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Yorkshire lad: Tony Christie's latest album mines the musical legacy of Sheffield, near his own home town of Conisbrough

School's out: Poppy and the Jezebels

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Christie's cool again
Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond and Kris Kristofferson all did it - found a new audience in later years by stripping back their sound and taking their music seriously again. Now another old-timer is following their lead with a career-rejuvenating new album.

Made in sheffield by Tony Christie won't be released on the Autonomy label until November, but i've had a sneak preview and can confirm that it's set to be this year's Christmas crossover hit.

Christie, 64, is actually from Conisbrough, near Doncaster, but has immersed himself in sheffield's musical history with the help of the city's most vocal musical enthusiast, Richard hawley. hawley's past three albums are named after local landmarks, and his ballad Coles Corner, which references a renowned department store meeting point, was written with Christie in mind.

"On the drive back home after a recording session i heard Coles Corner on the radio," says Christie. "i said to my son, 'That's the sort of production i should be getting,' to which he replied, 'Richard sent you that song four years ago'."

Now he finally sings it, alongside Born to Cry, a pulp rarity that appeared on the soundtrack of the film Notting hill in 1999, tracks by phil Oakey of The human League, sheffield up-and-comer Martin Bragger, and Only Ones who Know by Arctic Monkeys. The latter, the Monkeys' most mellow moment, is enriched with subtle strings and Christie's gigantic voice. it's not cheesy in the least.

Though it must have been tempting to put together a modernising set of duets along the lines of Reload by Tom Jones, the songwriters have stayed in the background and the result is something much more subtle. "There are moments of real beauty on the record, some really moving performances," says hawley, whose band provide the Fifties dancehall sound.

"Richard came up with the concept of recording only songs connected with sheffield singers, groups or songwriters," says Christie. "when we listened to the material, we were amazed at not only how many songs there were, but the quality also just blew us away."

After sixties hits including Las Vegas and Avenues and Alleyways, his career faded in the mid-seventies, but has already been resuscitated once this decade thanks to peter Kay's video and a huge-selling Comic Relief reissue of (is This the way to) Amarillo. however, by the time he was singing is This the way to the world Cup in 2006, the sound of a barrel being scraped was deafening. hawley kept faith, and here plays the role Rick Rubin played with Cash and Diamond - hearing the untapped potential of a still major talent instead of wanting to roll out the old hits one more tired time. This isn't the way to Amarillo - it's a far superior road altogether.

Tony Christie plays at the Cadogan Hall, SW1 (020 7730 4500, www. cadoganhall.com) on 19 November.

You're too old at 19
The Underage Festival is upon us for the second year. Yet again, although you may find the line-up of supercool indie bands appealing, if you're not aged between 14 and 18 you can get lost, grandad.

Bouncers will be checking proof of age and confiscating any alcohol at the gates, while the most fretful parents can wait in a special "holding area".

Underage founder Sam Killcoyne, a cocky goth type fresh from completing his GCSes, has managed a timely coup in booking current No1 star Dizzee Rascal for the main stage. There'll also be ferocious punk from Gallows, shimmering shoegaze from Glasvegas and guitar pop from the audience's school-age peers, Poppy and the Jezebels.

The kids should make the most of this one because Killcoyne is itching to move on. he hints at a falling out with his former favourites, The horrors (the first band he booked when Underage began as an elephant & Castle club night), who have pulled out of this year's festival. he's also started a band who will be playing at Underage but refuses to publicise which one it is, perhaps for fear people will liken it to Michael eavis taking over the Glastonbury stage to play some skiffle.

"Concert promoting is getting a bit boring," he tells me. "It's so much more exciting to do your own music. I might give Underage to someone else who really wants to do the day-to-day stuff, but they'd have to be about 16 too." As with their youth itself, the kids had better enjoy this unique day in the park while it lasts.

 

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