order to create new music again. In fact, this project has been very good therapy for me - to remind me of what created that original spark in me to learn and to study music. And I have been reacquainted with 20 old friends...these great songs, which has been such a joy. So who says you can't go back to your childhood?"
In looking back at Christopher's childhood, he tells us that his first instrument was NOT the guitar but the drums, which his sister Mary bought for him. He however abandoned the skins in favour of the guitar. He had only one guitar lesson from a school friend of Debbie's (his other sister) and the friend showed Christopher "...about four or five chords..I mean he was a great player but I said to myself, 'I think I can do this on my own'. I was so naïve!" After that initial lesson of four or five chords, Christopher was a self-taught guitarist. He "passed the audition" into McMaster University's music program and graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Music degree (summa cum laude) studying classical guitar with Lynne Gangbar and Peter McAllister. In 1988, he won the Royal Conservatory of Music's Silver medal award for achieving the highest mark in Ontario on his Grade 8 Classical Guitar exam. To date, Christopher has achieved his Grade 10 RCM in Classical guitar. After graduating from McMaster, he went on to study music education at the University of Toronto where he won the Don Wright's Scholarship for Music Education for his instrumental arranging talents.
For Christopher, performance and recording have been two major loves as well. He has done various solo performances over the years from classical guitar recitals to full out rock and roll shows (in Hamilton clubs with the Mercyswitch). His recording credits include performing on Peter Tigchelaar's "Wings Meeting Wind" (1995) ("Wisdom's Peace"), producing "With One Voice" (1998), and producing and performing on the Mercyswitch's first recording, "Can't Help But Smile" (Foot Records, 1999). He is presently the Pastor of Worship at James Street Baptist Church and desires to use his talents to praise God. "For me all music is worship music, because every time I play, I worship. I give thanks to Jesus for what He has done for me. It is as simple as that. Every time I pick up that guitar, I call on Him".
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"I just felt the time was right to do an album of this music, the music of my childhood. I had been wanting to do it for a long time, and in the Summer of 2001 I decided it was the right time. Ironically the day I sent the finished master and artwork to the plant was the day that George Harrison died. So in a way, the recording was also a chance to deal with the sadness brought on by the suffering of one of my heroes. My hope is that this recording inspires people to search out the original versions of these great songs...the songs of my childhood...and love them, so that this music will never be forgotten."
Christopher is currently working on a new album of original material, which should be released in the Winter of 2004, as well as a Christmas album due in September, which he recorded in the winter of 2003. He has also been producing many local Hamilton artists as of late, such as Rebecca Dickson, Kenny and the 14th Floor, Monica Heeg-Admiral, Fourth Storey, and Makeshift Policy. He was the opening artist for the prestigious Hamilton Music Scene 2003 concert series this past October. As well, the website for his own label, Foot Records, should be up and running in October, 2004 (www.footrecords.ca).
"I am excited to play again and to promote this album. I am very happy with how it all turned out, which for me is something new... I am always displeased with my work once it is finished! I am also heavily into writing for the next album and it has been a very rewarding process. It is a very exciting time, and I am constantly learning...and looking up!"
Main Musical Influences:
Lennon & McCartney, George Harrison, Peter Townshend, John Entwistle, Johann Sebastian Bach, Elvis Costello, Roger McGuinn, George Martin, Paul Weller, U2, Ron Sexsmith, Matt Redman, Charlie Hall, Brian Houston, Andres Segovia, Leo Brouwer, Joaquin Rodrigo, Olivier Messiaen, John Williams (the guitarist).
Customer Reviews of BLUE SUBURBAN SKIES:
"I received your CD yesterday (Monday) and even on only one listening I have to tell you I am loving it. There is a big difference between a singer doing a cover version of a Beatles song and a musician doing a cover version of a Beatles song. And (as in the case of Blue Suburban Skies) the musician's versions are always superior. The vibe I got immediately was that of being at a concert with a stellar, kick-ass, incredibly accomplished Beatles cover band (except that you'd need six or seven Chris Clauses for the band to perform live, right? :-)"
- Stephen Spignesi (author of "The Essential Stephen King")
"A great demonstration of sensibility and love for the FabFour tunes." - AB
"I have received your CD and it is one of the best collection of cover versions of Beatles songs that I have ever heard!." - AS
"Bonjour Christopher! J'ai reçu hier ton CD d'interprétations des Beatles, pour lequel je te remercie. Je n'ai pas l'habitude d'écrire ce genre de louanges, mais je dois te dire (et j'ai plusieurs centaines de cds de versions des Beatles) que je suis littéralement renversé par ton choix de chansons et par l'originalité et la fraicheur de tes arrangements. Aucune pièce faible dans ce disque!!!" - JP
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