AUDIO PREVIEW: Golden great Tony Christie sings praises of angels and Amarillo

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Golden great Tony Christie today revealed how he has been blessed with a 50-year recording career - thanks to help from his guardian angels.

The 73-year-old Amarillo legend said he could not have gone on with the show some nights without their help.

AUDIO: Listen to Graham Walker's fascinating exclusive interview with Tony Christie - talking frankly about his faith, career, new album and tour - CLICK HERE.

He even sings about his angels on his new 50 Golden Greats album, of life defining hits and new songs, which he is currently touring on his Golden Anniversary Tour.

You Are My Lifeline, written by 10cc's Graham Gouldman and produced by Graham Pleeth, includes the lines "all I needed was a helping hand, guiding me through thick and thin" and "let the angels take control".

The 50 track three CD box set also includes My Prayer and My Sweet Lord alongside greatest hits Las Vegas, Avenues and Alleyways I Did What I Did For Maria, Solitaire, Walk Like A Panther and (Is This the Way To) Amarillo.

BUY: Tony Christie's 50 Golden Greats album is available to download now on iTunes or Amazon. Also visit the official Tony Christie site at www.tonychristie.com, follow him on Twitter @TheTonyChristie and like his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheTonyChristie.

VIDEO: Watch Tony, on our embedded YouTube player, performing You Are My Lifeline, featured on BBC TV's Songs Of Praise and filmed at Christ Church, Spitalfields.

In an exclusive chat - hear it all online - South Yorkshire born Tony spoke about his faith and how his angels continue to play a huge part in his life and career.

He said: "My wife and I believe that everyone has a guardian angel and if ever I am in trouble or not feeling well I just sit and concentrate.I asked them for help and they've never let me down yet.

"I'll give you an example. I was doing a guest spot at the Albert Hall with Richard Hawley, who produced my Made In Sheffield album and I wasn't feeling too good. I had about 10 to 15 minutes alone in my dressing room, asking the angels for help. I went on and sang Danger Is A Woman in love and half way through the song the whole audience stood up. That's how good I was singing. It went down an absolute storm."

The final track on 50 Golden Greats is called When All Is Said And Done, which could be taken as a My Way style sign off from Britain's greatest living crooner. But he says far from it.

Tony Christie 50 Golden Greats album out now

After a career now spanning an incredible six decades the national trasure says he isn't planning to hang up his microphone any time soon or stop recording.