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Chanteur
Country US né Leonard Raymond Sipes, le 28 Septembre 1930 à
Oklahoma City (Oklahoma). Tommy Collins a débuté en 1946, obtenant une émission sur la radio KLPR. Premier disque en
1951 chez Morgan, puis il passe chez Capitol. Malgré un immense talent de vocaliste Hillbilly et une aptitude certaine à la composition, la notoriété de Tommy ira diminuant et il quittera Capitol en 1961 pour passer chez Columbia entre
1965 et 1968.
Il est décédé le 14 Mars 2000 à Ashland City (Tennessee).
Along with
his contemporary Wynn Stewart, Tommy
Collins was one of the first country musicians to establish a distinctive
Bakersfield, CA, sound. During the course of the '50s, he released a series of
hit singles that lightened up the tone of honky tonk with bouncing backbeats,
novelty lyrics, and electric guitars. Collins explored a more serious side with
his ballads, yet they continued to sound slightly different than his peers —
though they weren't as polished as the countrypolitan coming out of Nashville,
they didn't have the grit of honky tonk. Legions of West Coast country
performers — most notably Buck Owens, who
played guitar on several of Collins' hit singles, and
Merle Haggard — built on the sound that
Collins established in the early '50s. Collins wasn't able to cash in on the
Bakersfield craze of the '60s. By then, he had already quit the music business
once, and was mounting a marginally successful comeback. Nevertheless, his
influence loomed large, particularly on
Haggard, who took Collins' "Carolyn" and "The Roots of My Raising" to the
top of the charts in the early '70s.
Collins (b. Leonard Raymond Sipes) was born just outside of Oklahoma City,
spending his entire childhood in Oklahoma, where his father worked for the
county. As a child, he began to sing and write songs, eventually appearing on
local radio shows. Following his high-school graduation in 1948, he attended
Edmond State Teachers College while he continued to perform music. During this
time, he made a handful of singles for the California-based record label Morgan.
In the early '50s, he was in the Army for a brief time, before he moved to
Bakersfield with his friend Wanda Jackson
and her family. Shortly afterward, the
Jackson family moved back to Oklahoma, leaving Collins alone in Bakersfield.
In a short time, Collins had begun to make friends and contacts within the city,
eventually becoming friends with Ferlin Husky,
and the pair roomed together. After recording a handful of Collins' songs,
Husky convinced his record company,
Capitol, to offer Collins a record contract, and the fledging singer/songwriter
signed to the label in June of 1953; at the time of signing, he adopted his
stage name of Tommy Collins, since it sounded more commercial than Leonard Sipes.
Capitol and Collins immediately assembled a backing band, which featured a then-unknown
Buck Owens on lead guitar. Following one
unsuccessful single, Collins released the jaunty "You Better Not Do That," which
became a huge hit in early 1954, spending seven weeks at number two on the
country charts. Since the song was a success, Collins continued to pursue a
lighthearted, near-novelty direction with his subsequent hits, and the formula
initially worked. Between the fall of 1954 and the spring of 1955, he had three
Top Ten hits — "Whatcha Gonna Do Now," "Untied," and "It Tickles" — and in the
fall of 1955, the double A-sided single "I Guess I'm Crazy" and "You Oughta See
Pickles Now," which both reached the Top 15. In addition to these hit singles,
Faron Young had a huge hit with Collins'
"If You Ain't Lovin'," which was one of many songs that Collins wrote but didn't
record that became hits.
Collins was on the fast road to major success, but it stopped just as soon as it
began. Collins had a religious conversion in early 1956, and much of the
material he recorded that year was sacred music; occasionally, he recorded duos
with his wife Wanda Lucille Shahan as well. In 1957, Collins enrolled in the
Golden Gate Baptist Seminary with the intention of becoming a minister. Two
years later, he became a pastor. During all of his religious teachings, Collins
continued to record for Capitol, but neither he nor the label was much
interested in promoting his records, and he had no hits. When his contract with
the label expired in 1960, he stopped recording and enrolled as a student at
Sacramento State College. For the next two years, he studied at the university.
