Chuck Willis – The Complete Chuck WIllis – 1951-1957 – 3CD

Chuck's career lasted only six years from 1952 until his untimely death in 1958 but during those years he had a terrific impact on the R&B and rock'n'roll markets and, had he lived, he would certainly have entered the soul era as a major contender. As it was, he had his fair share of hits; My Story, Going To The River, You're Still My Baby and I Feel So Bad in the early fifties and later with It's Too Late, CC Rider, What Am I Living For and Hang Up My Rock'n'Roll Shoes.

This 3 CD box set follows Chuck's career from the early OKeh R&B days with the orchestras of Freddie Jackson, Leroy Kirkland, Quincy Jones and Ray Ellis, to his crossover hits on Atlantic with Jesse Stone's Orchestra when his regular sidemen were guitarist Roy Gaines and tenor man Gene Barge - and then on to the chart hits on which he employed legendary session musicians that included pianist Sam Price, bassist Milt Hinton and the great saxophonist King Curtis. We also get to hear how Chuck sounded live on stage on the two tracks It's Too Late and What's Your Name which were recorded in 1956 for Alan Freed's live WINS radio show. On these, Chuck was supported by Sam The Man Taylor, Big Al Sears and Hayward Henry - not to mention the bunch of screaming fans!

Chuck Willis was revered by fellow musicians and, after his death, they kept his legacy alive with remakes of his hits. Ruth Brown, Aaron Neville, The Dells, James Brown and Dean Martin all recorded his songs and I Feel So Bad was covered, not only by Elvis Presley but also by BB King & Bobby Bland, Foghat, Little Milton, Ray Charles and Greg Allman and It's Too Late has been recorded by artists as diverse as Eric Clapton, Otis Redding, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich and Buddy Holly. 

A great compilation from one of the most important artists in fifties American popular music.

Track Listing:

CD1:
1. Can't You See - 2:31   2. It Ain't Right to Treat Me Wrong - 2:48   3. Be Good or Be Gone - 2:22   4. Let's Jump Tonight - 2:20   5. I Rule My House - 2:48   6. I Tried (To Get Along with You) - 2:58   7. It's Too Late Baby - 2:51   8. Here I Come - 2:47   9. Loud Mouth Lucy - 2:15   10. My Story - 3:13   11. Caldonia - 2:24   12. Wrong Lake to Catch a Fish - 2:28   13. Salty Tears - 2:53   14. Going to the River - 2:57   15. Baby Have Left Me Again - 2:57   16. Don't Deceive Me (Please Don't Go) - 3:02   17. I've Been Treated Wrong Too Long - 3:11   18. When My Day Is Over - 2:55   19. My Baby's Coming Home - 2:09   20. You're Still My Baby - 3:10   21. What's Your Name - 2:33   22. I Feel so Bad - 2:54   23. Need One More Chance - 2:57   24. Change My Mind - 2:53   25. My Heart's Been Broken Again - 2:38   26. Give and Take - 2:58   27. I've Been Away Too Long - 2:19

CD2:
1. Love Struck - 2:29   2. Lawdy Miss Mary - 2:09   3. One More Break - 2:30   4. I Can Tell - 2:53   5. Search My Heart - 2:33   6. Ring Ding Doo - 2:31   7. Come on Home - 3:02   8. If I Were You - 2:43   9. Two Spoons of Tears - 2:55   10. Charged with Cheatin' - 2:58   11. My Baby's on My Mind - 2:45   12. Take It Like a Man - 2:15   13. Keep a Knockin' - 2:17   14. If I Had a Million - 2:21   15. You Broke My Heart (You Know You Don't Love Me) - 2:36   16. Make Up Your Mind - 3:06   17. You Win This Time - 2:30   18. I Don't Mind If I Do (There Was a Time) - 2:44   19. Blow Mr Jackson - 3:31   20. Welcome Home - 2:21   21. Peace and Love - 2:26   22. Search My Heart - 2:33   23. Bless Her Heart (Break My Rule) - 2:29   24. Night of Misery - 2:41   25. It's Too Late - 2:45   26. What's Your Name - 2:18

CD3:
1. It's Too Late - 2:37   2. Kansas City Woman - 2:00   3. Juanita - 2:38   4. Whatcha Gonna Do When Your Baby Leaves You - 2:47   5. Ease the Pain - 2:21   6. C.C. Rider - 2:31   7. The Train Has Gone - 2:52   8. Love Me Cherry - 2:23   9. Betty and Dupree - 2:27   10. My Crying Eyes - 2:36   11. What Am I Living For - 2:27   12. Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes - 2:20   13. Thunder and Lightnin' - 2:38   14. My Life - 2:47   15. You'll Be My Love - 2:11   16. Keep a Drivin' - 2:20   17. There's Got to Be a Way - 2:14   18. Stop and Think - 2:51   19. From the Bottom of My Heart - 2:20   20. Just One Kiss - 2:15   21. I'll Be so Glad When Your Heart Is Mine - 3:37   22. Big Drops of Rain - 1:48   23. Sugar Sugar - 1:48   24. Love of Loves - 2:53   25. My Baby - 1:53