Tommy Steele – Hits And Rarities – 3CD

When debating the birth of British rock ’n’ roll, scholars will undoubtedly discuss the merits of Marty Wilde, Cliff Richard and Billy Fury… Oft-overlooked however is the huge contribution made by Sir Tommy Steele. Born Thomas Hicks in 1936, this humble Bermondsey boy went to sea in the Merchant Navy and, after sailing around the globe for five years, returned to the UK electrified by the raw power of rock ’n’ roll. Spotted singing in a trendy London coffee bar by Larry Parnes and John Kennedy, Hicks changed his name to Steele and, virtually overnight, became Britain’s first ‘teen idol’. In the 65 years since his ‘discovery’, Tommy has influenced everyone from Bowie to The Beatles and is now recognised as one of the Britain’s greatest ever all-round entertainers. This 92-track collection brings together just some of his hits, rarities, and live performances. Disc One features many rockin’ singles and favourites, like: “Rock With The Caveman”, “Rock Around The Town”, “Grandad’s Rock”, “Doomsday Rock”, “Elevator Rock”, “Rebel Rock”, “Knee Deep In The Blues”, “Teenage Party”, “Water, Water” and “Happy Guitar.” While Disc Two includes a variety of rarities and alternative film versions lifted from successful movies such as: “The Tommy Steele Story”, “Tommy The Toreador”, “Light Up The Sky!” and “The Duke Wore Jeans.” Disc Three will be of particular interest to fans as many of the early television recordings have never released before and will be heard on CD for the first time. This substantial celebration, with detailed liner notes from authorised Tommy Steele biographer Sebastian Lassandro, salutes Tommy’s significant contribution to British popular culture.

Track Listing:

CD1:
Tommy Steele & The Steelmen: 1. Rock With The Caveman -   2. Elevator Rock -   3. Doomsday Rock -   4. Rebel Rock -   5. Knee Deep In The Blues -   6. Teenage Party -   7. Young Love -   8. Grandad’s Rock -   9. Butterfly -   Tommy Steele: 10. You Gotta Go -   Tommy Steele & The Steelmen: 11. Water, Water -   12. Take Me Back Baby -   13. Two Eyes - Tommy Steele & The Steelmen with June Laverick: 14. Princess -   Tommy Steele: 15. Hair Down, Hoe Down -   Tommy Steele & The Steelmen: 16. Happy Guitar -   Tommy Steele: 17. What Do You Do? -   Tommy Steele & The Steelmen: 18. Neon Sign -   19. The Only Man On The Island -   20. I Puts The Lightie On -   Tommy Steele: 21. Marriage, Type Love -   Tommy Steele featuring Jimmy Edwards: 22. You And Me -   Tommy Steele: 23. Hiawatha -   24. The Trial -   25. Tallahassee Lassie -   26. Singing Time -   27. Young Ideas -   28. Happy Go Lucky Blues -   29. The Writing On The Wall -   30. What A Little Darlin’ -   31. Butter Wouldn’t Melt In Your Mouth -   32. Where Have All The Flowers Gone? -   Morris and Mitch: 33. Bonus: The Tommy Rot Story -

CD2:
Tommy Steele & The Steelmen: 1. A Handful Of Songs (Film Version) -   2. Teenage Party (Film Version) -   3. Water, Water (Film Version) -   Tommy Steele: 4. I’m A Little Blackbird -   5. Georgia On My Mind -   6. Sweet Georgia Brown -   7. Mandy, Make Up Your Mind -   8. Amanda -   9. Light Up The Sky -   10. Photograph -   11. One Times One -   12. Butterfingers (Alternative Take) -   13. Number 22 Across The Way -   14. Nairobi (Live) -   15. Wishing Star -   16. Tommy The Toreador (Alternative Take) -   17. She’s My Baby -   18. (The Girl With The) Long Black Hair -   19. Shiralee (Live) -   20. Swaller Tail Coat (Live) -   21. Singing The Blues (Live) -   22. Family Tree -   23. Thanks A Lot I’ve Had A Ball -   24. Drunken Guitar - Tommy Steele Featuring Benny Hill: 25. Touch It Light -   Tommy Steele: 26. The Truth About Me -   27. Marilyn Screen Test: Number 1 Spanish Romance -   Tommy Steel & The Steelmen: 28. Bonus: Butterfingers (Film Version) -   Billie Anthony: 29. Bonus: It’s Fun Finding Out About London -

CD3:
Tommy Steele: 1. Come On In -   2. Rock Around The Town -    3. Singing The Blues -   4. Butterfingers -   5. Come On, Let’s Go -   6. Deck Of Cards -   7. A Lovely Night -   8. A Handful Of Songs -   9. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear -   10. Setting The Woods On Fire -   11. My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It -   12. Frankie And Johnny -   13. Jacques D’iraque -   14. Little White Bull -   15. You Were Mine -   Tommy Steele with Michael Wilding: 16. What A Mouth (What A North And South) -   Tommy Steele: 17. Nairobi -   18. Hound Dog -   19. Peggy Sue -   20. Rain, Rain, Rain -   21. Tommy The Toreador -   22. (It’s Gonna Be A) Great Day -   23. Tonight -   24. Stagger Lee -   25. Maybellene -   26. Good Morning / There Once Was A Man -   27. Let Me Sing And I’m Happy -   28. Seven Little Girls (Sitting In The Back Seat) -   Tommy Steele featuring Gracie Fields: 29. Bonus: 1957 Royal Variety Performance Extract -   Tommy Steele: 30. Bonus: Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer -