Bobby Charles – Later Alligator! – Recordings & Compositions 1955-62 – 2CD

Born Robert Guidry in Abbeville, Louisiana, in 1938, he became famous as songwriter under his birth name, but also had success as a recording artist under the name Bobby Charles, beginning his career as an 18-year-old with an R&B hit with his composition “Later Alligator”, which Bill Haley covered to have a No. 6 pop hit early in the rock ‘n’ roll era. He was very much a pioneer of the Louisiana-based Swamp Pop style alongside Jimmy Clanton, characterised by recordings emanating from Cosimo Matassa’s studio in New Orleans, where Fats Domino, a noted beneficiary of Guidry’s songs, made his records. This 55-track 2-CD set comprises A & B sides and other recordings for the Chess and Imperial labels, including his R&B hits “Later Alligator” and “Only Time Will Tell”. As a bonus, it also features recordings of his songs recorded by other artists, including the hits “See You Later Alligator” by Bill Haley, “Walkin’ To New Orleans”, “Before I Grow Too Old” and “It Keeps Raining” by Fats Domino, and “But I Do”, “On Bended Knees” and “A Little Too Much” by Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry. As such, it provides a fascinating showcase for his talents as both songwriter and artist, underlining the significant contribution he made to the pop music of the rock ‘n’ roll years.

Track Listing:

CD1:
Bobby Charles: 1. Later Alligator -   2. On Bended Knee -   3. Don't You Know I Love You -   4. Why Did You Leave -   5. Only Time Will Tell -   6. Take It Easy, Greasy -   7. No Use Knocking -   8. Laura Lee -   9. Put Your Arms Around Me Honey -   10. Why Can’t You -   11. You Can Suit Yourself -   12. No More (I Ain't Gonna Do It) -   13. One Eyed Jack -   14. Yea Yea Baby (Yeah Yeah) -   15. Hey Good Lookin' -   16. Watch It Sprocket -   17. Ain't Got No Home -   18. Lonely Street -   19. Mr Moon -   20. I'm A Fool To Care -   21. Over Yonder -   22. I'll Turn Square For You -   23. Good Lovin' -   24. Your Picture -   25. Since She’s Gone -   26. At The Jamboree -   27. Oh! Yeah -

CD2:
Bobby Charles: 1. Since I Lost You -   2. The Town Is Talking -   3. What Can I Do -   4. Bye Bye Baby -   5. Those Eyes -   6. What A Party -   7. I Just Want You -   8. Four Winds -   9. Nothing As Sweet As You -   10. Teenagers -   11. Tell Me Baby -   12. I'd Like To Know -   13. Lovesick Blues -   Bill Haley & The Comets: 14. See You Later Alligator -   Roy Hall: 15. See You -   Otto Bash: 16. Later Alligator -   Earl Carroll And The Original Cadillacs: 17. Yea Yea Baby (Yeah Yeah) -   18. Before I Grow Too Old -   John Fred: 19. Good Lovin' -   Fats Domino: 20. Walking To New Orleans -   Clarence 'Frogman' Henry: 21. But I Do -   Fats Domino : 22. It Keeps Raining -   Clarence 'Frogman' Henry: 23. Why Can’t You -   Frankie Ford: 24. Dog House -   Clarence 'Frogman' Henry: 25. Little Suzy -   Johnnie Allan & The Krazy Kats: 26. Your Picture -   Clarence 'Frogman' Henry: 27. On Bended Knees -   28. A Little Too Much -