Carl Belew – The Early Years 1956-62 – 2CD

Carl Belew was a country singer and songwriter, who as well as having hits on his own account, provided songs with which other artists continue to have hits many years after this death. Coming to prominence in the late ‘50s, his songs provided Top 10 country hits for the likes of Faron Young with “Every Time I’m Kissing You”, and Johnnie & Jack, the latter with “Stop The World (and Let Me Off)”, as well as a Top 5 pop hit for Andy Williams with “Lonely Street” and a Top 30 hit for Debbie Reynolds with “Am I That Easy To Forget”, the song that gave him his own Top 10 debut in the country chart. He continued to have solo hits into the ‘70s alongside his hits as a writer. This 52-track 2-CD set comprises the A and B sides of his singles during these years on the 4 Star, Decca and RCA-Victor labels, along with the tracks from his 1960 Decca album “Carl Belew” not otherwise released on singles and all the tracks from his 1962 album, also called “Carl Belew” on the Wrangler/Forum Circle label. It features his Top 10 country hits “Am I That Easy To Forget” and “Hello Out There”, and the Top 20 hit “Too Much To Lose”, plus his own recordings of his hit songs for other artists, “Every Time I’m Kissing You”, “Stop The World (and Let Me Off)” and “Lonely Street”. It’s a comprehensive overview of the key formative years of his career, which provided the platform for his later success, and we trust it provides a worthy showcase for his talents as both songwriter and performer.

CD1:
Carl Belew & His Riff Riders: 1. I'm Long Gone -   2. Silence And Tears -   Carl Belew & His Rock Crushers: 3. Lonely Street -   4. A Cryin' And A Hurtin' -   Carl Belew & His Grand River Boys: 5. Lie To Me -   6. Old Number Nine -   Carl Belew: 7. Stop The World (And Let Me Off) - 8.   I Can’t Forget - 9.   Everytime I'm Kissing You -   10. Twenty-Four Hour Night -   11. My Baby's Not Here (In Town Tonight) -   12. No Love Tonight -   13. I Wish You Love -   14. Am I That Easy To Forget -   15. Such Is Life -   16. Cool Gator Shoes -   17. No Regrets -   18. I Know, But Tell Me Dear (It Didn't Happen) -   19. I Wish I'd Never -   20. Too Much To Lose -   21. That’s What I Get For Lovin‘ You -   22. The End Of Time -   23. My Baby's Not Here (In Town Tonight) -   24. There She Goes -   25. You're Doing Things To Hurt Me -   26. Lonely Street -

CD2:
1. Release Me (And Let Me Love Again) -   2. It Happened When I Really Needed You -   3. Another Lonely Night -   4. I Can’t Lose Something (That I’ve Never Had) -   5. Can't Take A Chance -   6. Stop The World (And Let Me Off) (1961 version) -   7. I'm So Lonesome -   8. Do I Have To (Have A Reason) -   9. I Don’t Know How I’ll Live (And Feel This Way) -   10. Can't You Hear Me Call Your Name -   11. Second Chance -   12. Odd Man Out -   13. Hello Out There -   14. Together We Stand -   15. Wishful Thinking -   16. The One You Slip Around With -   17. Love's Been Good To Me -   18. Three Cheers For The Red, White And Blue -   19. Send Me The Pillow -   20. Where Do I Go (When I Get To Where I'm Going) -   21. Make Up Your Mind (And Say Yes) -   22. Little Miss Heartache -   23. Three Cheers For The Loser -   24. Just Out Of Reach -   25. I Gotta Go Get My Baby -   26. You're The Only Good Thing -