In early 1963, Collins decided he was unfulfilled by the ministry, so he left
the church and headed back to Bakersfield with the intention of reentering the
music business. Capitol agreed to re-sign him, and in 1964 he returned to the
lower reaches of the charts with "I Can Do That," a duo with his wife, Wanda.
With the help of Johnny Cash, Collins
switched labels and signed with Columbia in 1965; the following year, he had a
Top Ten hit with "I Can't Bite, Don't Growl." For the next few years, he had a
string of minor hit singles, none of which cracked the country Top 40. During
this time, he also toured with his protégés,
Buck Owens and Merle Haggard,
acting as their opening act. By the early '70s, both Collins' professional and
personal lives were on the verge of collapse, due to his increasing dependency
on drugs and alcohol. In 1971, Wanda filed for divorce, sending Collins into a
deep depression.
Collins began to recover by continuing to write songs, many of which were
recorded by Merle Haggard, including
the 1972 number one hit single "Carolyn." In 1976, Collins moved to Nashville,
where he was able to secure a contract with Starday Records. Later that year, he
released Tommy Collins Callin', a collection of his own versions of songs
he had provided for other artists. Following the album's release, Collins turned
almost entirely to professional songwriting. In 1981,
Merle Haggard had a hit single with
"Leonard," his tribute to Collins. After the release of "Leonard," the spotlight
again turned to Collins, who was now sober. Collins signed a songwriting
contract with Sawgrass Music, where his most notable success was
Mel Tillis' Top Ten 1984 hit, "New
Patches."
Throughout the '80s, Collins kept a low profile, though his songs continued to
be recorded. George Strait recorded
some Collins compositions during the decade, taking a new version of "If You
Ain't Lovin'" to number one on the country charts. European record companies
like Bear Family began reissuing his recordings, which led to an appearance at
the 1988 Wembley Country Music Festival in England. In 1993, Collins signed a
new publishing contract with Ricky Skaggs
Music and continued to write songs professionally throughout the mid-'90s, dying
at his home in Ashland City, TN, on March 14, 2000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Collins_(singer)
Talents : Vocals, Songwriter, Guitar
Style musical : Traditional Country, Honky Tonk, Comedy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ymqxDcBxBM
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BLACK CAT
(1960)
BREAK MY MIND
(1968)
SAM HILL
(1968)
WHATCHA GONNA DO NOW
(1968)
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Years in activity :
| 1910 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 2000 | 10 | 20 |
DISCOGRAPHY
Singles
| 1951 | SP MORGAN 106 (US) | . | Campus Boogie / Too Beautiful To Cry |
| 1951 | SP MORGAN 109 (US) | . | Smooth Sailin' / Fool's Gold |
| 09/1953 | SP CAPITOL F 2584 (US) | . | You Gotta Have A License / There'll Be No Other |
| 01/1954 | SP CAPITOL F 2701 (US) | . | You Better Do Not That / High On The Hilltop |
| 04/1954 | SP CAPITOL F 2806 (US) | . | I Always Get A Souvenir / Let Me Love You |
| 08/1954 | SP CAPITOL F 2891 (US) | . | What'cha Gonna Do Now ? / You're For Me |
| 01/1955 | SP CAPITOL F 3017 (US) | . | Untied / Boob-I-Lak |
| 04/1955 | SP CAPITOL F 3082 (US) | . | It Tickles / Let Down |
| 08/1955 | SP CAPITOL F 3190 (US) | . | I Guess I'm Crazy / You Oughta See Pickles Now |
| 12/1955 | SP CAPITOL F 3289 (US) | . | I'll Be Gone / I Love You More And More Everyday |
