Chris Andrews is a bit of a mystery to me. I first came upon his name when I look at the credits for Sandie Shaw songs during the early 1960s. He wrote all her major hits, and I'm a fan of her work. The second time I became aware of this songwriter's talent was when I heard Robert Wyatt's 1973 version of "Yesterday Man," which is one of my favorite Wyatt recordings. Chris Andrews wrote that song as well, and I think it's the best I have heard of his songwriting.
Wyatt's version is slow, mournful, with a touch of regret and of course, romantic angst. Chris Andrews recorded his own version of the song in 1965 and of course, it's upbeat with a strong Ska rhythm going through it, but the chorus has that Sandie Shaw sound. It's particular talent of Andrews to add a clatter of vocals that are busy and frantic at the same time. I like his approach to his song. If I have to choose between the two, it would be the Wyatt version, just because he can milk the pathos deeply and profoundly. Yet there is something sinister in the happy-go-lucky Andrews conveying the fact that he is genuinely a Yesterday Man in some woman's life. In other words, a great tune.
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