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Chanteur et
compositeur Rock 'n' Roll né Robert Charles Guidry, le 21
Février 1938 à Abbeville (Louisiane). Bobby Charles est surtout connu comme le
compositeur de "See You Later Alligator", qui sera repris par
Roy Hall et
Bill Haley. Il est décédé d'un cancer à
son domicile d'Abbeville le 14 Janvier 2010.
More
successful as a songwriter than a singer, Bobby Charles was nonetheless an
important contributor to Louisiana music in both respects. He authored several
hits for key artists in the early days of rock & roll (including
Bill Haley
and Fats Domino), and although he
recorded mostly in obscurity, he emerged as one of the founding fathers of swamp
pop.
Robert Charles Guidry was born February 21, 1938, in the Cajun-country town of
Abbeville, LA, and grew up listening to traditional Cajun music. As a teenager,
he discovered rock & roll and rhythm & blues, and began singing with a band
called the Cardinals, who performed at local dances. During this period, he
wrote a song called "See You Later, Alligator," which particularly impressed a
Crowley, LA, record-store owner who happened to know Chess Records founder
Leonard Chess. The young singer auditioned over the phone and was rewarded with
a recording session at the legendary Cosimo's studio in New Orleans. After
hearing the single version of "See You Later, Alligator," Chess signed Guidry
(by some accounts, not realizing he was a white Cajun) and soon shortened his
name to the less regional Bobby Charles. Chess released "See You Later,
Alligator" as Charles' debut single in 1955, and he toured behind it after
graduating from high school. While it connected with R&B audiences, the song
didn't become a big pop hit until 1956, when
Bill Haley covered it for a
national best-seller. Charles scored another minor hit that year with "Time Will
Tell," and stayed with Chess through 1957, recording R&B singles that even at
this stage were already infused with a Cajun musical sensibility.
In 1958, Charles moved to Imperial and cut several more singles through the next
year. Although he was silent for a few years after cutting a one-off cover of "Goodnight
Irene" for Farie in 1959, Charles' reputation as a songwriter continued to grow.
In 1960, Fats Domino took "Walking to New
Orleans" into the Top Ten, and
Clarence 'Frogman'
Henry did likewise early the
following year with "(I Don't Know Why I Love You) But I Do." Charles
subsequently recorded sides for Hub City (1963), Jewel (1964), and Paula (1965),
by which time he was experimenting with country music.
With little commercial success of his own, Charles drifted away from the music
business for a while. He returned in 1972 on the Bearsville label and cut a
self-titled album (his first full-length) that was co-produced by the Band's
Rick Danko. In fact, the majority of the Band appeared on the record as
supporting musicians, as did Dr. John,
David
Sanborn, and
Amos
Garrett. In spite of considerable critical acclaim, Bobby
Charles didn't sell very well, and after recording with Paul
Butterfield in 1973, a disenchanted Charles again retreated from music. He
appeared with the Band
in their 1976 concert film The Last Waltz, joining them on-stage for one
song of their final performance. The following year, he returned to Bearsville
and recorded another album with Spooner
Oldham on piano, but the project was never released.
Charles kept quiet for most of the next decade, returning in 1986 with a couple
of singles on the Rice n' Gravy label, plus a European-only album called Clean
Water in 1987. In the meantime, his songs had been recorded by numerous
artists from the worlds of blues, rock, country, and soul; a partial list
includes
Joe Cocker,
Delbert
McClinton,
Lou Rawls,
Ray
Charles,
Tom Jones,
Kris
Kristofferson,
Rita
Coolidge,
Etta
James,
Junior
Wells, Clarence
"Gatemouth" Brown,
Bo
Diddley,
David
Allan Coe, and even UB40.