| 1955 | EP CAPITOL EAP-1-607 (US) |
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TOMMY COLLINS - You Better Not Do That / Whatcha Gonna Do Now / Untied / You Gotta Have A License |
| 03/1956 | SP CAPITOL F 3370 (US) | . | What Kind Of Sweetheart Are You / Wait A Little Longer |
| 07/1956 | SP CAPITOL F 3466 (US) | . | No Love Have I / That's The Way Love Is |
| 12/1956 | SP CAPITOL F 3591 (US) | . | I Wish I Had Died In My Cradle / I'll Never Never Let You Go |
| 03/1957 | SP CAPITOL F 3665 (US) | . | All The Monkeys Ain't In The Zoo / Don't You Love Me Anymore |
| 09/1957 | SP CAPITOL F 3789 (US) | . | Love Is Born / I'm Nobody's Fool But Yours |
| 1957 | EP CAPITOL EAP-1-776 (US) |
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WORDS & MUSIC COUNTRY STYLE |
| 1957 | EP CAPITOL EAP-2-776 (US) |
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WORDS & MUSIC COUNTRY STYLE |
| 1957 | EP CAPITOL EAP-3-776 (US) |
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WORDS & MUSIC COUNTRY STYLE |
| 08/1959 | SP CAPITOL 4263 (US) | . | Little June / Hundred Years From Now |
| 1959 | EP CAPITOL EAP-1-1125 (US) |
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LIGHT OF THE LORD - What A Friend We Have In Jesus / That’s Why I Love Him / Each Step Of The Way / Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross |
| 1959 | EP CAPITOL EAP-2-1125 (US) |
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LIGHT OF THE LORD |
| 1959 | EP CAPITOL EAP-3-1125 (US) |
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LIGHT OF THE LORD |
| 1959 | EP CAPITOL EAP-1-1196 (US) |
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THIS IS TOMMY COLLINS |
| 1959 | EP CAPITOL EAP-2-1196 (US) |
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THIS IS TOMMY COLLINS |
| 1959 | EP CAPITOL EAP-3-1196 (US) |
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THIS IS TOMMY COLLINS |
| 01/1960 | SP CAPITOL 4327 (US) | . | The Wreck Of The Old 97 / You Belong In My Arms |
| 08/1960 | SP CAPITOL 4421 (US) | . | Summer's Almost Gone / Keep Dreaming |
| 12/1960 | SP CAPITOL 4495 (US) |
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Black Cat
 / My Last Chance With You |
| 04/1963 | SP CAPITOL 4962 (US) | . | Take Me Back To The Good Old Days / When Did Right Become Wrong |
| 11/1963 | SP CAPITOL 5051 (US) | . | I Can Do That / You'd Better Be Nice |
| 02/1964 | SP CAPITOL 5117 (US) | . | I Got Mine / If I Could Just Go Back |
| 12/1964 | SP CAPITOL 5345 (US) | . | All Of The Monkeys Ain't In The Zoo (remake) / Don't Let Me Stand In His Footsteps |
| 01/1966 | SP COLUMBIA 4-43489 (US) | . | If You Can't Bite Don't Growl / Man Machine |
| 02/1966 | SP TOWER 213 (US) | . | Oh What A Dream / Take Me Back From Good Old Days |
| 06/1966 | SP COLUMBIA 4-43628 (US) | . | Shinding In The Barn / Be Serious Ann |
| 09/1966 | SP COLUMBIA 4-43724 (US) | . | A Man Gotta Do What A Man Gotta Do / There's No Girl In My Life Anymore |
| 01/1967 | SP COLUMBIA 4-43972 (US) | . | Birmingham / Don't Wipe The Tears That You Cry |
| 05/1967 | SP COLUMBIA 4-44113 (US) | . | Roll Truck Roll / Wine Take Me Away |
| 08/1967 | SP COLUMBIA 4-44260 (US) | . | Big Dummy / What'cha Gonna Do Now |
| 12/1967 | SP COLUMBIA 4-44386 (US) | . | I Made A Prison Band / No Love Have I |
| 1967 | SP VERVE 10565 (US) | . | I Wanta Thank You / Oh What I'd Give |
| 04/1968 | SP COLUMBIA 4-44498 (US) | . | Sunny Side Of Life / He's Gonna Have To Catch |
| 09/1968 | SP COLUMBIA 4-44664 (US) | . | High On A Hilltop / Woman You Have Been Told |
| 1970 | SP STARDAY 45-907 (US) | . | Cigarette Milner / The Roots Of My Rising |
| 1973 | SP STARDAY 45-967 (US) | . | Opal You Ask Me / Wildwood Flower |
| 1978 | SP GUSTO GT4-2054 (US) | . | Opal You Ask Me / Hot Rod Guitar |
| 1978 | SP MAGNA SOUND MSR 35 (US) | . | Pull The Covers Over Me / ? |
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Albums
| 01/1957 | LP 12" CAPITOL T-776 (US) |
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WORDS AND MUSIC COUNTRY STYLE - All Of The Monkeys Ain't In The Zoo / How Do I Say Goodbye / Love A-me S'il Vous Plait / Those Old Love Letters From You / Man We All Ought To Know / Feet Of The Traveler / Smooth Sailin' / I'll Always Speak Well Of You / Think It Over Boys / I Think Of You Yet / Are You Ready To Go / Upon This Rock | |||||
| 1958 | LP 12" CAPITOL T-1125 (US) |
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LIGHT OF THE LORD - What A Friend We Have In Jesus / Each Step Of The Way / When I Survey The Wondrous Cross / Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross / My Saviour's Love / Softly And Tenderly / Where Could I Go But To The Lord / That's Why I Love Him / In The Shadow Of The Cross / Amazing Grace / Who At My Door Is Standing / Old Rugged Cross | |||||
| 02/1959 | LP 12" CAPITOL T-1196 (US) |
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THIS IS TOMMY COLLINS ! - You Better Not Do That / I Always Get A Souvenir / United / How Do I Say Goodbye / I'll Be Gone / It Tickles / You Gotta Have A License / High On A Hilltop / Boob-I-lak / Smooth Sailin' / Love A-me S'il Vous Plait / Whatcha Gonna Do Now | |||||
| 06/1960 | LP 12" CAPITOL T-1436 (mono) / ST-1436 (stereo) (US) |
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SONGS I LOVE TO SING - I'll Keep On Loving You / Have I Told You Lately That I Love You / I Overlooked An Orchid / I Wonder If You Feel The Way I Do / Last Letter / It Makes No Difference Now / Oklahoma Hills / Broken Engagement / Let's Live A Little Before We Say Goodbye / I'm Just Here To Get My Bay Out Of Jail / Sidewalks Of New York / Great Speckled Bird | |||||
| 05/1966 | LP 12" TOWER T-5021 (mono) / DT-5021 (stereo) / (US) |
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LET'S LIVE A LITTLE - Let's Live A Little Before We Say Goodbye / I'll Keep On Loving You / You're For Me / It Makes No Difference Now / You Belong In My Arms / Take Me Back To The Good Old / Oh What A Dream / Hundred Years From Now / Keep Dreaming / Have I Told You Lately That I Love You | |||||
| 07/1966 | LP 12" COLUMBIA CL-2410 (mono) / CS-9310 (stereo) (US) |
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THE DYNAMIC TOMMY COLLINS - If You Can't Bite Don't Growl / Fool's Castle / Poor Broke Mixed Up Mess Of A Heart / Be Serious Ann / Skinny / Two Sides Of Life / Big Dummy / Little Time For A Little Love / Girl On Sugar Pie Lane / There's No Girl In My Life Anymore / Shindig In The Barn | |||||
| 02/1968 | LP 12" TOWER T-5107 (mono) / ST-5107 (stereo) (US) |
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SHINDIG IN THE BARN - Shindig In The Barn / Don't Let Me Stand In His Footsteps / Let Her Go / If I Could Just Go Back / I Got Mine / I Can Do That / Wreck Of The Old 97 / Oklahoma Hills / You'd Better Be Nice / It's A Big Jump | |||||
| 03/1968 | LP 12" COLUMBIA CS-9578 (US) |
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TOMMY COLLINS ON TOUR - Laura What He's Got That I Ain't Got / Break My Mind / Branded Man / Wine Take Me Away / Birmingham / Whatcha Gonna Do Now / Cincinnati Ohio / You're Everything To Me / Sam Hill / No Love Have I / Roll Truck Roll | |||||
| 1971 | LP 12" STARDAY S-474 (mono) / SLP-474 (stereo) (US) |
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CALLIN' - You Gotta Have A License / Cigarette Milner / Hot Rod Guitar / Roots Of My Rising / I Could Sing All Night Long / Okie From Muskogee / Opal You Ask Me / Wildwood Flower / If You Ain't Lovin' / My Last Chance With You | |||||
| 1973 | LP 12" CMH CMH-206 (GER) |
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SONGS OF TOMMY COLLINS - VOL. 1 - I Guess I'm Crazy / You Oughta See Pickles Now / There'll Be No Other / Let Me Love You / Let Down / I Love You More And More Each Day / Wait A Little Longer / What Kind Of Sweetheart Are You / No Love Have I / That's The Way Love Is / Love Is Born / I'm Nobody's Fool But Yours / Little June / Black Cat / My Last Chance With You / Summer's Almost Gone | |||||
| 1976 | LP 12" PROVINCIA 764-21 (GER) |
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COUNTRY FAVORITES - You Better Not Do That / I Always Get A Souvenir / Untied / I'll Be Gone / It Tickles / You Gotta Have A License / High On A Hilltop / Boob-I-Lak / What'cha Gonna Do Now / I'll Keep On Loving You / Have I Told You Lately That I Love You / I Wonder If You Feel The Way I Do / I Overlooked An Orchid / The Last Letter / It Makes No Difference Now / Oklahoma Hills / Broken Engagement / Let's Live A Little / I'm Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail / Sidwalks Of New York / The Great Speckled | |||||
| 1977 | 2 LP 12" CCL 1125 (NL) |
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TOMMY COLLINS :
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| 1978 | LP 12" GOLDEN COUNTRY LP-2209 (UK) |
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TOMMY COLLINS SINGS COUNTRY SONGS - All Of The Monkey's Ain't In The Zoo / You Gotta Have A License / High On A Hilltop / A Man We All Ought To Know / Those Old Love Letters / You Gota See Pickles Now / The Feet Of The Traveller / You Better Not Do That / It Tickles / I Think Of You Yet / Are You Ready / Think It Over Boys / I Always Get A Souvenir / Upon This Rock | |||||
| 04/1980 | LP 12" GREENWOOD GW-104 (UK) |
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A TOMMY COLLINS COUNTRY SOUVENIR - I Always Get A Souvenir / A Hundred Years From Now / High On A Hilltop / You Gotta Have A License / If You Ain't Lovin' / Two Sides Of Live / You Better Not Do That / Tribute To Hank Williams / Roots Of My Raising / If That's The Fashion / All The Monkey's Ain't In The Zoo | |||||
| 04/1980 | LP 12" GREENWOOD GW-105 (UK) |
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COWBOYS GET LUCKY SOME OF THE TIME - Carolyn / Loud Mouthed Talking Oldsmobile / Goodbye Comes Hard To Me / Man Who Picked The Wildwood Flower / Those Old Love Letters From You / I'm Tracing Your Tracks Across Texas / All Robyns Can Sing / I Can Outkiss Him / Love Won't Come Between Us Anymore / Conversation Of Ronnie Jones / My Son Calls Another Man Daddy | |||||
| 1980 | LP 12" CAPITOL ECS-50058 (JAP) |
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CALL OF THE COUNTRY - TOMMY COLLINS - I Guess I’m Crazy / You Better Not Do That / Whatcha Gonna Do Now / It Tickles / You Oughta See Pickles Now / I Always Get A Souvenirs / High On A Hilltop / All Of The Monkey’s Ain’t In the Zoo / How Do I Say Goodbye / You Gotta Have A License / Smooth Sailing / Love A-Me, S’Il Vous Plait / Untied / I Can Do That | |||||
| 1986 | LP 12" PASSWORD A-0001 (UK) |
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NEW PATCHES - New Patches / Till Me A Little Toward, Tillie / Boxcar Children / Shindig In The Barn / The Roots Of My Rising / Hello Hag / Someone Else Tends The Garden / Lemonade Life / I Love You More Than Anyone / If You Can't Bite, Don't Growl / I Wish Things Were Simple Again | |||||
