The Christians Live & Unplugged Discography

The Christians are a soul-influenced Sophisti-pop band from Liverpool, England, who scored several UK and international chart hits in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Their first three singles all made the Top 40 in Britain, and their self-titled 1987 debut album "The Christians" entered the UK Album Chart at number 2, and eventually sold over a million copies. The highest placed single from this album was "Ideal World", which reached number 14 in the UK Singles Chart.

In 1988 they released a cover of the Isley Brothers' "Harvest for the World", with all proceeds going to charity. The video for the track was an animation, created by four leading animation companies, including Aardman Animations, of Wallace and Gromit fame. The video won several awards and the single reached number 8 in the chart.

The early 1990s saw the band continuing to tour and their "Greatest Hits" album, The Best of the Christians was released in 1993, and peaked at number 22.

Garry Christian moved to Paris in 1995 to record a solo album, effectively breaking up the band, although no formal announcement was made, and the door was open to future reformation. Four years later, they began to perform together again in an "unplugged" acoustic format. In 1999 they carried out a thirty six date tour of the UK, with a similar tour undertaken in 2000.

By 2001 The Christians began to write songs for a 'comeback' album, Prodigal Sons, which was released in 2003. This was also supported by a UK tour in October 2003, and further promotion in France, Spain and UK throughout 2004.

In 2005 Russell Christian decided he no longer wished to tour, and a decision was made to return to a full band format, rather than the four-man "unplugged" line-up that had been touring since 1999.

This new 'band' comprising Garry Christian (vocals), Joey Ankrah (acoustic guitar/backing vocals), Stewart Boyle (electric guitar) and Jay Irving(drums) was unveiled on the 2007 tour.

Joey Ankrah, whose father was managed by Epstein in the 60's, has come up through the ranks of the live scene in bands and on stage. A natural musician with a love of song-writing and an exciting live performer both vocal and multi-instrumental, he has worked alongside a variety of Liverpool's finest artists including 'China Crisis', 'Pete Wylie', 'Echo and the Bunnymen', and 'The Vanities', and is currently enjoying working on new tracks with 'The Christians'.

Stewart Boyle- Stewart has been playing for 25 years. He studied at Sandown Music College, Liverpool and the Guitar Institute of London. He has been a session musician since 1991. He played on the Sugartax and Liberator albums by OMD. He formed his own band BULLYRAG in the early 90's. They secured a record deal with Vertigo and a publishing deal with Sony ATV. They released two international albums and toured with the likes of Beastie Boys, Prodigy, Korn, Reef, Limp Bizkit and Black Sabbath. They were nominated for best new band in Kerrang magazine 1998. Stewart has also played with Tori Amos on Songs From The Choirgirl Hotel in 1999 and has sessioned in London from 1998-2000. He's known Garry Christian since the early 90's and they have been great friends ever since. He did a solo album with Garry in 2003 and joined the touring band as guitar player in 2004 and have been touring ever since! Stewart has now become a songwriting partner and official member of The Christians.

Jay Irving is a professional drummer with over ten years of performances in the music industry. He is experienced in all styles of drumming, specialising in jazz, funk, blues and rock. He's played with and worked along side such artistes as Sam Brown, China Crisis, Simple Minds, Spandau Ballet, Dina Caroll, Nate James and now tours with The Christians and Black.


The Christians (1987) #2 UK	Colour (1990) #1 UK	Happy In Hell (1992) #18 UK

Best of the Christians (1993) #22 UK	Prodigal Sons (2003)	The Christians Live & Unplugged 2008- Coming Soon!

UK Top 75 Singles


"Forgotten Town" / "One in a Million" / "Man Oh Man" / "Look Around" (Island Records, IS 291, January 1987) UK #22	"Hooverville (They Promised us the World)" / "No Reason" / "The Losing Game" (Island, IS 326, June 1987) UK #21	"When the Fingers Point" / "Rebecca" / "Every Town Waltz" / "Throw a Farewell Kiss" (Island, IS 335, September 1987) UK #34


"Ideal World" / "Say It Isn't So (Part one)" / "Rocking Chair Blues" / "Ideal World" (TR 808 mix)" (Island, IS 347, December 1987) UK #14	"Born Again" / "Forgotten Town" (U.S. version) / "A Lovers' Question" / "Undecided (acapella)" (Island, IS 365, April 1988) UK #25	"Harvest for the World" / "Harvest For The World (remix)" / "Small Axe" (Island, IS 395, October 1988) UK #8


"Ferry 'Cross the Mersey" (with other artists including Paul McCartney, PWL, PWL 41, May 1989) UK #1	"Words" / "Long Gone" / "Funny Money" (Island, IS 450, December 1989) UK #18	"I Found Out" / "Save Us From Our Friends" / "Sent Here to Shine" (Island, IS 453, April 1990) UK #56


"Greenbank Drive" / "Nomad soul" / "Laurie Latham" (remix) / "From The Water's Edge" (Island, IS 466, September 1990) UK #63	"What's In A Word" / "Happy in Hell" / "You Never Know" (Island, IS 536, December 1992) UK #33	"Father" / "World" / "Forgotten Town" / "Ideal World" (remix) (Island, IS 543, November 1992) UK #55


"The Bottle" / Group Corporation vocal mix / Ray Haden sugar free mix / Sound foundation dub mix (Island, IS 549, March 1993) UK #39	"The Perfect Moment" / Village Ghetto Land/ "A Farewell Kiss" / "The Perfect Moment- Unplugged"	"Harry's Theme"/ "No Smoke, no fire (just little white lies)" / "Late Night Story"/ "Rosie's Theme"/ "Harry's Theme" (jazz mix)