Whatever You Believe

"Whatever You Believe"
Single by Anderson, Harley & Batt (AH&B)
B-side	"Whatever You Believe (Live Version)" "Deep is My Yearning (Morning Has Broken)"
Released	November 1988
Format	7", 12"
Genre	Pop
Length	5:10
Label	Epic Records
Songwriter(s)	Mike Batt
Producer(s)	Mike Batt
Steve Harley singles chronology
"Mr. Soft" (re-issue) (1988) String Module Error: Match not found1988 "Whatever You Believe" (1988) Whatever You Believe1988 "When I'm with You" (1989) When I'm with You1989

"Whatever You Believe" is a song by English singer-songwriter Mike Batt, which was originally recorded and released as a collaboration charity single featuring Batt with Jon Anderson of Yes and Steve Harley of Cockney Rebel. Released in 1988, the single tied-in with the 1988 ITV Telethon.^[1] The song was written and produced by Batt.^[2]

Background

Batt had written the song as the 'Heineken/LBC Big Song'. On 3 May 1988, the song was performed during a live TV broadcast at Battersea Park in London, as part of the Thames/LWT charity fundraising effort for the ITV Telethon. Arranged and conducted by Batt, the song's live performance saw him accompanied by Anderson and Harley on lead vocals, and backed by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force and the London-based Royal Choral Society. Furthermore, over 2,000 members of the general public contributed to the performance as a choir. Each person had paid a donation to receive a copy of the song's sheet music and take part. The Central Band of the Royal Air Force appeared courtesy of Wing Commander Eric Banks. After this performance, Anderson, Harley and Batt would also record a studio version of the song. Later released as a single in November 1988, it failed to make a chart appearance in the UK.

Release

The single was released by Epic Records on 7" and 12" vinyl in the UK only.^[3][4] For the 7" vinyl release, the studio version of "Whatever You Believe" was the featured track, with the ITV Telethon live version as the B-Side.^[5] The 12" vinyl release included a third track; the traditional "Deep is My Yearning (Morning Has Broken)", performed by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force. This track was arranged and conducted by Eric Banks, and produced by Batt.^[6][7]

Track listing

7" Single

1. "Whatever You Believe (Studio Version)" - 5:10
2. "Whatever You Believe (Live Version)" - 6:03

12" Single

1. "Whatever You Believe (Studio Version)" - 5:10
2. "Whatever You Believe (Live Version)" - 6:03
3. "Deep is My Yearning (Morning Has Broken)" - 2:46

Personnel

• Jon Anderson - vocals
• Steve Harley - vocals
• Mike Batt - producer (all tracks), arranger, conductor on "Whatever You Believe"
• The Central Band of the Royal Air Force - featured performers
• The Royal Choral Society - featured performers

Additional personnel

• Dick Lewsey - engineer on studio version of "Whatever You Believe"
• Gavin Greenaway - sound supervisor on live version of "Whatever You Believe"
• Steve Murrell - engineer on live version of "Whatever You Believe"
• Tom Hunter (LBC) - event co-ordinator
• Michael Heyland (Cancer Research) - event co-ordinator
• Eric Banks - arranger, conductor on "Deep is My Yearning"
• Neil Ashton - photography
• Tomcat - artwork

Other versions

• In 1991, Batt featured the song in his West End musical The Hunting of the Snark.^[8]
• In 1992, Irish singer Finbar Wright worked with Batt, and recorded his own version of "Whatever You Believe" for his solo album of the same name. Batt produced, arranged and conducted the album, which reached #1 in Ireland. The title track became a Christmas classic in the country.^[9]
• In 2014, Bob Blakeley released his own version of the song on his album Performance. Having signed to Batt's record label, Dramatico Entertainment, Blakeley's cover was also produced by Batt.^[10]

References