Whatever You Believe

"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 alongside 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 fund-raising 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, 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 their sheet music part. The Central Band of the Royal Air Force appeared courtesy of Wing Commander Eric Banks. 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 via 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 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

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

12" Single

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

Personnel

Jon Anderson, Steve Harley - lead 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), Michael Heyland (Cancer Research) - event co-ordinators
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

Jon Anderson

Studio albums	Olias of Sunhillow (1976) Song of Seven (1980) Animation (1982) 3 Ships (1985) In the City of Angels (1988) Deseo (1994) Change We Must (1994) Angels Embrace (1995) Toltec (1996) Lost Tapes of Opio (1996) The Promise Ring (1997) Earth Mother Earth (1997) The More You Know (1998) Survival & Other Stories (2011)

EPs	Open (2011)

Live albums	Live from La La Land (2007)

Videos	Tour of the Universe (2005)

Jon & Vangelis	Short Stories (1980) The Friends of Mr Cairo (1981) Private Collection (1983) The Best of Jon and Vangelis (1984) Page of Life (1991) Chronicles (1994)

Anderson/Wakeman	The Living Tree (2010) The Living Tree in Concert Part One (2011)

Anderson Ponty Band	Better Late Than Never (2015)

Anderson/Stolt	Invention of Knowledge (2016)

Related articles	Discography Yes Vangelis Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe An Evening of Yes Music Plus Deborah Anderson Jade Anderson Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman

Steve Harley/Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

Steve Harley Barry Wickens Robbie Gladwell James Lascelles Kuma Harada Adam Houghton John Crocker Paul Jeffreys Nick Jones Pete Newnham Milton Reame-James Jim Cregan George Ford Duncan Mackay Jo Partridge Stuart Elliott Lincoln Anderson Marty Prior

Studio albums (Cockney Rebel)	The Human Menagerie (1973) The Psychomodo (1974)

Studio albums (Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel)	The Best Years of Our Lives (1975) Timeless Flight (1976) Love's a Prima Donna (1976) The Quality of Mercy (2005)

Studio albums (Steve Harley)	Hobo with a Grin (1978) The Candidate (1979) Yes You Can (1992) Poetic Justice (1996) Stranger Comes to Town (2010)

Live albums	Face to Face: A Live Recording (1977) Stripped to the Bare Bones (1999) Acoustic and Pure: Live (2002) Anytime! (A Live Set) (as The Steve Harley Band, 2004) Birmingham (Live with Orchestra & Choir) (2013)

Compilations	A Closer Look (1975) The Best of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel (1980) The Collection (1983) Greatest Hits (1987) Mr Soft (1988) Live at the BBC (1995) More Than Somewhat – The Very Best of Steve Harley (1998) The Cream of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel (1999) Best of the '70s (2000) The Cockney Rebel - A Steve Harley Anthology (2006) The Best of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel (2008) Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974 (2012) Original Album Series (2014)

Singles (Cockney Rebel)	"Sebastian" "Judy Teen" "Hideaway" "Psychomodo" "Mr. Soft" "Tumbling Down"

Singles (Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel)	"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" "Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)" "Black or White" "White, White Dove" "Here Comes the Sun" "(I Believe) Love's a Prima Donna" "(Love) Compared with You" "The Best Years of Our Lives (live)" "I Can't Even Touch You" "Irresistible" "The Last Goodbye"

Singles (Steve Harley)	"Big Big Deal" "Roll the Dice" "Someone's Coming" "Freedom's Prisoner" "Ballerina (Prima Donna)" "Heartbeat Like Thunder" "Irresistible" "The Phantom of the Opera" (with Sarah Brightman) "Whatever You Believe" (as Anderson, Harley & Batt) "When I'm with You" "Star for a Week (Dino)" "A Friend for Life" "Faith & Virtue" "For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn" "Ordinary People"

Video	Live from London (1985) The Come Back, All is Forgiven Tour: Live (1989) Live at the Isle of Wight Festival (2005) Birmingham (Live with Orchestra & Choir) (2013)

Related articles	Discography The Alan Parsons Project

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