In 1995, Charles signed with the Canadian blues and roots label Stony Plain and
released a new album, Wish
You Were Here Right Now, which consisted of sessions from 1992-1993 plus
selections from a 1984 jam session at Willie
Nelson's studio. In addition to Nelson,
guests included Neil
Young,
Fats Domino, and slide ace Sonny
Landreth. A follow-up,
Secrets of the Heart, appeared in 1998, but Charles returned to rural
Cajun country to live the quiet life, supported by his songwriting royalties; he
also became a local environmental activist. His excellent Bobby
Charles album has been reissued several times (including once in 1988
under the title Small
Town Talk, its most famous composition). Finally, in 2008, Charles
issued a new album,
Homemade Songs. Early in 2010, however, he collapsed at his home in
Abbeville, LA, and died.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Charles
Talents : Songwriter, Vocals
Style musical : New Orleans R&B, R&B, Early R&B, Rock & Roll, Cajun, International, Traditional Cajun, North American Traditions, Country, Americana
LATER
ALLIGATOR (1955)
TIME
WILL TELL (1956)
ONE
EYED JACK (1957)
Four Winds
(1960)
GROW TOO
OLD (1972)
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Years in activity :
| 1910 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 2000 | 10 | 20 |
DISCOGRAPHY
Singles
| 10/1955 | 78 t. & SP CHESS 1609 (US) | . |
Later Alligator
/ On Bended Knee |
| 01/1956 | 78 t. & SP CHESS 1617 (US) | . | Why Did You Leave / Don't You Know I Love You |
| 05/1956 | 78 t. & SP CHESS 1628 (US) | . |
Time Will Tell
/ Take It Easy Greasy |
| 10/1956 | 78 t. & SP CHESS 1638 (US) | . | Laura Lee / No Use Knocking |
| 01/1957 | 78 t. & SP CHESS 1647 (US) | . | Why Can't You / Put Your Arms Around Me Honey |
| 05/1957 | 78 t. & SP CHESS 1658 (US) | . | You Can Suit Yourself / No More (I Ain't Gonna Love You) |
| 09/1957 | 78 t. & SP CHESS 1670 (US) | . |
One Eyed Jack
/ Yea Yea Baby |
| 09/1958 | SP IMPERIAL X5542 (US) | . | Since She's Gone / At The Jamboree |
| 12/1958 | SP IMPERIAL X5557 (US) | . | Since I Lost You / Oh! Yeah |
| 03/1959 | SP IMPERIAL X5579 (US) | . | What Can I Do / The Town Is Talking |
| 1959 | SP FARIE 21018 (US) | . | Goodnight Irene / I Don't Know |
| 01/1960 | SP IMPERIAL X5642 (US) | . | Bye Bye Baby / Those Eyes |
| 07/1960 | SP IMPERIAL X5681 (US) | . | What A Party / I Just Want You |
| 09/1960 | SP IMPERIAL X5691 (US) | . |
Four Winds
/ Nothing
Sweet As You |
| 01/1964 | SP JEWEL 728 (US) | . | Everybody's Laughing / Everone Knows |
| 04/1964 | SP JEWEL 729 (US) | . | I Hope / Goodnight Irene |
| 08/1964 | SP JEWEL 735 (US) | . | Ain't Misbehavin' / Preacher's Daughter |
| 12/1964 | SP JEWEL 740 (US) | . | One More Glass Of Wine / Oh ! Lonesome Me |
| 06/1965 | SP HUB-CITY 715 (US) | . | Big Boys Cry / You Made Me Love You |
| 08/1965 | SP PAULA 226 (US) | . | Worrying Over You / The Walk |
| 10/1965 | SP HUB-CITY 716 (US) | . | Sometimes / 24-Hours |
| 1966 | SP FENTON 2024 (US) | . |
Bobby Charles Quartet - Oh! Lonesome Me / Saturday Night |
| 1967 ? | SP JIN 45-1030 (US) | . | One More Glass Of Wine / I Hope |
| 196? | SP Jin "Goldie Oldie" 45-1030 (US) | . |
I Hope / One More Glass Of Wine |
| 10/1972 | SP BEARSVILLE PRO 537 (US) (promo) |
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Long Face /
Grow Too Old
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| 12/1972 | SP BEARSVILLE BSV 0010 (US) (promo) | . | Small Town Talk (stereo) / Small Town Talk (mono) |
| 12/1972 | SP BEARSVILLE BSV 0010 (US) | . | Small Town Talk / Save Me Jesus |
| 1973 | SP BEARSVILLE K 15508 (UK) | . | Small Town Talk / Grown Too Old |
| 1982 | SP CHESS CH-131 (US) | . | See You Later Alligator (Bobby
CHARLES) /
This Should Go On Forever
(Rod
BERNARD) |
| 1984 | SP CHESS CH-91030 (US) | . | See You Later Alligator (Bobby
CHARLES) /
This Should Go On Forever
(Rod
BERNARD) |
| 1984 | SP CHESS CH-91040 (US) | . | Ain't Got No Home (Clarence HENRY) / See You Soon, Baboon (Bobby CHARLES) |
| 1986 | SP RICE 'N' GRAVY RG 22138 (US) | . | Lil' Cajun / Secrets |
| 1986 | SP RICE 'N' GRAVY RG 22139 (US) | . | Lonesome Christmas / Lonesome Christmas |
| 1986 | SP RICE 'N' GRAVY RG 22140 (US) | . | Party Town / Full Moon On The Bayou |
| 1986 | SP RICE 'N' GRAVY RG 22141 (US) | . | Clean Water / Clean Water (Instrumental Rap) |
| 19?? | SP PLAY BACK 2601 (US) | . |
Yea Yea Baby /
One Eyed Jack |
| 199? | SP COLLECTABLES COL 3430 (US) | . |
See You Later Alligator (Bobby CHARLES) / Poison Ivy (Willie MABON) |
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Albums
| 1972 | LP 12" BEARSVILLE BR 2104 (US) |
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BOBBY CHARLES - Street People / Long Face / I Must Be In A Good Place Now / Save Me Jesus / He's Got All The Whisky / Small Town Talk / Let Yourself Go / Grow Too Old / I'm That Way / Tennessee Blues | ||||
| 1977 | LP 12" PLATINUM XMP2009 (US) |
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CHESS MASTERS - Watch It, Sprocket / Yeah, Yeah / You Know I Love You / Good Loving / I'd Like To Know / Ain't Got No Home / Time Will Tell / Take It Easy, Greasy / You Can Suit Yourself / See You Later, Alligator / On Bended Knee / I'll Turn Square For You / I Ain't Gonna Do It No More / Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey / Lonely Street Mr. Moon / One-Eyed Jack / Hey, Good Looking | ||||
| 1980 | LP 12" P-VINE PLP-714 (JAP) |
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HARK BACK TO THE 60'S - Worrying Over You / Jealous Kind / One More Glass Of Wine / I Hope / See You Later, Alligator / Goodnite Irene / Oh Lonesome Me / Preacher's Daughter / The Walk / Everybody's Laughing | ||||
| 1984 | LP 12" CHESS / MCA CH-9175 (US) |
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CHESS MASTERS - Watch It Sprocket / Yeah Yeah / You Know I Love You / Good Loving / I'd Like To Know / Ain't Got No Home / Time Will Tell / Take It Easy Greasy / You Can Suit Yourself / See You Later Alligator / On Bended Knee / I'll Turn Square For You / I Ain't Gonna Do It No More / Put Your Arms Around Me / Lonely Street / Mr. Moon / One Eyed Jack / Hey Good Looking | ||||
| 1984 | LP 12" CHESS / P-VINE PLP-840 (JAP) |
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See You Later Alligator - Watch It Sprocket / Yeah Yeah / You Know I Love You / Good Loving / I'd Like To Know / Ain't Got No Home / Time Will Tell / Take It Easy Greasy / You Can Suit Yourself / See You Later Alligator / On Bended Knee / I'll Turn Square For You / I Ain't Gonna Do It No More / Put Your Arms Around Me / Lonely Street / Mr. Moon / One Eyed Jack / Hey Good Looking |
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| 1987 | LP 12" ZENSOR ZS-35 (GER) |
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CLEAN WATER - Lil' Cajun / Secrets / Love In The Worse Degree / Cowboys And Indians / But I Do / Clean Water / Eyes / Lil' Sister / Party Town / Le Champs Elysee! | ||||
| 1988 | CD SEE FOR MILES 218 (UK) |
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SMALL TOWN TALK - Street People / Long Face / I Must Be In A Good Place Now / Save Me Jesus / He's Got All The Whiskey / Let Yourself Go / Grow Too Old / I'm That Way / Tennessee Blues | ||||
| 04/1990 | CD PONY CANYON PCCY-00082 (JAP) |
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LOUISIANA DAYS - I Hope / Goodnite Irene / Ain't Misbehavin' / Preacher's Daughter / One More Glass Of Wine / Oh Lonesome Me / The Walk / Worrying Over You / Everybody's Laughing / Everyone Knows / Jealous Kind / See You Later, Alligator / Cross My Heart / Walking To New Orleans / Who's Sorry Now | ||||
| 11/1994 | CD PIONEER PICP-1035 (JAP) |
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WISH YOU WERE HERE RIGHT NOW - Not Ready Yet / The Jealous Kind / See You Later Alligator / I Want To Be The One / Promises, Promises (The Truth Will Set You Free) / Walking To New Orleans / The Mardi Gras Song / I Remember When / Ambushin' Bastard / Peanut / I Don't See Me / Wish You Were Here Right Now | ||||
| 1995 | CD STONY PLAIN 1203 (CAN) |
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WISH YOU WERE HERE RIGHT NOW - Not Ready Yet / The Jealous Kind / See You Later Alligator / I Want To Be The One / Promises, Promises (The Truth Will Set You Free) / Walking To New Orleans / The Mardi Gras Song / I Remember When / Ambushin' Bastard / Peanut / I Don't See Me / Wish You Were Here Right Now | ||||
| 1995 | CD CHARLY CDRB31 (UK) |
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LOUISIANA R&B MAN - On Bended Knee / See You Later, Alligator / Hey, Good Looking / Watch It, Sprocket / You Know I Love You / Ain't Got No Home / Time Will Tell / Take It Easy, Greasy / You Can Suit Yourself / Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey / Lonely Street / Mr. Moon / I'll Turn Square For You / I Ain't Gonna Do It No More / One-Eyed Jack / Yeah, Yeah / Good Loving / I'd Like To Know | ||||
| 04/1996 | CD CHESS / MCA MVCM-22078 (US) |
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CHESS MASTERS - See You Later, Alligator / Watch It, Sprocket / Don't You Know I Love You / On Bended Knee / Take It Easy, Greasy / Laura Lee / Time Will Tell / Why Can't You / You Can Suit Yourself / No Use Knocking / Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey / Why Did You Leave / Mr. Moon / Over Yonder / I'll Turn Square For You / Ain't Got No Home / I Ain't Gonna Do It No More / One Eyed Jack / Yeah Yeah / I'm A Fool To Care / Good Loving / Teenagers / Tell Me Baby / Your Picture / Hey Good Lookin' / Lovesick Blues / Lonely Street / I'd Like To Know | ||||
| 01/1998 | CD RICE 'N' GRAVY / STONY PLAIN SPCD-1240 (CAN) |
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SECRETS OF THE HEART - I Can't Quit You / Secrets / Angel Eyes / But I Do / Party Town / I Don't Want To Know / Love In The Worst Degree / Why Are People Like That? / You / I Belive In Angeles / Happy Birthday Fats Domino / Les Champs Elysee | ||||
| 1999 | CD Third Venture TVCD207 (GER) |
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SECRETS OF THE HEART - I Can't Quit You / Secrets / Angel Eyes / But I Do / Party Town / I Don't Want To Know / Love In The Worst Degree / Why Are People Like That? / You / I Belive In Angeles / Happy Birthday Fats Domino / Les Champs Elysee | ||||
| 1999 | CD Essential! / BEARSVILLE ESM CD 675 (UK) |
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BOBBY CHARLES - Street People / Long Face / I Must Be In A Good Place Now / Save Me Jesus / He's Got All The Whisky / Small Town Talk / Let Yourself Go / Grow Too Old / I'm That Way / Tennessee Blues / BONUS TRACKS : Homemade Songs / New Mexico / Rosie / Small Town Talk Single Mix | ||||
| 199? | CD Arc Music 0503 (US) |
