BRAND NEW SEALED UK ISSUE CD

More by accident than design, Anthony 'Lonnie' Donegan became the first international British star during the Rock 'n' Roll explosion of the mid '50s - in fact the ONLY international star, the only British artist to hit in America when the USA was invading the UK charts at the time. He was also arguably the prime catalyst for sparking off the subsequent British beat boom of the '60s, inspiring legions of young wannabees across the nation - including The Quarry Men, evolving into The Beatles - to pick up guitars and form groups.

Donegan first recorded for Storyville in 1953 as a featured member of Ken Colyer's Jazzmen, and the following year for Decca in a similar role with The Chris Barber Jazz Band, in both instances fronting the rhythm section of the bands on Skiffle recordings. The 1954 recordings formed part of a 10" LP that year but nearly two years later 'Rock Island Line' from the album rocketed Donegan to stardom as an unexpected smash hit single. At which point he was immediately signed to a solo contract by Pye Records.

There have of course been Lonnie Donegan compilations before. The beauty of this 22 track, CD is that it covers his recordings for all three labels and presents Lonnie in his true vintage Skiffle days, with none of the cabaret knockabout stuff he veered towards later in his career.

1. Rock Island Line 2. John Henry 3. St. Louis Blues 4. The Girls Go Crazy 5. Bobby Shaftoe 6. Chimes Blues 7. Ice Cream 8. Merry Down Rag 9. Reckless Blues 10. I Hate A Man Like You 11. Bury My Body 12. Diggin’ My Potatoes 13. New Orleans Blues 14. Oh, Didn’t He Ramble 15. Stevedore Stomp 16. I Never Knew What A Girl Could Do 17. Weeping Willow Blues 18. I’d Love It 19. It’s Tight Like That 20. Skokiaan 21. Storyville Blues 22. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out

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