AVID Pop presents the latest release in our Four Classic Albums Plus series with a 2CD set from Frankie Laine, complete with original artwork, liner notes, personnel details.
"Balladeer"; "Hell Bent For Leather"; "Deuces Wild"; "In Hollywood" and "Call Of The Wild" plus four bonus tracks.
For an American singer christened Francesco Paolo Lo Vecchio and born in Chicago to Sicilian parents in 1913, he was known by many of his fans as America's Number One Song Stylist, Mr. Rhythm, Old Leather Lungs, and Old Man Jazz. Mr. Frankie Laine (for it is he) had a musical career spanning nearly 75 years but never had a pet name referring to his country songs which surprised us at AVID as we younger folks mainly remember him as a singer of country TV and movie themes. Think Rawhide, High Noon (his version was not in the film but was the bigger hit), Gunfight At The OK Corral, 3.10 To Yuma and even the classic Mel Brooks fart fest, Blazing Saddles. In fact, incredibly Frankie's career was very slow in taking off, possibly as he was difficult to categorise as a singer. During the 30s and 40s he had tried his hand at everything from light entertainment, variety shows, dance instructor, covering popular tunes of the day, jazz, crooning, folk, blues, gospel and even rock 'n' roll. The list goes on, you name it he appears to have tried it. Along the way he was to meet many future stars who would become influential to his career progress including Nat King Cole, Hoagy Carmichael and Perry Como who he replaced as featured singer in the Freddy Carlone band. His musical influences ranged from Caruso to Bessie Smith to Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong. By the late 1940s Frankie finally began finding success with a number of easy listening songs including the classic That's My Desire that paved the way for what was called blue eyed crooners… Frankie was on his way, but the road was not a country road, yet. So why do so many of us of a certain age only associate him with country music. In the 1950s Frankie embarked on another chapter of his career, this was the TV and movie western theme years. And so here we feature the main four country albums featured in Frankie Laine's long and amazing career. And here you will find all his most famous country songs and a lot more besides. And here he is on all four album covers, looking like a true western hero.
And as you will discover or re-discover they are all crackers!
As with all AVID releases, we hope you enjoy this classic set and check out our extensive catalogue for more great music across Pop, Easy Listening, Rock n Roll, Jazz, and many other musical genres.
Check out:- Wanda Jackson (AMSC1429); Andy Williams (AMSC1247); Perry Como (AMSC1449); Dean Martin (AMSC1434); Tony Bennett (AMSC1399); Nat King Cole (AMSC1441); Johnny Cash (AMSC1252); George Jones (AMSC1415); Marty Robbins (AMSC1281); Jim Reeves (AMSC1294); Hank Thompson (AMSC1371).
CD1
1-12: 'Balladeer'
1. Rocks And Gravel (Early In The Mornin')
2. Old Virginny
3. Cherry Red
4. On A Monday
5. Careless Love
6. Sixteen Tons
7. Jelly Coal Man
8. Lucy D
9. New Orleans
10. Old Blue
11. Stack Of Blues
12. And Doesn't She Roll
13-24: 'Hell Bent For Leather'
13. Wanted Man
14. High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)
15. Gunfight At O.K. Corral
16. Bowie Knife
17. Along The Navajo Trail
18. The Cry Of The Wild Goose
19. Rawhide
20. City Boy
21. Cool Water
22. The 3:10 To Yuma
23. The Hanging Tree
24. Mule Train
25. Champion, The Wonder Horse (Bonus Track)
26. El Diablo (Bonus Track)
CD2
1-12: 'Deuces Wild'
1. The Hard Way
2. Camptown Races
3. Luck Be A Lady
4. Get Rich Quick
5. Horses And Women
6. Moonlight Gambler
7. Ace In The Hole
8. The Man Who Broke The Bank At Monte Carlo
9. Dead Man's Hand
10. The Roving Gambler
11. Deuces Wild
12. Gamblin' Woman
13-24: 'Call Of The Wild'
13. Song Of The Open Road
14. North To Alaska
15. The Swamp Girl
16. Beyond The Blue Horizon
17. Call Of The Wild
18. On The Trail
19. The Wayfaring Stranger
20. Tumbling Tumbleweeds
21. The High Road
22. Rolling Stone
23. The New Frontier
24. The Girl In The Wood
25. Gunslinger (Bonus Track)
26. Green Leaves Of Summer (Bonus Track)