| 11/1992 | 5 CD BEAR FAMILY BCD 15577 (GER) |
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LEONARD :
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| 07/2004 | CD GUSTO 564 (US) |
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SINGER - SONGWRITER - COMEDIAN - 1930-2000 - You Gotta Have A License / Cigarette Milner / Hot Rod Guitar / Roots Of My Raising / I Could Sing All Night / Okie From Muskogee / Opal, You Asked Me / Wildwood Flower / If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin') / My Last Chance With You | |||||
| 04/2005 | CD KOCH KOC-CD-9845 (US) |
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THE CAPITOL COLLECTION - You Better Not Do That / High On A Hilltop / What'cha Gonna Do Now? / I Guess I'm Crazy / It Tickles / I'll Never, Never Let You Go / You Gotta Have A License / How Do I Say Goodbye / Untied / You're For Me / You Oughta See Pickles Now / Little June / Black Cat / All Of The Monkeys Ain't In The Zoo / Take Me Back To The Good Old Days / Oh, What A Dream / Don't Let Me Stand In His Footsteps / If I Could Just Go Back | |||||
| 08/2005 | CD CURB D2-78906 (US) |
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BEST OF TOMMY COLLINS - O, What A Dream / If I Could Just Go Back / Take Me Back To The Good Old Days / Don't Let Me Stand In His Footsteps / Oklahoma Hits / Have I Told You Lately That I Love You / Wreck Of Old '97 / Shindig In The Barn / A Hundred Years From Now / I Can Do That | |||||
| 2005 | CD EMI ? (US) |
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IT TICKLES - You Better Not Do That / High On A Hilltop / What'cha Gonna Do Now? / I Guess I'm Crazy / It Tickles / I'll Never, Never Ley You Go / You Gotta Have A Licence / How Do I Say Goodbye / Untied / You're For Me / You Oughta See Pickles Now / Little June / Black Cat / All Of The Monkeys Ain't In The Zoo / Take Me Back To The Good Old Days / Oh, What A Dream / Don't Let Me Stand In His Footsteps / If I Could Just Go Back | |||||
| 2006 | CD BACM CD D 165 (UK) |
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THINK IT OVER BOYS - Let Me Love You / I Always Get A Souvenir / High On A Hilltop / Let Down / Boob I Lak / No Love Have I / That's The Way Love Is / I Love You More And More Each Day / I'll Be Gone / There'll Be No Other / Wait A Little Longer / What Kind Of Sweetheart Are You / I Wish I Had Died In My Cradle / Love A Me S'Il Vous Plait / Those Old Love Letters From You / A Man We Ought To Know / Feet Of The Traveler / Smooth Sailin' / I'll Always Speak Well Of You / Think It Over Boys / I Think Of You Yet / Are You Ready To Go / Upon This Rock / I Guess I'm Crazy / Untied | |||||
| 11/2011 | CD BEAR FAMILY BCD 16897 (GER) |
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BLACK CAT - GONNA SHAKE THIS SHACK TONIGHT - Campus Boogie / Black Cat / That's The Way Love Is / Smooth Sailin' / Let Down / You Gotta Have A License / Let Me Love You / You Better Not Do That / Untied / I Always Get A Souvenir / Whatcha Gonna Do Now / I Love You More And More Each Day / Love-A-Me, S'Il Vous Plait / You're For Me / I'll Be Gone / I'm Just Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail / It's Nobody's Fault But Yours / All Of The Monkey's Ain't In The Zoo / Wait A Little Longer / What Kind Of Sweetheart Are You / A Love Is Born / Heart's Don't Break / You Belong In My Arms / It Makes No Difference Now / I Guess I'm Crazy / O Mary Don't You Weep / Oklahoma Hills / I Got Mine / Back Cat [stereo] / Think It Over Boys |
© Rocky Productions 13/08/2012