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The Arc Classics - See You Later Alligator / (I Don't Know Why) But I Do / One Eyed Jack / Jealous Kind / One Bended Knee / Yeah Yeah / Just My Baby And Me / Jealous Kind / Take It Easy Greasy / Your Picture / Good Loving / But I Do / On Bended Knee / I Ain't Gonna Do It No More / Jealous Kind / A Little Too Much / No Use Knocking / Why Can't You / I'll Turn Square For You / Lost Without You / Why Did You Leave / But I Do / See You Later Alligator |
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| 2000 | CD Black Tulip 2009 (GER) |
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Later Alligator - See You Later Alligator / Let The Four Winds Blow / What Can I Do / Put Your Hands Around Me Honey / Only Time Will Tell / I'll Turn Square For You / Mr. Moon / On Bended Knee / At The Jamboree / Don't You Know I Love You / One Eyed Jack / Watch It Sprocket / Take It Easy Greasy / Laura Lee / No Use Knockin' / Why Can't You / Yeah Yeah / I'd Like To Know / I Ain't Gonna Do It No More / Hey Good Looking / Why Did You Leave / Ain't Got No Home / You Can Suit Yourself / Good Lovin' / Lonely Street |
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| 12/2000 | CD DEMON / WESTSIDE WESA 874 (UK) |
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WALKING TO NEW ORLEANS - The Jewel And Paula Recordings 1964-1965 - Ain't Misbehavin' / Preacher's Daughter / Everybody's Laughing / Everyone Knows / The Walk / Worrying Over You / Goodnite Irene / I Hope / Oh Lonesome Me / One More Glass Of Wine / The Jealous Kind / See You Later, Alligator / Cross My Heart / Walking To New Orleans / Who's Sorry Now / I Hope (undubbed version) / Preacher's Daughter (alternate take) / The Walk (alternate stereo mix) / Oh Lonesome Me (alternate stereo mix) / One More Glass Of Wine (alternate stereo mix) | ||||
| 2003 | 2 CD RICE 'N' GRAVY / BOGALUSA BOG 350 (US) |
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LAST TRAIN TO MEMPHIS :
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| 09/2006 | CD FUEL 2000 61613 (US) |
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AN INTRODUCTION TO BOBBY CHARLES - Ain't Misbehavin' / Preacher's Daughter / Everybody's Laughing / Everybody Knows / The Walk / Worrying Over You / Goodnight Irene / I Hope / Oh Lonesome Me / One More Glass Of Wine / The Jealous Kind / See You Later Alligator / Cross My Heart / Walking To New Orleans / Who's Sorry Now / I Hope / Preacher's Daughter / The Walk / Oh Lonesome Me / One More Glass Of Wine | ||||
| 05/2008 | CD RICE 'N' GRAVY RIC0515 (US) |
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HOMEMADE SONGS - The Football Blues / Queen Bee / Pick Of The Litter / But I Do / Cowboys And Indians / Mardi Gras Song / Too Blue / The Truth Will Set You Free (Promises, Promises) / Homemade Songs / Seize The Moment / Rose / Always Been A Gambler / Here I Go Again / Tennessee Blues / Sweep 'Em | ||||
| 02/2010 | CD RICE 'N' GRAVY RIC 517 (US) |
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TIMELESS - Happy Birthday Fats Domino / Where Did All The Love Go / Nickles, Dimes And Dollars / Clash Of Cultures / Little Town Tramp / Nobodyfs Fault But My Own / Before I Grow Too Old / Old Mexico / Rollin' Round Heaven / When Love Turns To Hate / Take Back My Country / Youfll Always Live Inside Of Me / Happy Halloween | ||||
| 07/2010 | CD BEAR FAMILY BCD 17207 (GER) |
