Chuck Willis was a hugely talented and distinctive R&B, blues and rock n roll singer and songwriter during the 1950s, his life and career cut short in 1958 when he succumbed to illness at the age of 30, a tragedy which undoubtedly prevented him from making his mark in an even more emphatic way during the post rock n roll era and beyond. He was a highly convincing blues shouter, but he also was adept at performing smooth R&B ballads, which enabled his writing and recording to range across the different styles during what was a dynamic era in popular music. After making his recording debut for Columbia in 1951, he moved across to their Okeh label, and had Top 5 R&B hits with My Story, Going To The River, Youre Still My Baby, before moving to Atlantic in 1956 to score more hits with Its Too Late, C.C. Rider and R&B No. 1, and his sadly ironic valedictory No. 1 with What Am I Living For in 1958.
Along the way, he wrote hits for other artists like Oh What A Dream for Ruth Brown. This great value 57-track 2-CD set comprises the A and B sides of all his singles, plus some bonus LP tracks. As such, it represents a comprehensive overview of his chart-focused recording activity, and is an excellent showcase for his distinctive talent.
| Disc 1 |
|
|
| Track |
Title |
Artist |
| 1 |
It Ain't Right To Treat Me Wrong |
Chuck Willis |
| 2 |
Can't You See |
Chuck Willis |
| 3 |
I Rule My House |
Chuck Willis |
| 4 |
I Tried |
Chuck Willis |
| 5 |
Let's Jump Tonight |
Chuck Willis |
| 6 |
It's Too Late Baby |
Chuck Willis |
| 7 |
Here I Come |
Chuck Willis |
| 8 |
Loud Mouth Lucy |
Chuck Willis |
| 9 |
My Story |
Chuck Willis |
| 10 |
Caldonia |
Chuck Willis |
| 11 |
Wrong Lake To Catch A Fish |
Chuck Willis |
| 12 |
Salty Tears |
Chuck Willis |
| 13 |
Going To The River |
Chuck Willis |
| 14 |
Baby Have Left Me Again |
Chuck Willis |
| 15 |
Don't Deceive Me |
Chuck Willis |
| 16 |
I've Been Treated Wrong Too Long |
Chuck Willis |
| 17 |
My Baby's Coming Home |
Chuck Willis |
| 18 |
When My Day Is Over |
Chuck Willis |
| 19 |
You're Still My Baby |
Chuck Willis |
| 20 |
What's Your Name |
Chuck Willis |
| 21 |
I Feel So Bad |
Chuck Willis |
| 22 |
Need One More Chance |
Chuck Willis |
| 23 |
Change My Mind |
Chuck Willis |
| 24 |
My Heart's Been Broke Again |
Chuck Willis |
| 25 |
Give and Take |
Chuck Willis |
| 26 |
I've Been Away Too Long |
Chuck Willis |
| 27 |
Lawdy Miss Mary |
Chuck Willis |
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|
|
| Disc 2 |
|
|
| Track |
Title |
Artist |
| 1 |
Love Struck |
Chuck Willis |
| 2 |
I Can Tell |
Chuck Willis |
| 3 |
One More Break |
Chuck Willis |
| 4 |
Search My Heart |
Chuck Willis |
| 5 |
Ring-Ding-Doo |
Chuck Willis |
| 6 |
It's Too Late |
Chuck Willis |
| 7 |
Kansas City Woman |
Chuck Willis |
| 8 |
Juanita |
Chuck Willis |
| 9 |
Whatcha' Gonna Do When Your Baby Leaves You |
Chuck Willis |
| 10 |
Come On Home |
Chuck Willis |
| 11 |
It Were You |
Chuck Willis |
| 12 |
Charged With Cheating |
Chuck Willis |
| 13 |
Two Spoons Of Tears |
Chuck Willis |
| 14 |
C. C. Rider |
Chuck Willis |
| 15 |
Ease The Pain |
Chuck Willis |
| 16 |
That Train Has Gone |
Chuck Willis |
| 17 |
Love Me Cherry |
Chuck Willis |
| 18 |
Betty and Dupree |
Chuck Willis |
| 19 |
My Crying Eyes |
Chuck Willis |
| 20 |
What Am I Living For |
Chuck Willis |
| 21 |
Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes |
Chuck Willis |
| 22 |
My Life |
Chuck Willis |
| 23 |
Thunder and Lightning |
Chuck Willis |
| 24 |
Keep A-Driving |
Chuck Willis |
| 25 |
You'll Be My Love |
Chuck Willis |
| 26 |
Just One Kiss |
Chuck Willis |
| 27 |
My Baby |
Chuck Willis |
| 28 |
There's Got To Be A Way |
Chuck Willis |
| 29 |
Sugar Sugar |
Chuck Willis |