Champ Butler – Champ! The Singles Collection 1951-62 – 2CD

Born in Missouri in 1926, Champ Butler (his real name) was brought up in Los Angeles, and after service in WWII worked in the parking lot of Hollywood’s Mocambo nightclub, where he met many stars, and did the rounds of radio stations to find singing work. He was introduced to an agent, and secured an audition with Columbia Records, who gave him a contract, with A&R Director Mitch Miller calling him “one of the most versatile lads in the business”. That quality certainly comes across in this great-value 59-track 2-CD collection, which comprises a substantial proportion of his A and B sides on the Columbia, Coral, Dot, Zephyr, Keen, Viscount, Riviera, Five-Ten and CII labels from these years, including his duets with Toni Arden. It features his Top 30 hits “I Apologise”, “Them There Eyes”, “Down Yonder” and “Be Anything (But Be Mine)”, all achieved in the early ‘50s before the advent of rock ‘n’ roll. Butler was a classic example of an archetypal old-school vocalist whose career was overtaken by the changes in the pop market, but who made a good fist of adapting to the new idioms to keep his career going into the ‘60s. This collection provides a substantial showcase for that versatility as he tackles middle-of-the-road pop, big-voiced ballads, novelty material and straight rock ‘n’ roll with equal aplomb.

Track Listing:

CD1: Champ Butler: 1. Dear! Dear! Dear! -   2. Dryland -   Les Brown & His Band Of Renown with Champ Butler: 3. Be My Love -   4. In The Land Of Make Believe - Champ Butler: 5. There'll Be Mournin' In The Mornin' -   6. I Apologize -   7. Let Me In -   8. At Your Beck And Call -   9. Them There Eyes -   10. Down Yonder -   11. Way Up In North Carolina -   12. Reaching For The Moon -   13. When -   14. Ooh Looka' There, Ain't She Pretty -   15. These Precious Things Are Mine -   16. Be Anything, But Be Mine -   17. When I Look Into Your Eyes -   18. Two (Who Love As One) -   19. Meet Me On The Corner At A Quarter To Eight -   20. Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart -   21. Padam Padam -   Champ Butler & Toni Arden: 22. Remembering -   23. One Love Too Many -   Champ Butler: 24. You Intrigue Me -   25. Henrietta’s Wedding -   26. Cross My Heart Madame -   27. You Win Again -   28. Cakewalk Rag -   29. I'm Not Afraid -

CD2: Champ Butler: 1. Fit As A Fiddle -   2. Kaw-Liga -   3. Take These Chains From My Heart -   4. I'm Walking Behind You -   5. Till Now -   6. Gypsy Lou -   7. Ya Ha Bibbity Baby -   8. It Happened Once Before -   9. Night Of My Nights -   10. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me -   11. An Angel Kissed Me Last Night -   12. The Flame Is Still Burning -   13. I Guess It Had To Be This Way -   14. When Fools Fall In Love -   15. I'm Coming Over To Love You Tonight -   16. I Want To Love You -   17. Someone On Your Mind -   18. I Got Home -   19. I've Reached The Point Of No Return -   20. Down In Mexico -   21. Once Upon A Summertime -   22. Let There Be Peace -   23. Hunky Dory -   24. Mississippi Mud -   25. Heartbreak Cannonball -   26. This Can't Be Love -   27. Up A Lazy River -   28. Rock Hudson Rock -   29. Alabama Jubilee -