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SEE YOU LATER, ALLIGATOR - Later Alligator (See You Later, Alligator) (with The CARDINALS) / On Bended Knee (with The CARDINALS) / Watch It, Sprocket / Why Did You Leave / Don't You Know I Love You (You Know I Love You) / Why Can't You / Take It Easy Greasy / Time Will Tell / Ain't Got No Home / No Use Knocking / You Can Suit Yourself / Laura Lee / I'm a Fool To Care / Mr. Moon / I'll Turn Square For You / Lonely Street / Over Yonder / Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey / One Eyed Jack / Yea Yea Baby (Yeah Yeah) / Good Lovin' / Your Picture / Teenagers / I'd Like To Know / Tell Me Baby / Lovesick Blues / Hey Good Lookin' / No More (I Ain't Gonna Do It No More) | ||||
| 11/2010 | CD Great Voices Of The Century GVC 1009 (UK) |
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AFTER A WHILE CROCODILE... THE 50'S ANTHOLOGY - See You Later, Alligator / On Bended Knee / Hey Good Lookin' / Why Did You Leave / Don't You Know I Love You / Watch It, Sprocket / Time Will Tell / Take It Easy, Greasy / Ain't Got No Home / Laura Lee / No Use Knocking / Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey / Why Can't You / Lonely Street / Mr. Moon / I'll Turn Square For You / No More (I Ain't Gonna Do It) / You Can Suit Yourself / One Eyed Jack / Yea Yea Baby / Good Lovin' / Since She's Gone / At The Jamboree / Since I Lost You / Oh! Yeah / What Can I Do / The Town Is Talking / Bye Bye Baby / Those Eyes / What A Party / I Just Want You / Four Winds / Nothing As Sweet As You | ||||
| 08/2011 | 3 CD + SP Rhino 52704R (US) |
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Bobby Charles :
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| 12/2011 | CD Victor VICP-75033 (JAP) |
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Better Days - Rare Tracks On Bearsville - Little Town Tramp / Please Please / Keep Cookin' Mama / What Are We Doing? / Ain't That Lucky / Nickles Dimes Dollars / Why Are People Like That / Better Days / You Came Along / Jealous Kind / Whatever Happened / Livin' In Your World / Cowboys And Indians / Promotional Spot / He's Got All The Whiskey / Don't Be Surprised / You Were There / Homemade Songs / Done A Lot Of Wrong Things |
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| 2016 | CD Hoodoo 263548 (EUR) |
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See You Later Alligator - 1955-1961 Chess & Imperial Recordings - See You later Alligator / On Bended Knee / Why Did You Leave / Don't You Know I Love You / Time Will Tell / Take It Easy, Greasy / Laura Lee / No Use Knocking / Why Can't You / Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey / No More (I Ain't Gonna Love You No More) / You Can Suit Yourself / One Eyed Jack / Yea Yea Baby (Yeah Yeah) / Since She's Gone / At The Jamboree / Since I Lost You / Oh, Yeah! / What Can I Do / The Town Is Talking / Bye, Bye Baby / Those Eyes / What A Party / I Just Want You / Nothing Sweet As You / Four Winds / Hey, Good Lookin' / Watch It, Sprocket / Teenagers / Ain't Got No Home / Lonely Street / Mr. Moon / I'll Turn Square For You / Over Yonder / Good Lovin' |
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| 01/2020 | 2 CD JASMINE JASCD 858 (UK) |
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Alligators, Sprockets and Bended Knees :
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| 08/2021 | 2 CD Acrobat ADDCD3391 (UK) |
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Later Alligator! - Recordings & Compositions 1955-62 :
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| 2023 | 2 CD BEAR FAMILY BCD 17696 (GER) |
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What A Party - The Complete Recordings 1955-1966 :
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© Rocky Productions 4/07/2023
